St. John's Episcopal Church

The Journey to Adulthood is a full formation experience for our youth which takes the place of traditional Sunday School programs for teenagers.  The program is open to all youth in grades 6 through 11. Sessions are held every Sunday morning and some Sunday afternoons (to be announced). At the age-appropriate time, The Journey to Adulthood will also include confirmation. 

Six Years of Spiritual Formation

Journey to Adulthood is a program developed by the Episcopal Church and successfully used for over twenty years. The program provides a liturgical framework for the modern teenage experience, celebrates individuality and creativity, and offers training in basic life skills. It is divided into two age groups: Rite 13 and J2A.

Rite 13

Rite 13 is the two-year beginning group of the Journey to Adulthood. The name is taken from a liturgical rite of passage we celebrate with the young people around their 13th birthday. This program assists young people as they begin to take their first steps toward independence from their families and into their own lives. During these two years 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, interests and abilities. Rite 13 is open to youth in grades 6-8. The group meets every Sunday morning from 10:30-11:15 in the Youth Rooms in the basement and every other Sunday evening at varying places. Leaders for Rite 13 are Cheryl Bakker, Dennis Howard.

J2A

J2A is the second two-year segment of the Journey to Adulthood program. During these two years teens learn and practice six basic skills for adulthood: Active Listening, Negotiation, Assertion, Research and Information Management, Partnership, and Leadership. Teens also learn different methods of Scripture reading, prayer and community building. After two years they are acknowledged as being equipped for new levels of responsibility and are given an opportunity to be confirmed. They are also invited to make a holy pilgrimage. J2A is open to youth in grades 9-11, and meets every Sunday morning from 10:30-11:15 in the Youth Rooms in the basement, and every other Sunday evening at varying places. J2A is led by Joe Bakker, Martha Ray and Melinda Lang Hilsenbeck.

Need more information? Click here to download the Journey to Adulthood brochure, or contact Mother Lee Shafer, Priest-in-Charge or Liz Blount, Journey to Adulthood program administrator.