Newsletter article: they came of age
An article celebrating the conclusion of the church's first Coming of Age program in 30 years, an extensive year long program including two weekend long events, led by myself and the Director of Religious Education.
They came to us at the beginning of the year, already beginning to grow out of their child selves. They came open to the process before them. They came ready to grow and learn and come of age. Twelve remarkable young people came to us. And we have all been changed by what we have done together.
We began the year with a ritual cutting of the chord. Parents gave their youth permission to come of age and youth asked for the freedoms and responsibilities that go along with that process. The youth reflected on what they were leaving behind and what they were moving towards. Together, we embarked on a journey.
We grappled with the big theological questions. Why do bad things happen? What is prayer? What is the point of social justice? What happens when we die? Is there a God? Or a Goddess? Or many deities? What does the holy look like? What do we have faith in? We discussed Unitarian Universalist theology and we looked at many beliefs held by other world religions. We asked more questions than we answered.
We were accompanied on the journey by mentors, chosen by the youth to walk with them. They joined us in class regularly and helped to create an inspiring learning environment. They provided encouragement and support. They engaged in deep conversation. They learned and grew along with the youth.
From the Chalice Circle Lock-in to the Wilderness Journey, these youth engaged deeply with the process of reflection and growth. Above all else, they learned about themselves. They came to understand their own values and the stirrings of their own hearts. They came to see themselves as part of a larger whole, as part of our church community, as part of our UU faith, as part of our community of earthlings. They explored themselves in a process that led them to spend some time alone in the woods. To connect with themselves and the earth and all that is holy in a new way.
Finally, they wrote. They opened their hearts and shared something intimate with their church home. They wrote their statement of faith. They shared what they believe in right now, knowing that it will change as they continue to grow. They had the courage to share deeply and profoundly, knowing that this is a safe place for them to express themselves. In their faith statements we found incredible diversity and yet, there was a thread of connection that showed that they were one of us.
Words cannot express the gratitude I have for these youth, now one step closer to adults. They have taken this journey seriously. They have opened themselves to the process and to one another. They have created a strong and vibrant community among one another. And they have shown such depth and character along the way. To say that I have come to love them is not enough.
We must thank so many people for making this opportunity possible. First, I would like the teachers who went above and beyond what we usually ask of RE teachers. Amy Shaw, Andrea Wolfe, Sue Guilland, and Zach Enos created a classroom environment of joy and growth each week. They helped with two weekends and many other special events. They made this program possible.
We must also thank the mentors who gave of their time, but more importantly gave of themselves. They opened their hearts to someone and walked with them on this journey. Amy Shaw, Bea Sousa, Cindy Peters, Eleanor Johnson, Elsbeth Fritz, John Taylor, Katie Frederick, Nancy Chamberlain, Ron Moore, Steve Robert, Steve Chalk, and Velvet Miller deserve our hearty thanks!
This program would not have been possible without so much support from parents! Cooking meals, staying up in the wee hours of the morning, shuttling youth around even more than you already do, and helping them to be the remarkable youth that they are. The parents brought us these beautiful children and walked through the process with them as they grew and came of age. We could not be more grateful for them and all that did! Our wonderful parents are: Andrea & Michael Wolfe, George Elvin & Meg Calkins, Janay & Chris Sander, Jay & Karen Moorman, Jerry & Linda McKean, Kenny Dubree & Cindy Meyer, Maggie & John Bartlett, Stephanie & Randy Dillinger, Steve Chalk and Susan & John Taylor.
A special thanks must go to John and Susan Taylor for making the Wilderness Journey so remarkable. They became camp parents, keeping the fire going and overseeing the meals. They saw places to jump in and help so that Nadine, Elizabeth and the other teachers were able to focus on the programming we were offering to the youth.
And finally, we would like to thank the youth themselves. They chose to take this journey with us. They chose to be intentional about their growth process. And they have given all those adults who went with them such gifts along the way. They are valuable members of this church community and we are grateful to know them. They are: Anna Dillinger, Annie Elvin, Charlie Dubree, Eloise McKean, Grace Moorman, Iris Chalk, Jack Elvin, Josh Sander, Riley Taylor, Sarah Bartlett, Sophie Taylor, and Taegan Carpenter. If you haven’t had the chance to get to know them, please welcome them into this new phase of their lives and see how their light and their wisdom might be a blessing in your life.
They came to us at the beginning of the year, already beginning to grow out of their child selves. They came open to the process before them. They came ready to grow and learn and come of age. Twelve remarkable young people came to us. And we have all been changed by what we have done together.
We began the year with a ritual cutting of the chord. Parents gave their youth permission to come of age and youth asked for the freedoms and responsibilities that go along with that process. The youth reflected on what they were leaving behind and what they were moving towards. Together, we embarked on a journey.
We grappled with the big theological questions. Why do bad things happen? What is prayer? What is the point of social justice? What happens when we die? Is there a God? Or a Goddess? Or many deities? What does the holy look like? What do we have faith in? We discussed Unitarian Universalist theology and we looked at many beliefs held by other world religions. We asked more questions than we answered.
We were accompanied on the journey by mentors, chosen by the youth to walk with them. They joined us in class regularly and helped to create an inspiring learning environment. They provided encouragement and support. They engaged in deep conversation. They learned and grew along with the youth.
From the Chalice Circle Lock-in to the Wilderness Journey, these youth engaged deeply with the process of reflection and growth. Above all else, they learned about themselves. They came to understand their own values and the stirrings of their own hearts. They came to see themselves as part of a larger whole, as part of our church community, as part of our UU faith, as part of our community of earthlings. They explored themselves in a process that led them to spend some time alone in the woods. To connect with themselves and the earth and all that is holy in a new way.
Finally, they wrote. They opened their hearts and shared something intimate with their church home. They wrote their statement of faith. They shared what they believe in right now, knowing that it will change as they continue to grow. They had the courage to share deeply and profoundly, knowing that this is a safe place for them to express themselves. In their faith statements we found incredible diversity and yet, there was a thread of connection that showed that they were one of us.
Words cannot express the gratitude I have for these youth, now one step closer to adults. They have taken this journey seriously. They have opened themselves to the process and to one another. They have created a strong and vibrant community among one another. And they have shown such depth and character along the way. To say that I have come to love them is not enough.
We must thank so many people for making this opportunity possible. First, I would like the teachers who went above and beyond what we usually ask of RE teachers. Amy Shaw, Andrea Wolfe, Sue Guilland, and Zach Enos created a classroom environment of joy and growth each week. They helped with two weekends and many other special events. They made this program possible.
We must also thank the mentors who gave of their time, but more importantly gave of themselves. They opened their hearts to someone and walked with them on this journey. Amy Shaw, Bea Sousa, Cindy Peters, Eleanor Johnson, Elsbeth Fritz, John Taylor, Katie Frederick, Nancy Chamberlain, Ron Moore, Steve Robert, Steve Chalk, and Velvet Miller deserve our hearty thanks!
This program would not have been possible without so much support from parents! Cooking meals, staying up in the wee hours of the morning, shuttling youth around even more than you already do, and helping them to be the remarkable youth that they are. The parents brought us these beautiful children and walked through the process with them as they grew and came of age. We could not be more grateful for them and all that did! Our wonderful parents are: Andrea & Michael Wolfe, George Elvin & Meg Calkins, Janay & Chris Sander, Jay & Karen Moorman, Jerry & Linda McKean, Kenny Dubree & Cindy Meyer, Maggie & John Bartlett, Stephanie & Randy Dillinger, Steve Chalk and Susan & John Taylor.
A special thanks must go to John and Susan Taylor for making the Wilderness Journey so remarkable. They became camp parents, keeping the fire going and overseeing the meals. They saw places to jump in and help so that Nadine, Elizabeth and the other teachers were able to focus on the programming we were offering to the youth.
And finally, we would like to thank the youth themselves. They chose to take this journey with us. They chose to be intentional about their growth process. And they have given all those adults who went with them such gifts along the way. They are valuable members of this church community and we are grateful to know them. They are: Anna Dillinger, Annie Elvin, Charlie Dubree, Eloise McKean, Grace Moorman, Iris Chalk, Jack Elvin, Josh Sander, Riley Taylor, Sarah Bartlett, Sophie Taylor, and Taegan Carpenter. If you haven’t had the chance to get to know them, please welcome them into this new phase of their lives and see how their light and their wisdom might be a blessing in your life.