Coming of Age 2021-2022


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​Coming of Age (COA) is primarily for 9th graders. COA is similar to confirmation or a bar/bat mitzvah. The youth spend 8 months learning about the great religious questions and exploring their own beliefs or "credos". Each is assigned a mentor from the congregation who partners with them.  The year culminates with a service where the youth share their "credos" with the congregation (likely presented outdoors to family and shared online with congregation). If it  deemed safe to travel, youth will take a "UU pilgrimage" trip to Boston. Youth commit to attending Sunday services at least once a month. It is a true commitment but the rewards of the program come from full participation. It is an optional program and youth need to actually want to do the class for it to work. So we don't recommend "making" very reluctant kids do it.

Calendar and Time Commitment:
  • Calendar and Time Commitment:
    • Class -- twice a month meetings (usually 1st and 3rd Sundays from 6:30-8:00 PM)  
      Service Rehearsal -- Early May
      Coming of Age Service-- Sunday May 15th
      Boston Heritage Trip--T.B.D. Probably June 15-19 2022
      Attending Sunday Worship Service once a month
      Fundraising See Boston Heritage Trip -- In order to make the Boston Trip affordable, youth and their families are asked to help selling football and basketball parking for UNC home games in the church parking lot.  We ask for a commitment of at least 2 games.
Cost:  Coming of Age is an expensive program. We ask for a $100 donation at the beginning to pay for retreat, supplies, and celebration. If you can not afford this, just let me know. We don't want cost to be an impediment.

Boston Trip : If is safe to travel the trip will be scheduled for June 15-19 2022. The youth have an amazing time on this wonderful culmination to the year.

Trip Cost: TBA  but appr. $375 per youth, plus $150 for food on the trip. (this cost could change depending on our ability to fundraise). If you can not afford this then let Marion Hirsch know. We do not want cost to be an impediment.

Fund raising  Obviously $375 does not begin to cover the cost of a 5 day trip to a major city. The rest of the cost of the trip is covered by fund raising. The youth and families have to participate in fund raising. Fall Football parking usually raises about $3000. And then we will have basketball fund raising event in the spring.

Fall and Spring: If games occur we expect both youth and parents to sell parking for at least one football game and a basketball game  

Mentors: Each youth will have an adult mentor from the church who will attend some of the Coming of Age Sunday meetings and will attend service once a month with the youth. The mentors are carefully selected adults from the congregation who have a long and established relationship with Unitarian Universalism and are comfortable with youth. This part of the program is a highlight for youth and mentors alike. If you and your youth know of particular adults in the congregation you would like for your youth's mentor, please let Marion Hirsch know.

Leadership of Class: Marion Hirsch and Dana Lundquist 

For more information contact:
Marion Hirsch, Director of  Lifespan Religious Education
hirsch.communitychurch @ gmail.com