Journey to Adulthood

For Middle & High School Age Young People

Here at St. Christopher’s…
We believe it is important to equip young people with the tools they need to grow into the full stature
of Christ and to fully live into their Baptismal vows as adults. Some of our tools include:

  • A nationally renowned youth curriculum, Journey to Adulthood, which incorporates both the
  • learning opportunities of church school and the social and service activities of traditional youth
  • ministry. Additionally, several special liturgical events celebrate adolescent milestones.
  • Young people are welcome to assist in worship as Acolytes or Lay Eucharistic Ministers.
  • An annual Epiphany Pageant creates the opportunity for young people to take center stage and play a role in telling the stories of the events of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.
  • Opportunities to exercise leadership and sharing of gifts in our programs for children, eg; Vacation
  • Bible School, Palm Saturday and more.
  • Opportunities to participate in diocesan and national church sponsored events, eg; Happening, Summer Camp, The Episcopal Youth Event, Acolyte Festival & more.

In terms of the Journey to Adulthood program, “Spiritual Formation” means learning by engaging in Christian practices and then reflecting on the experience. This “doing” and “reflecting” helps us to “form” young people in the faith. Instead of just talking about Christian service, we SERVE. Instead of talking about prayer, we PRAY. Instead of sharing about Christian Community we actively and intentionally work to BUILD community. Instead of telling our young people how important they are we SHOW them thru special liturgical celebrations like the Rite-13 Liturgy or the Litany of Dedication. Instead of merely talking about Christian journey we actually TRAVEL on Pilgrimage together.

Journey to Adulthood is a six year program. Currently, our 7th thru 10th graders are participating in J2A. This group is focusing on celebrating the transition from youth to adulthood and training the young people in the skills of adulthood. This group is preparing to travel on Pilgrimage in Summer ’09. Confirmation will follow Pilgrimage. Our Young Adults in the Church, (YAC), program for 11th & 12th graders, focuses on preparing young adults for Confirmation and to engaging our young adults, in very real and meaningful ways, fully into the life and ministry of the Church. We plan to begin a new Rite-13 group next fall, (‘08), for our current 4th - 6th graders.

We believe parents are the most important Youth Ministers their children will ever have. Therefore, parents are invited to be actively involved in Journey to Adulthood. Parents play roles in liturgical celebrations and are invited to regular parent meetings. Parents are also asked to take a turn or two in chaperoning special events and assisting in organizing fundraisers. It is also our sincerest hope that parents of our young people experience Journey to Adulthood as life giving too as they nurture and care for their children thru adolescence.