Rite 13, Grades 6&7

“Lord, you have searched me and known me…If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me…I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” From Psalm 139
 

During the two years of Rite 13, our young people laugh a lot and learn a lot.  They relate the Holy Scriptures to every day life. They explore various forms of prayer, ways to see and encounter God, the role of possessions in their lives, stereotypes, relationships..  The class talks about compassion and mercy and engages in mission projects. Rite 13 classes are hands-on, experiential.  These years are geared to building a community of trust and safety, reminding the young people that this is their church and they are welcome here. In the spring of the 7th grade, these young people celebrate a rite of passage, known as the Rite13, during worship. The Rite 13 marks their movement from childhood into man and womanhood.

*Rite 13 Goals:

• Celebrate God’s great gift of manhood and womanhood
• Affirm the power of creative energy and explore the ways that individuals can effect change in the world.
• Teach, by word and example, the principles of freedom, responsibility and friendship.  

*Rite 13 Objectives:

• Hold the building of community to be a primary concern.
• Honor each person’s particular talents as necessary for the life of the whole group.
• Unfold a basic understanding of God’s call for each of us and of how we, as members of the Church, support and nurture each other along the way. 

*Rite 13 Goals and Objectives are drawn from Leader Resource's "Teaching Rite 13" in the Journey to Adulthood.

4 Guiding Scriptures for the Rite 13 Years

• Psalm 139 - the centerpiece of the Rite 13 ceremony.
• Genesis 1:26-31 “God created humankind in his image…God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”
• Luke 2:42-52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.”
• Matthew 25: 14-30 “A man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”