Occasionally, the youth group gathers for off-site events or joins in intergenerational community offerings. Upcoming events are below.
Intergenerational Godly Play
Godly Play is a Montessori-based curriculum that recognizes that children are already in relationship with God. This week, we are inviting children and adults alike for an Intergenerational Godly Play class, where we'll wonder about Peter's Journey together.
Morning Mix: Celebrating St. Nicholas
Between services on Sunday mornings, we create space for children to deeply experience the texts and stories of the Bible that make us Christian people and form our faith. This week, we are inviting children and adults alike for an Intergenerational Godly Play class, where we'll hear about the Story of St. Nicholas. We'll also stuff stockings for Donna Jean's Place.
Confirmation
Teens with a desire to dig deeper into their own beliefs and the wisdom of the church and scripture are invited to join the 7-month process of preparation for youth confirmation, beginning mid October. The 15 sessions are a mix of on-site and virtual classes.
You don't need to be sure that you want to be confirmed to join the cohort—asking those questions is the work we do together. Cathedral Day, May 1, 2027 will mark the confirmation liturgy for those in the class that choose to be confirmed after the full process. Register for confirmation by Sunday, October 11.
Guiding Values
Saint Mark’s is committed to creating a place where youth are fully welcomed and valued as members of the church community. We recognize that all members of this community add a richness to our shared experience. This is why on any given Sunday morning, youth participate in all aspects of the service including serving as acolytes, lectors, or greeters. All are welcome to participate in “making” worship happen.
We strive to be a place where youth feel not only welcomed, but urged and encouraged to let their voices, collective and individual, be heard and honored. We hope to create a space for youth to be a part of and help make community. We also hope to inspire our youth to be a driving force in creating a welcoming and inspiring community for all. We hope that in doing so, our youth will help the other communities they are a part of to be welcoming and inspiring as well.
By showing, modeling and creating a healthy and safe community where all are welcomed, respected, and honored, we hope to be a place a transformation. This is a place where youth have room to consider how navigate a world that sometimes does not present as safe and healthy. We believe that by offering a glimpse of other cultural experiences and giving room to see other ways of being in the world as possibilities, youth can be transformed and see the world through the lens of Jesus.
We recognize that church is more than what we do when we gather on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Although these times are important to creating and sustaining community, they also serve as a time to learn who we are called to be in the world, to practice this way of being, to wrestle with our struggles, and to pray for each other as we journey together. When we gather, support, and prepare ourselves to be in the world serving those in any kind of need.