(Sunday morning classes do not run in the Summer months)
6-12 Graders: "The Journey to Adulthood"
This class is a comprehensive program that Good Shepherd has used for several years. It's a program of spiritual formation that attracts, instructs and nurtures young people at the ages when they are most likely to drift away from church. It gives our young people real work to do, while celebrating and nurturing the gifts they already possess. The program is based on two key concepts: manhood and womanhood are free gifts from God, but adulthood must be earned. It includes in-depth exploration of Self, Spirituality, Sexuality and Society. Our mission is to form young people as practicing Christians and full participants in the life of our congregation and community. It is a complete youth program that includes Sunday morning lessons from 10:15a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Movie Nights; Rites of Passage; Pilgrimage; Community service projects; and lots of fun!
6th and 7th Graders: "Rite 13"
Meets in Room 023 (basement level – enter through the Youth Suite)
This class assists middle schoolers as they take their first steps away from the roles they have played in their families and into new roles of independence, self-discovery, and spiritual growth. It includes a liturgical rite of passage around their 13th birthday, celebrating their journey to an adult acclamation of faith.
8th and 9th Graders: "J2A"
Meets in Room 022 (basement level – Youth Suite)
This class is the heart of the program--it blends action and contemplation in teaching young people faithful living. To prepare them for adulthood, they learn six basic skills: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research & information management, partnership and leadership. Teens learn to apply Biblical and spiritual truths in their own everyday lives. This class also prepares them for Confirmation.
Youth & Parent Confirmation Meeting
September ,2011: Undercroft
Those youth seeking confirmation and their parents are requested to attend this meeting. We are now in year two of our two year confirmation program. (New program will be starting up in September 201 for those who did not complete the first year.)
10th-12th Graders : "YAC"
Meets in Room 021 (basement level of Youth Suite)
YAC stands for Young Adults in the Church. These teens are encouraged to take on more adult responsibilities in all aspects of congregational and community life. A unique feature of this class is that the students choose the material and subject matter after thoughtful consideration and discussion.
Youth Group for 6th – 12th Grade
Led by the Rev. LaurenVillemuer, Deacon
Sundays -- 4P - 5:30P
Meets in Room 022 (basement level – Youth Suite)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5: 22-23a. Every Sunday at 4PM starting September 12, the youth will come together to learn more about each fruit of the spirit, live it through community service activities and then explore it through fun activities. Please see the Youth Calendar as sometimes activities take place on another day in place of the regular Sunday Meeting.
Confirmation:
Confirmation is a two-year process including expectation of formation, community service, church worship leadership roles, mentoring, and retreat/camp participation. Before the two-year process can begin, the young person needs to have attended church regularly and be involved in the church life. This is so the young person can make the decision to be confirmed with the commitment that this is the next step in their faith journey. We are currently completing year one of our two-year program. New Confirmation cycle will be starting in September 2012 for those who have not currently completed their first year.
Youth Ministry Advisory Board
Members of Youth Board are Youth who have been nominated because of their leadership and participation in worship, Christian Formation, Youth Group, and other areas of the church. Once a youth is nominated, their name goes before a committee who then picks the youth who show leadership and is a good example for children and youth. Youth Board meets four times a year as well as does a fun summer activity and a Lock-in. Youth Board members are active in church leadership roles and are full, voting members of several church committees. Youth Board chooses the focus and programs for the children and youth ministries here. We will be taking self-nominating applications in April & May of each calendar year.
30 Hour Famine
March 5-6 with Famine Sunday on Mar 7, 2012
Youth ages 12 and up go 30 Hours without food to feed starving children around the world. They spend the 30 Hours doing community service, worship, and study. On Saturday, March 6, youth will break their fast with a Eucharist at 5:30p.m. All family, friends, supporters, and the curious are invited to join us. A celebratory meal will follow. On Sunday, the youth will share their experiences at all 3 services. Adult volunteers & supporters needed. This is a must-not-miss event. See our Facebook page at:http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_208032782545419&ap=1 to learn about the past youth experiences.
Living Board Game
November 19, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Please see Deacon Lauren about this event. This open to all youth and adults. There is a $10 charge for t-shirt. The youth and college age young adults are invited to participate in St. Agnes' House first Living Board Game. Participants will get sponsors before the game day on November 19. On November 19, at 1PM, we will gather at Mission House. Participants will receive an identity card for the role playing part of the game. Then each team will receive a map to the next station. At each station, there will be a challenge to complete. Once the challenge is completed to the satisfaction of the judge, they will be given a map to go to the next station. The game will continue until the last station is arrived at. This game will take us throughout Lexington. Along the way, adults in the game will be able to send you back a station or make you do another challenge before you can proceed to the mapped station. All participants are required to wear the game shirt, so all know who is involved in the game. All participants must have signed permission & medical form, which is available from their youth director or St. Agnes House.
Acolyte Festival
April 2012
Our 5th annual Acolyte Festival. Episcopalians from around the diocese will be joining us in the celebration of the Acolyte. Includes Acolyte Procession, workshops, games, snacks and lunch. Cost is $10 and reservations must be made in advance. After a morning celebratory Eucharist, we will move to workshops with something for everyone from the beginner to the most experienced acolyte. Then a wonderful time of lunch and fellowship will follow. The day ends with the Acolyte Olympics, which are a fun, hilarious team effort. One can watch and enjoy what others are doing or not miss being a part of these silly games.
Summer
Mission Trip: 2011 Chicago
Youth lead a mission trip. Youth who have completed grade 6 through 12 will go for a week to work on projects such as home repair for low income families, helping those in need, and changing their ideas and a community's ideas of youth and what they can and cannot do. Past trips include Hurricane Katrina rebuilding, Hospice ramp building in Florida, Appalachian home building and Outreach Center building. Cost is around $600.
In Summer 2011, we will be leaving on June 19 to aid the homeless, the hungry, those suffering, and make a difference in an urban setting.
Wonderful Wednesdays
Join us on Wednesday afternoons in the summer as we do fun events together. Events are for youth in 6th through 12th grade.All youth must have a permission slip for each event. Locations going include Gatti Town, Ice Skating, Mini-golf, Laser Tag, and more. See calendar for specific times and locations. Small charge for some activities.
African Mission Trip
Now in Summer 2012
Deacon Lauren will be taking a group of college age young adults to Uganda to work with a medical mission team in an orphanage. Originally, only 4 people could go, but since this opportunity came up, we can take more. The trip is in July. The cost is $3500. You must be an active member of Good Shepherd, have completed high school, be at least 18 years of age, and be able to know immediately if you can go. The cost covers all travel, food, and supply expenses.
In Uganda, effects of hunger, disease, and extreme poverty are devastating. It is estimated there are 2 million children orphaned because of AIDS in Uganda alone. Embrace Uganda has been working with 1800 orphans and 27 widows. We will also be visiting Ntinda with Agape Ministries where on any given Saturday some 300 children come and play, most of them orphaned and have nowhere else to go. We will be providing them with a meal. The Agape Children's Village, located in Bukerere, houses 87 orphans and is in the process of building a school. We will take part in a wide range of activities of healing, helping, loving, feeding, building, teaching, and sharing the love of God.
Pilgrimage 2012
Youth who are confirmed are invited to attend our pilgrimage. Past locations include Greece where we followed in the footsteps of St. Paul, and Ireland, where we explored our Celtic Spirituality. You must be an active (for two years), confirmed youth to attend this event.
