Young Adults
As young adults at Wildwood, we strive for healthy relationships, spiritual growth — especially growth in our relationship with God — and integrating our faith into our lives. We are part of a church that celebrates the unique gifts of young adults.
Within the church, we Gen-Xers and Millennials seek a closer relationship with God and desire to be of service. In 2011, prayer, study (including applying our intellect vigorously within our faith), spiritual friendship, and fellowship and community with other young adults are all becoming parts of our young adult experience at Wildwood. We invite you to join us.
As young adults, nearly all of us move away from home. In our rising-adult years, we work, explore vocational possibilities, gain knowledge and expertise, establish ourselves in the world of work, and build our career. We serve in institutions. We test our powers amid the world’s possibilities and we test out our values amid real-life experience.
As young adults we consider our choices in occupations, friends and peers, intimate relationships, and values. We step into our roles, and these roles become important parts of our identity: I am a husband. I am a wife. I am a father. I am a mother. I work at this job. I value this goal.
Our rising-adult years, generally, end up being about mastering work and social roles. We drive toward success. We strive to prove ourselves to the world. And we draw much of our identity and self-worth from our proficiency, our competence, and our achievements at work.
At the same time, we develop deeper friendships. As rising-adult friends, we spend time together and share in activities, laughs, good times, and adventures. Our friendships are sustained by mutual interests, by relaxation, games, sports, and fun, by shared music, meals, and trips, or by shared volunteer work. We can also just be together.
Ideally, through pressures and challenges, we help each other to broaden our horizons and to experience the world with passion and depth. In a close friendship, each friend cares about the other’s well-being. We are committed, loyal, trustworthy, and helpful, and we stick by each other.
As close friends we help each other move furniture, paint the house, and establish ourselves — and get through stressful events like money problems, marital disruptions, and job failures. We stay with our friends through illness and the death of a loved one. We provide solace and keep each other’s spirits up through setbacks, loss, grief, and other dark and difficult experiences.
We give each other advice and help each other wrestle with problems. We help each other face personal issues and tough truths, we hold each other accountable, and we challenge each other to lead a life of integrity.
As close friends, we support each other as we each explore the world, develop our skills, make the most of our talents, live out our dreams, and fulfill our promise and our destiny. And when our friends are flying high, we share their happiness and soar alongside them with joy.
As students, young professionals, and workers at Wildwood, we gather in this spirit of friendship. We also join in solidarity with our friends and neighbors all over the world, especially those who are oppressed or in need.
Our current ministry teams at Wildwood include those for our Tuesday-evening food pantry and helping our low-income neighbors through Westside Cares, for helping foster families, for home visitations and home repair for the infirm, and for programs and events (like cooking classes), including social and fun events.
In 2011, we will participate in volunteer and mission service opportunities, including justice work. (These could include Young Adult Service Communities, Partners in Service, Bread for the World, WCM and NCC and WCC charitable and mission trip opportunities, PRD justice issues, the World Conference on Racism, OCWM, OGM, OWL, DYYAM, and the Coalition for LGBT Concerns.)
Additional opportunities for us as young adults at Wildwood in 2011 may include camping, hiking, picnics, and other outdoor activities; the OGHS Live! webcast during Lent; Justice Leadership Engaging and Developing (LED) training; and Joshua Generation activities via the Urban Ministries Network.
We are pleased to be part of an inclusive church where everyone is welcomed and affirmed, and we are pleased to be part of a church that welcomes our vitality, vision, and voice. We hope you will join us, and decide which of these worthy efforts should be part of our main young adult activities at Wildwood in 2011.
Young Adults’ Activities at Wildwood
Sundays
9:30 Sunday school class, with retired minister Harry Strong
9:30 Choir rehearsal
10:30 Worship service
11:40 Fellowship in fellowship hall
Christianity 101
Every Tuesday morning, 8:00, with Pastor David Shaw
In the church’s fellowship hall
Coffee & Conversation
Every Tuesday morning, 9:00
In the church’s fellowship hall
Handbell Rehearsal
Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m.
