I was recently explaining to somebody that one of the nice things about using the Lectionary is that, if one were to participate fully in our worship for three years, one would hear most of what the Bible has to teach us about our faith.
At St. James’ Church, we take a similar approach to planning the calendar for our 20s & 30s group, the St. Jamesians. We’ve divided events into three categories: Spiritual, Social and Service. The hope is that young adults who participate fully in our calendar will have a sense of the prevailing spirit of our parish and the variety of ways in which it encourages parishioners - of all ages - to live out their faith.
Spiritual events include our seasonal Bible studies and book groups, which we’ve found are most successful when they are held as a four week series, after a Sunday service. Our group includes cradle Episcopalians, people raised in different denominations, and people exploring church for the first time, as adults. Bible studies (e.g. Poetry & the Prophets) and book groups (e.g. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis) are usually, but not always, led by a member of the clergy. They encourage personal reflection, but they also present foundational Christian themes. Young adults at our church seem especially interested in learning about the Bible and basic theology. This seems to hold true whether they are re-visiting topics they encountered years ago in Sunday school or encountering material for the first time. Perhaps an interest in “the basics” has to do with the sense that one is renovating, shoring up, or even constructing, a foundation for one’s life of faith as an adult.
There is a social aspect of everything we do but certain events, such as our monthly brunch and a new, monthly dinner, have no agenda beyond encouraging friendship. Our church, like New York City, itself, has been blessed with a growing number of young adults in recent years. Many of our new parishioners are also new to this city. An interest in making friends and growing roots in the community is common among the young adults who seek out St. James’. Wonderful friendships and support systems begin, and are nurtured, here.
Service (i.e. Mission) projects are hugely popular. We’ve had two long weekend mission trips to New Orleans to assist in the Hurricane Katrina Recovery effort. Shorter, domestic mission trips work well for young adults because they tend to demand less money and time away from work than more elaborate, international trips. St. James’ also gives the 20s & 30s a regular slot in our Friday Night Dinner Program (our version of a soup kitchen.)
Most events, of course, fit more than one category. Our brunches are scheduled around worship. Our mission trips include spiritual reflection. Our evenings at the Dinner Program are a great way to spend a Friday night.
We’ve deliberately balanced spiritual, social and service elements in our new 20s & 30s Lenten Projects. 2010 will be the third year in which we undertake a Lenten discipline together, during Holy Week. In 2008, we assumed the food budget of a New York food stamp recipient. This year, we staffed the homeless shelter that St. James’ operates with Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. Next year, we’ll have a Lenten discipline that emphasizes worship. Our hope is to us. Holy Week to explore one aspect of our church in depth, every year.
By inviting our members to take part in its various ministries as a group, rather than just as individuals, St. James’ makes space for young adults by allowing newcomers to experience different ministries without having to wonder if they are ready, or “supposed” to be there. If you are a young adult, you are a St. Jamesian. And, if you are a St. Jamesian, you’re invited.
-Kate Salisbury, St. James Church, New York City |
