Formation

St. John’s education programs attempt to build a stronger congregation and try to stimulate the imaginations and spiritual lives of its members, while creating an opportunity for reaching out to others in the surrounding communities.

The primary components of formation (Christian Education) include the following:

Overview of children’s formation at St. John’s       Register your children now

Baptism                                                             

In the Episcopal Church, children become full members of the Church at their Baptism. Baptism is “full initiation into Christ’s Body, the Church”. Children are welcome as members of the worshiping community. We offer a special Family Service in the church as part of the church school program, and children may attend the entire service or part of it, as their parent’s desire. Baptism is a journey in which we grow towards maturity in Christ.

Eucharist

As full members of the Church, baptized children may receive Holy Communion. Each of us understands Communion at our own level. None of us understands its Mystery completely. Even a small child understands at a profound level the difference between being included or excluded at the family meal. Instruction for receiving is available on request, but is not required. Children who do not receive will be blessed at the altar rail.





Making Room for Children

This Christian formation process rests upon the belief...

1. That God and the child have a unique relationship with one another, particularly before the age of six.
2. That the child's spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means
3. That the growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child.
4. Those children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship.

Joining in worship at the Sunday Eucharist is the most important way we learn what it means to be Christians. Children, like adults learn by worshiping Sunday after Sunday in a number of ways:

• They learn they belong to Christ and are always at home with his Church.
• They come to know the traditional and beautiful prayers of the liturgy, taking them into their memories and their lives.
• They build a fund of memorable shared experiences and Christian community that shape their growth and serve them as adults.
• They are enriched by the beauty of the music as an expression of praise and response to God.
• They hear stories from the Bible, read and interpreted and begin to understand how God speaks to us through Scripture and Sacraments.
• They celebrate the Sacraments as signs of God’s love and favor towards us.
• They discover their value and identity as children of God and Disciples of Christ.

St. John’s uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as the primary curriculum for its Sunday school program. A brief description of this program’s components follows.

The Sheepfold: An instructional program for children ages 3-6 that has a series of presentations that help develop a loving relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

The Vineyard: An instructional program for children ages 6-9 that intends to deepen and expand the children’s relationship with Christ, the True Vine.

The Prophet: An instructional program for children ages 9-12 that helps build a foundation based upon the Old Testament stories, God’s active participation in the world.

General overview of formation

Other levels of the instructional program are available but at this time are not incorporated into the church school program.

The Inquirers: An instructional program for children ages 12-15 that prepares young adults seeking to affirm their baptismal vows and Christian life.

Children are also prepared at the appropriate time for his/her “Solemn Communion” and “Confirmation”.

How one can be involved in Formation of St. John’s?

• Daughters of the King: This is a group of ladies who meets twice a month on Monday morning for prayer and study. All women are welcome to participate. The contact person for this ministry is Wendy Stewart.
• Book Study: This group meets each Tuesday morning for study and prayer. The group reads and discusses various Christian books selected by the group. Contact person for this group is John Larson.
• Christian Education Teacher: These people help by leading a designated class of children through Sunday school programming. Training is required. Contact person is Beth Paulson.
• Christian Education Helpers: These people assist the teachers in delivering the Sunday school program.
• Cursillo: This activity is an extension of one’s church commitment. People attend a three day short course on Christianity and are invited to participate in a variety of fellowship and worship activities outside of the church. (for adults)
• Adult Bible Study: A weekly opportunity to examine the scripture. Led by trained personnel and focuses on the importance and relevance of scripture in daily life.