The core of St. Mark’s youth formation is Sunday mornings. From 10:15-11:15 a.m. during the program year (September thru May), the youth gather in one of the downstairs classrooms (7/8th grade in room 101; high school youth meet in room 103) to share, learn and grow as a group. They are also encouraged to attend and participate in one of the Sunday morning Eucharist services.
Junior High Class
The time that the 7/8th graders spend together on Sunday is framed by the Rite 13 program, which uses stories in scripture, both Old and New Testament, to help the youth discover what it means to be made in the image of God, valuing the way God has made them, and how to be and grow in relationship with God. Preparation for Confirmation is also woven into this time, and the youth are invited to meet and talk with the clergy, and make a decision in the spring of their 8th grade year, whether they wish to be confirmed.
The youth also participate in various service and social activities, including work at the Peoples’ Resource Center; packing lunches for PADS; volunteering at a PADS site; serving as ushers, readers, instrumentalists and acolytes in worship; helping at the St. Nicholas Day Brunch (benefiting the Peoples’ Resource Center); working at Feed My Starving Children; preparing and serving dinner after the monthly Evensong service; playing laser tag; attending the Christmas Progressive dinner. The adult leaders of the 7/8th grade youth on Sunday morning are Kim Reed and Paul Flynn. We ask and invite parents of youth and others in the church to serve as leaders for the other activities throughout the year.
Senior High Class
The Sunday morning program for the High School youth is called J2A (Journey to Adulthood), and focuses on an exploration of the “self” – who you are, how you are connected to others, what it means to be authentic, how individuals can connect to form community – and, ultimately, how that self can grow into being a healthy adult. As the program materials put it, “the focus is placed on the acquisition of skills and vocabulary which prepare and empower the young person to be able to someday fully participate in the adult community as competent and faithful.” Besides their time together on Sunday mornings, the group comes together for different social and service activities, among them volunteering at a PADS site; helping at the St. Mark’s Pumpkin Patch; the Progressive Christmas dinner; playing laser tag and paintball; preparing and serving dinner after the monthly Evensong service; serving as ushers, readers, instrumentalists and acolytes during worship. The adult leaders of the High School youth on Sunday morning are Rachel and Chad Alcorn, and Seth and Kelly Allison. As with the 7/8th grade youth, we ask and invite parents of youth and others in the church to serve as leaders for the other activities throughout the year.
If you are approached, please say ‘Yes.’ We need the help of everyone in the St. Mark’s community to help our youth grow into the vibrant, faithful and caring people that God made them to be.
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