COMING OF AGE
The Coming of Age program facilitates a look at each participant’s spiritual journey and
culminates in a personal statement of belief. Included are looks at other religions and
an indepth look at Unitarian Universalism and how our own church operates. Participants
are paired with adult mentors within the congregation as part of the class.
We currently offer this program to our ninth graders and older high school students who
have recently joined the church. Youth who participate in the Coming of Age program will
be expected to make a major commitment of time and effort. Every week (see
detailed
calendar) there will be classes on UU heritage and how it relates to other religions.
Other meetings will be devoted to identifying beliefs. The youth will discuss their
beliefs and values with their families, their mentors and each other. In addition, each
youth will (with the support and encouragement of their families and perhaps their mentor)
be expected to select a service project that reflects his or her interests, values and
talents. At least 5 hours of actual work should be spent on this project. At the end of
the program the youth will participate in a Sunday service that will honor their Coming of
Age.
Mentors are adult members of the congregation, not related to the youth they are mentoring,
who develop personal, one-to-one relationships with the young people. Mentors help the
youth discover who they are and what they believe. Mentors may help their partners select
and work on service projects. This may include making contacts or working along with the
youth. Mentors will help their youth prepare presentations to be given at the Coming of
Age ceremony. Mentors will be aware of the parents’ needs but be able to keep the youth's
confidences.
The completion of the Coming of Age class will be a statement of belief to be written by
each participant. These statements are intended to reflect only the beliefs of the writer
at this particular stage of his/her life, not as a creed set in stone forever. Through the
readings, discussion with the mentors, the minister, among the class, and with their
families each participant should develop an idea of what religion means to her/him. These
statements should reflect the individual's own ideas on religious thought, belief, or
philosophy of life. The individual composing the statement should give serious thought to
his/her statement and the statement should reflect this effort. However, no participant is
expected to write a dissertation on the subject.
See the Coming of Age slideshow for pictures from
last year's ceremony.
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