8th Grade Coming of Age (C.O.A.)
BVUUF offers a 20 session Coming of Age class for 8th graders.
Parent Information Meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, 7-8 p.m. Optional meeting for those interested in more information about COA.
Opening Ceremony and Potluck, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Time: Tuesday evenings, 6:30 – 8 p.m. about twice a month plus an Opening Ceremony, two service projects, two weekend retreats (October and May) culminating in a Celebration Dinner and Sunday Service.
Place: Classes take place at BVUUF. The Fall Retreat takes place at a cabin, the Spring Retreat takes place at BVUUF.
Tuition: $200.00 (members, sliding scale fee and scholarships available); $250.00 (non-members)
Who: Eighth (and sometimes Ninth) Graders. The Adult Guides for 2011/2012 are Andy Gorman, Christiana Olivio, Brian “Bear” Fawns, and Emily Conger, Youth Coordinator with the Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry. Note: Because the class is a path to deepening ties with the congregation, non-member participants must be sponsored by a member family.
What:
Our eighth grade youth are starting to leave their childhood. This is an important passage in the journeys of their lives. While these youth are still maturing physically and emotionally, they have reached a stage of mental development that gives them better reasoning powers. We believe that it is our mission as adults in our church community to help them:
• Assume responsibility for their own physical, mental, and spiritual being;
• Gain a sense of self-confidence and realize that their feelings are valid and that their opinions matter;
• Expand their vision of the world by allowing them to encounter differing views, cultures, and life experiences;
• Understand they have an important role in their church, local, and world communities;
• Develop a personal value system; and
• Realize they are completely and non-judgmentally accepted in our church community, and that it is their sanctuary.
This program has been developed as an attempt to provide these things to our youth, to mark their passage out of childhood, and to deepen ties to our congregation.
The Coming of Age Program includes*:
4 sessions of Woodworking Shop to build a personal “Box” at Greg Layer’s wood shop.
2 sessions for making a handmade book with artist, Kay Arnold.
An Opening Ceremony and Potluck
A Weekend Fall Retreat at a cabin in Estes Park YMCA of the Rockies
A Fire Circle Ceremony
Tuesday classes, including “Who Wants to Be a Donut-aire?” “After Death Beliefs,” and “Exploring Values.”
A Solo Vigil and Overnight in May
Celebration Dinner
Youth Sunday with the gift from the congregation
- see the complete schedule below
At the close of the Coming of Age Year, youth are invited to various roles in congregational life depending on their skills and interests, including being a Worship Associate for the Sunday Services, providing music during Sunday Services, teaching in the Children’s Religious Education Program, singing in the adult choir, and being a counselor at Summer Camp. It is our wish to provide meaningful roles and participation in the life of the congregation in recognition of their maturation and spiritual growth.
For the 2011/2012 Coming of Age Calendar, click here.
Support the Coming of Age Program! In order to provide the sliding scale tuition and scholarships for those who need them, please consider making a donation to the RE Scholarship Fund. Checks may be made out to BVUUF memo: RE Scholarship Fund. Thank-you. We are grateful for your support.