Children's Christian Formation
Saint Mark's is blessed with the opportunity to teach children of all ages about God's love for them, and to walk with them in the first steps of a lifelong journey of faith. There is a Soft Space at the back of the church - across from the main doors - where kids (and their families) can stretch out and move around, with an easy exit nearby.
Children's Christian Formation is held on Sunday mornings, during the 11:00 High Mass, from September to June.
Adults are asked to bring their children to High Mass, and sit wherever they'd like. Just before the Old Testament reading, children gather with teachers in the Soft Space, and leave for age-specific Christian Formation. Children and teachers return to the nave about one half-hour later, after the Peace has been exchanged. When children return, they will be seated with teachers in the front-left pews nearest the pulpit. Parents may collect children at this time, or allow them to remain with their teachers and classmates for the rest of the mass.
Nursery supervision is available for infants beginning at 10:00 and running until the end of High Mass. The nursery is located in the basement of the Parish Hall.Vision and Goals
We are committed to living these truths with our children:
People are sacred. We learn about and strive to love all humans simply because they exist, which is to say they were created by God, our parent.
Stories are sacred. There are invaluable lessons to be learned from the story of Jesus' life, the stories running throughout Scripture and the rest of Christian tradition, the developing stories of our own lives, and the stories of those who are most different from us.
Time is sacred. By time, we mean both God's time - eternity - and our time. The daily regularity and liturgical seasons of our worship reveal God's sanctification of every moment of our lives, in and out of church.
Space is sacred. By space, we mean the particular holy spaces in a church building (the altar, the baptismal font, the aumbry, and other places), and we also mean the whole world and everything created by God.
These truths nourish a life of belief and a sense of belonging, as we receive God's gifts in our lives and share what we have with others.
Whether in Christian Formation or not, children are always welcome at Saint Mark's!