Coming of Age
a Unitarian Universalist Rite of Passage
Supporting teens on an exploration of personal faith
Coming of Age is a Unitarian Universalist Rite of Passage that welcomes and affirms youth as they begin their journey towards adulthood. Participants are supported on this journey by program facilitators, ministers, members of their congregation, and the LIAC religious education staff. Coming of Age is comparable to a confirmation or bar/bat mitzvah.
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Coming of Age Recognition
Personal Credos
At the end of the Coming of Age program, participants craft and present a worship service, celebrating their journeys and how they have grown. During the service, participants share personal “credo” statements. These can be presented as a statement of faith, a poem, a visual representation, or other mediums that feels authentic to the youth.
What will I do in COA?
Your schedule is busy, we know, so we are excited that you (and probably your guardians) have committed to this journey. When you enroll in Coming of Age you are joining a covenantal community, so there are some expectations.
- Attend and participate in orientation and the five meeting sessions
- You will be given reading about Unitarian Universalism
- If you’ve met one Unitarian Universalist, you’ve met one Unitarian Universalist. Our faith is comprised of people from all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. You will have guided conversations with guardians, mentors, or other adults in the UU community.
- Your mentor will provide guidance on the selection and completion of two projects that reflect your needs, personal interests, and unique skills:
- One project is focused on the larger faith community
- The other is centered around your home congregation.
- Completion of community service hours
The Gifts of Coming of Age
“But Mom, I don’t want to.”
If you are asking “why should I give a bunch of my free time over to something for church?”, we hear you. We also know from experience that your commitment will be rewarded.
Explore your personal religious philosophies and ideas
A safe, brave space to talk about difficult issues of being a teenager
New friends who share your values
Coming of Age offers parents/guardians of youth participants:
Support, with small group ministry-style gatherings
A safe, compassionate, affirming religious community for your young person
Development of open communication between you and your youth
FAQs
You have questions. We have answers.
Below are answers to common questions. If you have further questions, you can reach us at owl-coa@liacuu.org.
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Who is COA for?
Coming of Age is open to any youth participating in religious education at a LIAC member congregation. Participants are in grades 8 - 9.
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When is it?
The program runs in the second part of the congregational year. Specific dates will be outlined when registration has opened for that year.
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How much does it cost?
The program fee is sliding scale ($200-$400) in an effort to make it accessible to everyone. No youth will be turned away because of an inability to pay, and confidentiality will be maintained.
This fee does not cover the Boston Heritage trip. All participants will be set up with a peer-to-peer fundraising platform to support their efforts. It is the participant’s responsibility to raise the money (not the parent). -
Who is my mentor?
You can choose your mentor or we can help you find one. Your mentor should be a UU who you look up to. Maybe there is a cool person in your church you’ve wanted to connect with or maybe your guardians have close friends in the congregation who you already have a trusting relationship with.
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How do I sign up?
Complete the registration, including your medical form. After you register you will be asked to submit the registration fee online.
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What do I have to do?
First and foremost, bring your whole, wonderful self to Coming of Age. Beyond that, there are a few expectations for completion of the program.
During Orientation, participants and mentors will receive the COA Handbook, detailing the program requirements. -
What is a covenant?
A covenant is a living, breathing aspiration that we commit to every day. Covenants describe the bonds that connect us to each other. It’s not a rulebook, but how we strive to treat one another.
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Will this help me get into college?
It couldn't hurt! Most Coming of Age graduates go on to live exciting, successful lives, often making the world a better place. (No, we don't have data to support this, but we've seen it!)