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Christian Education for Children
Junior & Senior High EYC
Adult Educational Opportunities (Interested in Adult offerings? Click here!)
Our Youth Sunday School curriculum is offered in an effort to better serve the ever-expanding group of children here at St. Stephen’s. Classes run from 9:15 AM until 10:15 AM for our youth, ages 3 through eighth grade. Senior EYC (Grades 9 - 12) meets Sundays at noon in the EYC building on the south end of the courtyard.
Beginning at 10:15 AM and lasting until they join the congregation for Holy Communion in the sanctuary, Motion Locomotion is offered for our youngest children, ages 3 to 7, who are not quite ready to experience the complete worship service. Immediately after Sunday School, they will have an opportunity for supervised playtime until it is time to join the rest of their parish family.
Classes are divided as follows:
3 yrs to Pre-K
K-1st Grade
2nd-3rd Grade
4th-5th Grade
6th-8th Grade
9th-10th Grade
11th-12th Grade
Nursery (Birth through Age 2)
The nursery is offered for 0-2 year olds during both Adult Sunday School and the 10:30 worship service.
For Our Children Ages 3 through 5th Grade
Beginning on Sunday, September 9, 2007, St. Stephen's 3-year-old through 5th-grade children will experience the Bible in a completely new way! Collectively, they will live one biblical story for 4-5 weeks, utilizing core facets of art, science, history, music and much more to help them develop their faith and knowledge of the Bible. They will also be given tools to help them further develop their relationships with God and learn ways in which to apply their faith on a daily basis.
These Sunday School lessons are dynamic, interesting, and entertaining! Although the same lessons will be taught to children from age 3 to 5th grade, the activities will differ and are age appropriate. This is an exciting time for our Sunday School, and you are invited to be a part of it!
St. Stephen's Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)
EYC is open to parish youth in grades 6-12. The mission of St. Stephen's EYC is to build fellowship and community with old and new friends, deepen Christian formation, and learn how to serve God and others. Through our time together, the group seeks to create a safe place to encourage individualism, interaction with each other, and a deeper knowledge of God.
Sr. High EYC (grades 9-12) meets on most Sundays, following the 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist for fellowship, food & fun. EYC members look forward to participation in a variety of outreach, Bible Study, and outreach activities throughout the year.
Jr. High EYC (grades 6-8) meets Sundays during the Sunday School time at 9:15 a.m. for Rite 13 and on some Sundays after the 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist for fellowship, food and fun (check newsletters and announcements to find out what activities are coming up outside of Rite 13).
***WHAT IS RITE 13?
On September 9, 2007, at 9:15 a.m., the Jr. High EYC will begin the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) program, which is a 3-phase faith formation program for 11 to 18 year olds.
J2A includes in-depth exploration of Self, Society, Sexuality, and Spirituality, and is based on two key concepts: Womanhood and Manhood are gifts from God; and Adulthood must be earned.
The program is built around three distinct two-year phases of development, the first of which is called Rite 13. Rite 13 includes a liturgical celebration of the gift of womanhood and manhood, and is designed to celebrate individuality and creative potential, and to instruct students in the skills necessary for successful adult participation in the Church community and in society as a whole. Among other things we deal with prayer, with the ways we see and encounter God, with possessions and their importance in our life, and with trust in God on our faith journey together. Every effort is made to keep this process experiential, with a hands-on focus. Perhaps more than anything else, all activities are geared to build community, to establish trust and safety, to remind the youth again and again that this is their chruch, and that they are safe and welcome within it.
At St. Stephen's, we believe it is a priority to love and nurture our children. We strive to work as a community to wholeheartedly educate and surround our children in love as they learn about our faith. Please come and experience it! Please be a part of it yourself!
Adult Educational Opportunities (beginning Fall, 2007)
The Rector's Educational Class meets Sunday Mornings from 9:15-10:15 in the Parish Hall. No sign-up is necessary. Just show up!
Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience
A Closer Look at the Essentials of our Faith
September 16: The Institutional Church: Where We Have Been, Where We Are; Where Are We Going?
September 23: People from Bethlehem: What Life Is Like There Now (Guests from Bethlehem!)
September 30: Dual Aspects of the Church
October 7: God's "Covenant," God's "Call:" Mysterious Concepts: What Do They Mean?
October 14: Community: Good Buzz Word: What Does It Mean?
October 21: What is the "Kingdom of God" Anyway? Do I Want To Be In It?
October 28: NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS - DIOCESAN CONVENTION
November 4: Love: The most overused, underused, misused word in Christianity
November 11: Love: What Is It, Really?
November 18: Sin: The Scariest Word in Christianity: What Is It, Really?
November 25: How In the World Can We Be Loving Christians? Is It Even Possible?
December 2: What Can Be Changed About Us, and How Can Change Occur?
December 9: Love and Sin: Making It All Make Sense
December 16: Confusing Concepts: Redefining Some "Church" Language
January 8 - March 4: Winter Bible Study 11:30 AM 'til' 1:00. The study will continue weekly through March 4 at the same time of day each Tuesday. Lunch will be served at 11:30 (please sign up for lunch count). Come and enjoy this study of the Gospel According of Luke.
Regular Advent and Lenten offerings are available in season, too. Click here for DOCC details!
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