Formation for Children and Youth at Saint Mark’s

At Saint Mark’s, we consider it a joy to share in the formation of children and youth as disciples of Christ. To that end, we offer a comprehensive formation program on Sunday mornings from September to June, from 10-10:45 a.m. Registration can be completed through Realm, and the topics for the week can be found here.

In our experience, the Christian faith is strengthened through both teaching and the experiences of daily life. We hope, too, that children and youth will participate in Sunday worship and educational offerings regularly, so that their spiritual lives are enriched as much as possible.

As a parish within the Episcopal tradition, the Anglican understanding of faith through the lenses of scripture, tradition, and reason naturally guides a vision of children and youth formation at Saint Mark’s. Our formation offerings will aid children and youth in joining together both heart and mind in their Christian life journeys.

We seek to introduce children to the Christian narrative and the church’s liturgical life through prayer, song, wonder, and play; give children a strong acquaintance with the Biblical text through engagement with Holy Scripture and individual, creative responses to Biblical stories; encourage youth to explore the meaning of the Christian faith in the context of Scripture, tradition, and reason, as well as to engage in opportunities for service and outreach.

Age Groupings and Curriculum

Schola (pre-school) (ages 3-6)

Schola is a unique Christian formation program that combines music, games, and storytelling to explore the Christian faith. In Schola, children learn to make a joyful and beautiful noise to the Lord, learn simple songs to sing together with their classmates, and also as a family at home. Schola is also when children begin to encounter the larger Bible narrative systematically in Godly Play, an imaginative Montessori-based curriculum that emphasizes wonder and play in exploring the great stories of the faith. While Godly Play is rooted in Scripture, it is deeply liturgical and sacramental in its understanding of the Christian faith.

Elementary (ages 7-11)

This class offers an opportunity for children to gain a more hands-on familiarity with the Bible as a text, while continuing to gain a deeper appreciation of the overall Scriptural narrative in conjunction with basic theological concepts. Children are encouraged to delve more deeply into Bible passages using Storymakers, a curriculum that invites children to use their imagination to enter God’s story. Children will have the opportunity to be creative as they encounter Biblical stories and learn how to apply what they have learned to their own lives.

Teen Group (ages 12-18)

At Saint Mark’s, we understand that teens are navigating many feelings and changes in this season of their lives, and Christian Formation should be tailored to address their questions and experiences. This class involves a deep dive into the Episcopal faith, making space for rich discussion that addresses the many questions and concerns of today’s youth. This year, the teen class will be learning from Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices, which reviews the Church’s liturgy, liturgical calendar, hierarchy, and more.

For more information on children and youth formation at Saint Mark’s, please contact Mother Dure or Gabriela Montequin.