Youth Programs
Having programs and places for youth to gather both on Sunday and during the week is very important at All Saints’. There are many opportunities for study and fun throughout the week. We have also just completed a total renovation of our youth spaces, and invite you to stop by and check them out!
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.

Mission and Outreach
All Saints youth participate in different mission and outreach efforts. This past summer, we took a mission trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help with rebuilding efforts.

Youth participate in helping our local community by serving at Community Kitchens and the Firehouse Shelter this coming school year, with participating in All Saints’ weeks for Hospitality Network which provides housing to Birmingham families in need, and in other ways that come up.

Other ways the All Saints’ youth continue to serve God:
Rake and run
Tsunami relief fundraiser
Fixing dinner at the Firehouse Shelter
Doing various projects around the church

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 Rite 13 and Journey to Adulthood programs, 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!

Where does my child go?

Sunday school classes for youth are divided into three groups:
Rite 13, Confirmation, and J2A.

Grades 7-8: Rite 13: Youth Room 2
This is our Sunday School for 7th and 8th graders. 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 is a safe environment to express opinions and encourage one another, to share experiences, and to explore what the Christian faith means. Every week, there are also very fun activities.

Confirmation : As part of our Journey to Adulthood program, Confirmation learning takes place throughout the year for the Rite 13 age group. The rite of Confirmation takes place yearly for 7th graders when the Bishop comes to All Saints’, usually in early spring.

Grades 9-12 : Journey to Adulthood: Youth Room 1
Journey to Adulthood, or J2A, is Sunday school for 9th through 12th graders. In J2A, teenagers learn about Christian adulthood and the responsibilities to God and to the Christian community that come with that adulthood. These students read the Bible, pray, and discuss relevant life issues. 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.

You can read more About Rite 13 and J2A at www.leaderresources.com.

Sunday Nights

Time: Sunday evening
Jr. EYC: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Sr. EYC: 5:00-6:30 p.m.

In our Sunday evening meetings, youth come together to learn, to discuss life, to play, to 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. Then we have a program time for about twenty minutes, followed by some sort of activity. This is always a lot of fun! Sometimes all the grades meet together, and sometimes it is divided into Jr. EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) for 7th and 8th graders, and after that, Sr. EYC for 9th grade and up.

We also take plenty of great trips: to the Beach, skiing in North Carolina, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee, to Visionland theme park, to people’s houses for parties like at Christmas, and to Moss Rock Preserve to hike and climb boulders. EYC is a time for deep learning, but also great fun!

Where does my child go?

Grades 7-8 - Jr. EYC: We usually start in Youth Room 1, then meet the 9-12 grade youth in the Great Hall for snacks.

Grades 9-12 - Sr. EYC: We usually meet in the Great Hall for snacks with the 6-8th grade youth, then go upstairs to the Youth Room for the rest of the time.

Weekday Programs

We hear a lot these days about how kids are stressed out by their schedules; there are too many activities in too few days. At All Saints’ we believe it is important to provide opportunities for our kids to slow down, and to encourage them take time to reflect on their lives and on God’s purpose for them. Weekday gatherings for Bible study and prayer, dodge ball and marshmallow roasts present youth with a break in the week guaranteed to recharge them.

Wednesday Evening

In this recent addition to the lineup of ways for young people to get connected at All Saints, we have developed the Oasis program.

Wednesday Nights:

The Oasis Program - 6:00-7:45 p.m.

“Oasis” time for teenagers at All Saints’ provides a relaxing break from homework and extracurricular activities. Everyone is invited at 6:00 for dinner with the whole church, and then at 6:30 the youth go upstairs to the youth room. Someone from the group leads a short devotional and prayer time then everyone spends the rest of the time having fun.

110 West Hawthorne Road

Birmingham Alabama 35209

Voice: (205) 879-8651

Fax: (205) 870-5749

www.allsaintsbirmingham.org