SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Nursery (Infants to 3/4 years old)
Godly Play (Children PK-K)
Kingdom Kids (grades 1-4)
Mountain Movers (grades 5-8)
For Teens (grades 9-12)
Youth Lifelong Learning meets on Sundays at 9:00 am in McArthur Hall.
The next session
begins October 15!
Adult Lifelong Learning meets on Sundays at 9:00 am in McArthur Hall.
The next session
begins October 15!
CHILDREN
The children's ministry, which consists of: The Nursery, Godly Play, Kingdom Kids, and Mountain Movers, is actively in session.
September through May, St. Stephen's offers several children's and family programs. Children are always welcome to join in at any time during the year, and families are asked to register online.
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The Children's Ministry is overseen by the Family & Youth Minister, Elisa Webster. The ministry serves as a place of prayer for children, a place where they hear foundational Bible stories, and a place where children learn simple Bible truth statements.
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Infants through three/four years old, may be dropped off at the Children's Ministry Building on Sunday mornings and picked up from the Nursery side of the building immediately following the Church worship service.
Children PK through K, meet in the Children's Ministry Building, on the Godly Play side, and may be dropped off shortly before the Sunday worship service. Godly Play teachers will lead the children back to the Sanctuary in time for them to join their families for communion. For those children attending Godly Play class, that prefer to stay in the Children's Ministry Building after class, the Godly Play teacher will escort the child to the Nursery side of the Building for pickup by their families upon conclusion of the Sunday worship service.
Elementary age children will start off in the Sanctuary with their families and then follow the crucifier, with their Sunday School teachers, to the Log Cabin where they will have Sunday School. Teachers will then lead the children back to the Sanctuary, where they will rejoin their families, in time for communion. Elementary aged children are divided into the Kingdom Kids, ages 7-9, and the Mountain Movers, ages 10-12.
NURSERY (infant-ages 3 & 4)
The Nursery is open!
The Nursery, for ages infant to 3 or 4 years old, is open 12 months out of the year and is located in the building to the right of the Church in the Children's Ministry building. Go up the ramp, through the double doors, and directly on your left will be the colorful Nursery room. There is also convenient storage located in the Nursery for diaper bags and other items that you have brought for your child.
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Our experienced, trained, and Safeguard-certified Nursery teachers love the sound of God's children, so know that your youngest family members will be well taken care of during your time at St. Stephen's for Sunday worship and Sunday morning adult bible classes. Christian formation begins in the earliest stages of childhood. We owe the youngest members of our family the BEST we can offer.
GODLY PLAY (ages 4-6)
Godly Play in-person, in-building classes have returned.
September-May, children ages as young as three years, if potty trained, to 6 years old meet with lead teacher, Darelle Jordan in the Children's Ministry Building, to the right of the Sanctuary. Class starts at 10:30 a.m. with children exploring Bible stories through a child's viewpoint, opening to the wonder and deep truth that these stories bring. Class ends in time for children to be escorted by their teacher to rejoin their families in the Sanctuary in time for communion. For those children who prefer to stay in the Children's Ministry Building after their Godly Play class ends, they will be escorted to the Nursery side of the Children's Ministry Building, where their parents may pick them up after the service.
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Based on Montessori principles and developed using a spiral curriculum, the Godly Play method serves children through early, middle, and late childhood and beyond. Come play with us!
If you would enjoy a taste of what a Godly Play class is like or find that there are occasions when you would prefer participating from the comfort of your home, please enjoy as many of the pre-recorded Godly Play videos as your schedule allows. Click here to view Godly Play YouTube videos.
For more information: Elisa Webster.
GODLY PLAY VIDEO SERIES
Watch: YouTube
For a taste of what the Godly Play children's program is like, at any time, children and their families are invited to check out the Godly Play video series. Godly Play recordings with teacher Darelle Jordan are available through the church YouTube playlist. Each Godly Play recording lasts 20 minutes or less and may include prayer, sing-alongs, a Godly Play Story, and arts & crafts. ​
KINGDOM KIDS (ages 6/7-9)
Classes are currently held In-person and in-building.
Our theme comes from the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by Sofia Cavalletti. It is a reflective-based program of religious formation that helps a child to further develop the child's relationship with God in a developmentally appropriate way. It is rooted in Sacred Scripture, the Liturgy, and the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. We will use the program, Forbid Them Not by Carol Brown, in tandem with it as it follows the Episcopal lectionary readings.
Each session includes: a story, a reading from the Word, reflection on the Word, presentation of materials, prayerful response, and cleanup.
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Kingdom Kids, for grades 1-3, meets in the Log Cabin with teachers Donna Hoyland and Elisa Webster on Sundays after the children are led out of the Sanctuary by the crucifer. Teachers will return the Kingdom Kids students to their families in time for communion.
MOUNTAIN MOVERS (ages 10-13)
Classes are currently held In-person and in-building.
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At this age, our older children begin to personalize and own their faith. In this critical window of instability and change, leaders and parents must affirm our older children's personal journeys as they enter the faith community. Our curriculum is targeted to this unique audience of 10-13 year olds to help them live their relationship with God, thereby helping children to receive and respond to God's unconditional and personal love for each other.
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The Mountain Movers, for grades 4-6, will also use the Catechism of the Good Shepherd by Sofia Cavalletti alongside the Forbid Them Not program by Carol Brown program. The Mountain Movers meet in the Log Cabin with teachers Donna Hoyland and Elisa Webster on Sundays after the children are led out of the Sanctuary by the crucifer. Teachers will return the Mountain Movers students to their families in time for communion.
The high school years are a time of testing beliefs in light of growing life experience and personal awakening. When leaders and parents mobilize their potential, high school students will keep pursuing authentic faith and discover a personal mission. Our High School curriculum "Journey to Adulthood" along with outings, outreach projects, fundraisers, a summer mission trip, and opportunities to join the Discovery confirmation classes form the basis for this central teen ministry here at St. Stephen's
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Teens will meet most Mondays of the school year at 6:00 pm in the Log Cabin, led by Family & Youth Minister Elisa Webster and co-lead Melissa Odell.
For more information, contact:
Family & Youth Minister, Elisa Webster
