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Mission and Outreach
At All Saints’ we believe all Christians
are called to volunteer, and we encourage and support our youth
to do so by providing regular opportunities for service. From
being an acolyte, to preparing dinner for the Birmingham Hospitality
Network, to spending a week working with the hurricane Katrina
relief effort, our youth make important contributions to our
church, community, and world.
Acolytes and Crucifers
This is an important ministry for
the youth of the parish, as they play an essential role during
church services. Acolytes are responsible for lighting and extinguishing
the candles, and carrying the torches for the processional and
recessional. Acolytes are also responsible for marking the pews
during communion. Crucifers are responsible for carrying the cross,
helping prepare the altar for the consecration of communion, and
assisting with the offering plates. Acolytes generally start in
5th grade and then graduate to Crucifers in the 9th grade.
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Sunday Morning Classes
10:00-10:45 a.m.
We know it’s hard to pull sleepy teenagers out of bed on Sunday mornings, which is why we try hard to offer Sunday morning programs for our youth that they will want to participate in. Our youth take part in the biblically-based Journey to Adulthood program, a complete youth ministry program of spiritual formation for 7th - 12th grades. From Bible study to playful activities, these classes are definitely worth waking up for!
The youth do not meet for Sunday school during the summer, but they do meet periodically for EYC. Contact your fearless leader cjones@allsaintsbirmingham.org for more information.
Where does my child go?
Sunday school classes for youth are divided into three groups: Rite 13, J2A and YAC.
Grade 7 & 8: Rite 13:
Location: NEW Journey Room, Room 105,
now located in the Undercroft
This is our Sunday school for 7th and 8th graders. The name Rite-13 comes from the liturgical rite of passage we will celebrate with our teens in January. Becoming a teenager is celebrated in the church with a service loosely modeled on the Jewish bar mitzvah. In Rite 13, young people learn about what it means to become a Christian man or woman. They read the Bible, pray, and discuss relevant life issues. Rite-13 creates a safe environment to express opinions, encourage one another, share experiences, and to explore what the Christian faith means. Rite-13 also prepares teens for Confirmation with time devoted to the great stories of the Holy Bible and their validity in our day, the History of the Church, Episcopal Identity, and how we respond to God’s Love.
Grades 9 & 10: Journey to Adulthood:
Location: Youth Room 1(upstairs over the church offices)
Journey to Adulthood, or J2A, is Sunday school for 9th and 10th graders. In J2A, teenagers learn about Christian adulthood and the responsibilities to God and to the Christian community that come with that adulthood. In J2A there is a safe environment for people to trust each other with real opinions and experiences, and also (of course) to have very fun activities.
Grades 11 & 12: Young Adults in the Church:
Location: Youth Room 1 (upstairs over the church offices)
YAC is the new program for High School students being implemented this fall. The YAC group will identify projects and missions that appeal to them and then determine how they can participate and make a difference. This group’s success and dynamic will be based on the group’s dedication and participation. In other words, the group will be what they make it.
As part of our Journey to Adulthood program, Confirmation learning takes place during the 7th & 8th grade years as part of the Rite 13 class. Confirmation, formerly taking place in 7th grade, now takes place at the end of the 8th grade year.
You can read more about Rite 13, J2A and YAC at www.leaderresources.com.
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Sunday Nights
Jr. EYC, Grades 7-8:
4:00-5:30 p.m., once a month.
Location: we usually start in Youth Room 1, unless otherwise specified.
Sr. EYC, Grades 9-12:
5:00-7:00 p.m., most Sundays.
Location: we usually start in Youth Room 1, unless otherwise specified.
Youth come together in our Sunday evening meetings to learn, discuss life, play, serve others, and to pray. There is time to just talk and find out what’s going on with each other, and then there is prayer time. Sometimes we will be in the church and sometimes we will be doing activities outside of the church. This is always a lot of fun! Sometimes all the grades meet together, and sometimes they are divided into Jr. EYC for 7th and 8th grades, and Sr. EYC for 9th grade and up.
Special Events
Our youth also take plenty of great trips, including an annual beach trip, skiing in West Virginia, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee, to Sewanee for Lessons and Carols, and to Horse Pens 40 to hike and climb boulders. EYC is a time for deep learning, but also great fun!
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