Y.A.C.
Young Adults in the Church
The Episcopal Church’s Young Adults in the Church (YAC) program functions as an important bridge between the Church’s youth activities and full adult involvement in the Church. The YAC program is designed for older teenagers with participants often involved for most of their high school years. In the standard progression, YAC group members have had previous experiences in Sunday School, Rite13 and J2A. They are now confirmed members of the Church and are encouraged to fully engage themselves with the Church as active adults. The key purpose of the Young Adults in the Church program is to facilitate this critical transition. The YAC group typically meets each Sunday in the Church office. Newcomers are always welcomed – prior experience is not required!
Beginning in September 2009, Kirsten and Rob Russ (with future assistance from Christie and Gray Angell) have led the YAC group. All of this year’s members are first time YAC participants.
However, even though they are a new to YAC, these teenagers are not new to one another. In the first half of 2009, they were together as the J2A group with leaders Renee and Rod Schluter and Jamie and Richard Bucknall. As J2A members they shared the following experiences in 2009: Confirmation classes with supply priest Rev. Paul Crowell ; Confirmation in June 2009 with Bishop Marble officiating; and a retreat to the Smoky Mountains with shopping in Gatlinburg and fun at the Dollywood theme park.
So far this fall, YAC members have already participated in an outreach event, raising funds and walking at the recent Crop Walk at Tanglewood Park to help fight hunger both locally and globally. They have also experienced youth ministry by preparing and leading a fun lesson on “Elijah” for the Elementary Sunday School children. Currently, YAC members are working to help support St. Clement’s Church financially by making baked spaghetti which they will package and freeze for sale at the Church’s fall bazaar later in November. The Church’s annual meeting on November 8th is an important milestone for these Young Adults in the Church. The meeting is their first opportunity to participate and vote as confirmed members of the congregation!
In our YAC meetings we have considered a range of other activities for later this class year. In the upcoming months, each member will take a turn leading the YAC class in a discussion topic of his or her choice. Later in the year, we hope to teach another Elementary Sunday School lesson. We look forward to participating in the many special volunteer opportunities associated with Christmas, Easter and other church holidays as well as serving as weekly ushers, greeters, acolytes, and brownie bakers. We also want to explore activities with other youth groups in our diocese, such as “Happening #54” in March 2010.
