UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES Sept. 2008

Hello to all,
Today I mailed out a letter to all the J2A parents. Yesterday a letter went out to all the Godly Play parents. I have enclosed both below.

J2A letter:
9 September 2008
Dear ,
Welcome to the 2008-2009 youth program year at St. Paul’s Cathedral. This year our youth programming will have some added features. For those of you new to the youth group, and for you returning veterans, read carefully as the schedule is full!
Sundays during the education hour (10:15 am-11:00 am) meet in the youth room at 128 Pearl Street. Those who have been confirmed will meet with Allie to read the paper and discuss current events. Those who have not been confirmed will meet with Deacon Cathy in her office to discuss the Gospel of the day.
On the third Sunday of every month (September 21, October 19, November 16 and December 21, January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19 and May 17) we invite all the youth to attend the 11:15 Eucharist and immediately following the service we will go to Spot on Delaware for coffee and conversation.
On the first Sunday of every month ( October 5, November 2, December 7, January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3) we will have an evening gathering, meeting from 4:30pm-6:30pm for social and service time. Once every few months we will serve at Friends of the Night people, but the other months we will go bowling, skating, to the movies or whatever else we come up with. We ask for a parent to volunteer for each of these evening outings (including FOTN). The volunteer parent will help organize the event, arrange transportation, figure out costs etc. Please email, call or talk in person to Deacon Cathy about signing up for your Sunday.
Ongoing The cathedral is going to host a number of activities for the youth of the Liberian Refugee Community. We will offer tutoring, cultural literacy events, pot lucks and movie nights. Any youth who needs to complete community service hours will get credit for participation in these events, in addition to the satisfaction which comes from reaching out to those in need. This program is in its infancy so more information will become available soon. We’ll keep you posted.
Enclosed you will find a short write up about our youth programming philosophy.
Please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with you to discuss the youth programming at St. Paul’s.

Faithfully,


The Rev. Deacon Cathy Dempesy

J2A Insert:
What in the World is J2A?
J2A is short-hand for Journey to Adulthood. Our job, as a congregation, is to walk with our young people as they take this journey from childhood to young adulthood. It can be a precarious, exasperating and scary journey, but it can also be surprising, refreshing and amazing. Everyone takes this journey, every child, every parent. Even Mary and Joseph took it with Jesus, as wonderfully related in Luke’s Gospel:
When Jesus was twelve years old, he and his parents went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:42-52)
The Journey to Adulthood Program operates on two basic premises:
1. Manhood and Womanhood are free gifts from God to be celebrated, explore and cherished.
2. Adulthood must be earned.
Our goal, here at the cathedral, is to offer our young people (grades 6-12) a safe space to explore their identity and a nurturing place in which they can grow into a mature faith. This is accomplished through the development of a community, study of scripture and application of basic Christian tenets in day to day life.
J2A is based on the principles of relational youth ministry which maintains that ministry with youth is based on adults taking an interest in the young person, being interested in who they are, what they think and what they feel. Additionally this ministry acknowledges that as adults we are role models for our teens and that by being faithful members of this faith community, we model a Christ-centered life for them. All of us at the Cathedral must take an active interest in our youth, they need us and we need them.

Calling all Youth Group Parents

An informational meeting about J2A will be held at my home Thursday September 4 at 7pm. Call or email me for directions. See you then!