Youth Ministry

Our youth ministry at Trinity uses The Journey to Adulthood™ curriculum, a Christian spiritual formation program designed for youth in the 6th - 12th grades. The program balances Bible study, prayer, and both serious and playful activities to nurture the whole person during the passage from child to adult. Leaders model living the faith, and remind young people of the ever-present love and mercy of God.

Our youth groups meet on Sunday morning from 9:30-10:20am during the academic year. Visitors and newcomers are always welcome. Come join us!

The Journey to Adulthood addresses the concerns of young people by

  • Providing a liturgical frame for their experience in our post-modern culture
  • Celebrating their individuality and creative potential
  • Instructing them in skills needed for successful adult participation in church and society

Christian formation is a lifelong process. This program gives young people a firm foundation upon which to build. The Journey to Adulthood program is based on two key concepts:

  • Human sexuality and gender are gifts from God.
  • Adulthood must be earned.

Throughout the program, young people explore themes of Self, Sexuality, Spirituality, and Society, while building personal skills which prepare them for adulthood.

The program includes three distinct phases, each of which is two years in length:

  • Rite-13
  • J2A (Journey to Adulthood), and
  • YAC (Young Adults in the Church)

RITE-13
Rite-13 focuses on forming and nurturing community as youth participants and leaders explore the Bible, the Episcopal Church and other aspects of the Christian faith. Classes also help youth explore, affirm and prepare for adolescence. During the two years in Rite-13, the community acknowledges the gift of gender, celebrates the amazing creative power and potential of these young people, and creates a safe haven to explore new ideas, new interests, and new abilities.

An important part of the program is the “Celebration of Manhood and Womanhood” (Rite 13 liturgy), which takes place in the church community around the young person’s 13th birthday.

At the end of two years, the group moves on to J2A.

Leader - Melissa Pierce

J2A
The second segment of the program, Journey to Adulthood (J2A) focuses on continuing the community built in Rite-13, blending action and contemplation, teaching young people faithful living. To prepare them for adulthood, they are learning the skills of active listening, negotiation, assertion, research/information management, partnership and leadership.

Participants explore the Bible, society and faith to gain an understanding of Christian living. At the end of the second year of J2A, youth go on a holy pilgrimage. After this experience, as they plumb the depths of their own spirituality and their relationship to the church, the class moves on to YAC.

Leader - Barbara Crowley

YAC
During the final two years of the curriculum, young people continue to explore their faith with a particular focus on identifying their own spiritual gifts and finding ways to use them in this parish and beyond. Discussions enlighten a deeper and more meaningful relationship with the church, their neighbors, and God, and opportunities to find a place in the church to engage and step out as a young adult are considered. Guided by adult advisors, they use the Anglican model of Scripture, reason, and tradition of the Church to guide their lifelong pilgrimage in faith.

YAC concludes with a “Celebration of Adulthood” ritual as young people graduate from high school and are welcomed back into the parish community as adults.

Leader - Jo Barrett

OUTSIDE SUNDAY MORNING
Fun and service projects bring Trinity's teens together outside Sunday mornings.  Past events have included everything from CityReach ministry with the homeless in Boston, to mission trips, retreats and carwashes.

LEADERS AND MENTORS
The Journey to Adulthood program values strong leadership teams that bring a diversity of life experience and skills to mentor our young people. These are our ministry descriptions (aka job descriptions in the secular world) for leaders in our program. Each of our groups seeks to build a gender-balanced leadership team of 2-3 adults (over age 21) who are regular participants in the life and worship of Trinity who are not related to youth in the particular group they lead/mentor, and a college/seminary intern. For insurance reasons, college/seminary interns must be at least 18 years old.
Rite-13 Leader 
J2A Leader
YAC Mentor
College/Seminary Intern

PERMISSIONS SLIPS AND OTHER FORMS
Each young person who participates in Trinity youth programs, as a regular member or as a visitor or friend, should have one of each of these forms on file each year. The Health Form is only necessary for overnight events. When filled out, these can be returned to the group leader or church office.
Youth Program Registration Form
General Releases - Participation, Medical, Media
Health Form

CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a sacramental rite "in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" ( Book of Common Prayer, 860).  Confirmation happens about twice a year. Confirmation preparation complements The Journey to Adulthood curriculum.  Young people decide whether to prepare for confirmation at around age 15 or 16.

For more information about youth programs at Trinity, contact Denise Aldridge at 
(978) 352-7678 or aldridgepd@comcast.net .