During the Middle School and High School years, our youth posses the maturity to begin to claim their faith. Therefore it is important that we provide the support and guidance that they need. We provide strong adult leadership to help them explore Christian self-identity and personal relationships with God; be able to express the doubts and concerns about matters of faith; and begin the process of undertaking of growing into their baptism.
Rite-13 begins by helping the youth focus on themselves and others in the group. It moves on from there to cover the Bible, the Prayer Book, Prayer Forms and types, Images of God, Compassion and Acts of Mercy, Faith and Trust. It is called “Rite-13” because the young people turn 13 years of age sometime during their walk through this program. They participate in the Rite-13 Liturgy which honors and memorializes, within the context of corporate worship, the teen’s faith journey toward Confirmation.
J2A (Journey to Adulthood) helps the teens really walk the walk of faith. They meet as a group but also serve as lay readers, acolytes, ushers, teaching assistants and choir members. They also do service and mission work in the community. They choose a spiritual mentor to walk with them as they prepare for their Confirmation. They go on a retreat with their Leaders and the Clergy just before being confirmed.
