J2A (Sunday, 10:00 am)
J2A, which includes young people in grades 8 & 9 the first year, and grades 9 & 10 the second year, is led by Jason Boling, Tanya Sturgill, Beth Prewitt, and Brad Newsome.
J2A is the second two-year section of the Journey to Adulthood. Blending action and contemplation, this is the core of the journey, helping young people grow in their faith and life. This stage of the program focuses on six skills (active listening, negotiation, assertion, research, partnership, and leadership) in order to explore and celebrate God’s call toward adulthood. Topics are structured around Self, Society, Sexuality and Spirituality. Each topic is structured around social justice issues like poverty and violence; spiritual practices like healing, prayer beads and meditation; intimate relationships; and vocation in life. The group is offered an opportunity to participate in the preparation for confirmation during their second year, and to make an adult profession of faith at confirmation during the Great Vigil of Easter. The second year culminates in a pilgrimage (Alaska, 2009) to seek an encounter with the divine, and to learn about themselves and other cultures. They return to the congregation as young adults.
The J2A group makes an Urban Adventure during the summer of their first year of J2A. They use their newfound skills in small groups to find locations and accomplish tasks in a city-wide scavenger hunt.