The Good Shepherd Youth Community is for all students in grades 6-12. The community comes together on Sunday mornings and evenings, Wednesday evenings, as well as for special events throughout the year.
Sunday Mornings for Youth - 10:00 - 11:00 AM
The Passage: Meets in Room 305
The Passage is for 6th graders. It serves as a bridge from Sunday School to the Rite 13 programs. Students will explore how different individuals have responded to God’s call in the Old Testament, New Testament, and in our contemporary times. The following year students will begin their preparation to enter into Rite 13, focusing on their own response to God's call. These young people also study the sacraments of the church.
Rite 13: Meets in Room 302
Rite 13 is for 7th and 8th graders. It is named for the liturgical rite of passage that is integral to this program, prepares young people to make their mature profession of their faith in Jesus and be presented to the Bishop for confirmation during his annual visit to the parish. We offer confirmation class for those in the eighth grade or older who are considering confirmation.
Making It Real and Relevant: Meets in Room 303
Making It Real and Relevant is a new curriculum for 9th and 10th graders. This lectionary based curriculum engages students in the scripture passages read in church each week. The lessons make use of group discussion, activities, popular music, and video clips that encourages the participants to discover that God, the bible, and one's faith and values are all real and relevant to their lives.
Theater Theology: Meets in Room 304
Theater Theology is for 11th and 12th graders. Students will watch classic and contemporary films and television shows and discuss theminthe context of Biblical narrative and the teachings of Jesus. We will focus on approaching popular culture with an eye for theological reflection, seeking to encounter God on a daily basis.
Sunday Evenings: Sunday Night Sabbath
Sunday Night Sabbath is a time for fellowship, fun, and relaxation. Junior and Senior High groups will meet separately with a shared meal and choir in between. We'll eat, play, chat, and just spend time together as we rest and prepare for the week ahead.
| Junior High |
Grades 6-8 |
5:00 - 6:00 PM |
Parish Hall |
| Dinner |
all |
6:00 - 6:30 PM |
Parish Hall |
| Senior High |
Grades 9-12 |
6:30 - 7:30 PM |
Parish Hall |
Wednesday Evenings: God in Media & Culture
On Wednesday evenings we will look at the intersection of faith with television, movies, music and the internet. We'll watch video clips, look at song lyrics, and interpret media images as we discuss how faith and culture are intertwined. Youth will be invited to present "issues of the day" for discussion.
| All Youth |
Grades 6-12 |
6:30 - 7:10 PM |
Room 304 |
Confirmation
Confirmation is the expression of a mature commitment to Christ, a time in which adults and youth, confirm before the congregation that they have been sufficiently instructed in the Christian faith and are ready to affirm their confession of Jesus as Savior and Lord. To be confirmed, young people must be 16 years of age, attend a minimum of 70% of Sunday morning sessions, and attend confirmation class. A mentoring adult encourages the candidates through the process. Confirmation class will be offered in the fall of 2010.
Missions
Home Works Mission Trip
An opportunity for rising 6th graders thru rising 9th graders to have their first experiences of mission work. The church is our home base and the Augusta urban community is our work place. Young people from all over the region gather together for worship, work, and play. Home Works begins on a Friday and ends on a Tuesday. To learn more about the Home Works organization you can visit their website: www.homeworksofamerica.org.
Senior High Missons
An opportunity for rising 10th graders thru freshmen in college to participate in mission work. Previous mission trips have taken us to to Sewanee, TN and Mission on the Bay in Bay St. Louis, MS. We spend an entire week working in construction in the destination community. Each year the destination and dates are selected by the youth. These dates are announced in early January and registration is due in early April.
Pilgrimage
A Pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place as a part of the discipline and life of faith. It is a time set apart to seek and find God in new ways and new places. Following the example of countless pilgrims who have gone before, pilgrim participants experience God's providential care and presence anew. In the summer of 2011, rising 12th grade students and college freshmen will journey to France for their pilgrimage.
Basketball
Good Shepherd participates in the Augusta Christian Basketball Association. The association offers teams for girls and boys ages 7-19. League play begins in early January and ends in late February. The cost is approximately $25 which includes the registration fee and uniforms. Teams are contingent upon having enough players and coaches for each age division. Registration occurs annually beginning in September.
Acolytes
All people in grades 6 thru 12 who feel called to serve at the Lord's table are encouraged to acolyte. The acolytes meet regularly throughout the year for planning and training.
Diocesan Youth Programs
The Youth Commission of the Diocese of Georgia provides several opportunities for junior and senior high students to gather for overnight or weekend events with a variety of emphases. For more information, please check out the website: www.edogy.org.
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