J2A, Grades 8&9

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit…all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ…we were all baptized into one body…If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it…faith, hope, love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 12:1-13:13 

In the 2nd two year phase of the Journey to Adulthood, the youth focus on acquiring the skills of adulthood which will enable them to participate effectively in the church and the world.

*J2A Goals:

• Celebrate the transition from youth to adulthood
• Train young people in skills of adulthood
• Explore our faith heritage
• Experience the strength to be found in community and in liturgy

J2A studies follow the four aspects of a whole person: self, society, sexuality, and spirituality. The foundational skills and affirmations that are taught during the first year include:

*Six Skills:

• "Active Listening-the ability to listen creatively and constructively to others and to the self
• Negotiation-the ability to recognize difference and conflict and to manage compromise while showing respect to all parties.
• Assertion- the ability to express one’s opinions and feelings without aggression or violence.
• Research and information management- the ability to see what questions need to be asked, to track the path to find the answers and to make the new-found information useful to the self and to others.
• Partnership- the ability to establish relationships built in mutual responsibility and accountability.
• Leadership- the ability to think ‘proactively’ to share the ownership of ideas, inspiration and effort, and to recognize skills and interests in others."

The Six Skills of Adulthood lead to the establishment of the

*Six Affirmations:

• "I know how to listen to myself and to others.
• I work to my strengths. I can recognize strengths in others, and will help them to work to theirs.
• I make a difference. I have something of value to contribute. I know how to serve.
• I actively build relationships. Community is one key to a successful life.
• I recognize that there are four steps to a task: the need, the plan, the process, the result.
• I practice compassion, celebration and the mystery of life."

*J2A Goals and Skills/Affirmations of Adulthood are drawn from Leader Resource's "Goals and Objectives, Journey to Adulthood".

The six skills and six affirmations are used to develop a deeper understanding of the Christian’s role in Society. During the first J2A year, the youth study Christian Non-Violence and the lives of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. They also address issues of poverty and hunger, consumerism, and environmental concerns.  The J2A year concludes with an “Urban Adventure”: a mission project and a scavenger hunt in Boston that pulls together the young people’s new skills and insights.

The Sexuality unit of the second J2A year includes classes on communication skills and elements of loving relationships as well as topics such as gender proving, media myths, and AIDS awareness. Throughout the two years of J2A, the young people focus on Spirituality through their prayer life and work on Bible literacy skills.

The Confirmation Class, led by Rev. Ray Kostulias, follows the J2A program and begins in January of the second J2A year.