Church School
 Ministry - Children

Church School

St. Mark's is blessed to have one of the larger groups of young people in our Diocese. As a result, they are constantly challenged to find the best teachers, implement the most relevant curriculum, and always seek to find that which will assist their children in their Christian journey. Classes are held for children ages three years through (on alternate years) sixth grade. For seventh through twelfth grades, they have Rite-13 and Journey to Adulthood (J2A), led by a crew of adults and their Youth Minister. If you feel called to teach, assist in a classroom, work on special projects, bring in a snack, or act as a resource person, please contact either Becky Jenkins or Phyllis Middaugh.

Three Years Through Sixth Grade

During the regular school year the Chapel Band sings with the Three Years through Sixth Grade group every Sunday 9:00-9:15 in the church. They are then dismissed to their Sunday School classes.

Three to five year-old children enjoy a new class using the "Hands On Bible Curriculum."  This is a fun, Bible-based curriculum that is an excellent interactive program for this age group.

Grades 1 and 2 continue with the "Godly Play" program, which is based on telling the stories of the Bible with story boxes and a time for reflective play.  This has been an incredibly well-received program and has even incorporated, for special stories, older classes.

Grades 3 through 5 are using "Living the Good News." This is a lectionary-based, material-rich program that the teachers have enjoyed immensely.  It also provides a bridge between class and home, which is a big plus.

Grade 6 also will be using "Living the Good News." Every other year a sixth grade gets ready to enter Rite 13 as a group. This is an excellent formation time for the exciting years ahead.

Seventh Through Twelfth Grade ― Rite-13

Rite-13 (a name based on a liturgical celebration integral to the program) celebrates the gift of gender and provides a foundation for the remainder of the program. Youths enter the two-year program anywhere between 11 and 13 years of age (they should turn 13 sometime during the two years). When they turn 13, this event is celebrated in the church with a service loosely modeled on the Jewish bar mitzvah.

Rite-13 is a program consisting of scriptural learning and its validity for today, plus games, laughter, and fellowship. All activities are geared to build this community, to establish trust and safety, and to remind young people again and again that this is their church and that they are safe and welcome in it.

Journey to Adulthood ― J2A

J2A leads to knowing oneself and how the young person relates to the society and to God. At the very beginning of the program the leaders hold a cookout―cooking, cleaning, etc.―while the youth play. At the next meeting, the youth arrive at church to find no leaders. but a series of signs directing them to the kitchen where the ingredients for dinner await and the responsibility is now theirs. The dynamics have radically changed. At the end of the evening, there is a directed exercise in which the youth have to identify and defend the role they played in the preparation of dinner. The two years are off and running! The work of knowing oneself and how one relates to the society and to God has begun.

At the end of two years of this program, the J2A group is given a course in preparation for Confirmation. It is their chance to stand before the community of faith and make a public declaration of their understanding of their place in the journey of faith and their desire and willingness to continue along the journey with us, all together, in the Body of Christ.

After completion of the fourth year and before entering the YAC program our youth make a holy pilgrimage, to a place they mutually decide on, for one reason: to seek and find Christ. They return to the community ready to receive the new status of Young Adult.

Young Adults In the Church ― YAC

Following their return from the pilgrimage, our youth are reintroduced to the congregation of Young Adults in the Church. From this point on they are in charge of their own program. There are advisors to assist in Bible study, development of service projects, outreach, and ministry. The entire church community supports them, listens to them, learns from them, allows service in meaningful ways, celebrates their successes, and lovingly corrects their mistakes.

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