Youth Ministries at Calvary Church
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (I Timothy 4:12)
In addition to Sunday morning education classes, teens in grades 7-12 have many opportunities to participate in the life of the church. Teens serve an integral role as acolytes in the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services on Sunday mornings and participate actively in the monthly Sunday evening services held in the Great Hall.
Other opportunities for Episcopal youth include participating in the Diocesan Youth Council (DYC) events; being a part of the Happening community in West Tennessee, a spiritual retreat experience for teens; and going to various camps, retreats, and mission trips.
EYC,
the Episcopal Youth Community meets most Sunday afternoons
from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Church. Teens gather for dinner,
fellowship, cool music, silly games, and inspiration. Sunday evenings
end on a mellow note with student-led compline from the Book of
Common Prayer. EYC also has special events such as scavenger
hunts, lock-ins, trips to the movies, and field trips. A great
team of adult EYC leaders includes Valentina Shands-Puppione, Henry
Allen, Beau Snowden, Kelly Wiseman, Eyleen Farmer and Ellen Coleman.
New this year is "Tuesdays with Bryan and Ellen" on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Teens in grade 10 and above are invited to meet at Barth House on the University of Memphis campus from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for deep conversations about real life and real relationships with God. This is a great opportunity for a break from all the ordinary (and stressful) stuff of a school week.
Diocesan
Youth Council (DYC)
DYC is an organization comprised primarily of students whose mission is to sponsor youth events
throughout the Diocese of West Tennessee. This
includes the Feast of Lights, Bishop's Bash,
Episcopalooza, and Happening. Many of Calvary's youth are active participants and several serve on the council.
Lock-ins, Retreats & Trips
Several Calvary teens spent part of their recent Christmas vacation leading a Vacation Bible School for children at the LAMB Institute in Honduras. It proved to be a life-changing experience for everyone who went. The Rite-13 class is committed to ongoing support of one of the children of the LAMB Institute.
J2A, Journey to Adulthood, is a complete youth ministry program of spiritual formation for 6th-12th grades.
It uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, outreach ministries and both serious and playful activities to underscore its core principles:
1) Manhood and womanhood are free gifts from God.
2) Adulthood must be earned.
There are three two-year segments of the program:
Rite-13: The first two years (6th & 7th or 7th & 8th graders) focus on celebrating the individuality of each young person and their creative potential. The Rite-13 liturgy (A celebration of Manhood and Womanhood) is the community expression of this.
J2A: The middle portion of the program (8th & 9th or 9th & 10th graders), engages youth with the skills and critical thinking involved in adulthood. The youth plan and embark on a pilgrimage together at the end of this segment.
YAC: A mentor-based program helping older teens (11th and 12th grade) to discern and carry out a ministry within their church or in the larger community. Vocation and development of a personal credo are also emphasized.