2012/2013 CHURCH SCHOOL WELCOME SUNDAY!

WELCOME BACK SUNDAY!!
SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

With a new school year comes a new year of St. Stephen's Sunday School and Youth Programming. ​​​​

• Nursery Care is provided - infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age are welcome. Age based toys and areas for napping are provided. St. Stephen's attendants create a warm environment to keep your children happy while you worship. Pagers are provided so you can be notified immediately if your attendance is required.

• The Pre-K and Kindergarten class is located in the Sunday School wing of the church. The children begin with chapel and learn how to set an altar table and the parts of Holy Communion.  Following chapel the children are guided through lessons based on the spiritual season or weekly liturgy with associated activities and crafts. Children go straight to their classrooms at 10:00am, then rejoin their parents/caregivers just prior to the celebration of communion, in which they are invited to participate.

• 1st through 3rd Graders also gather for class in the Sunday School wing.  These grades are guided through lessons based on the spiritual season or weekly liturgy with associated activities and crafts. Children go straight to their classrooms at 10:00am, then rejoin their parents/caregivers just prior to the celebration of communion, in which they are invited to participate.

• The 3rd through 5th graders begin their worship with their families and caregivers; they are present for the lessons, Gospel and sermon, and depart for Sunday School just after receiving communion. The children begin to explore the teachings of Jesus with a curriculum based on the weekly Gospel lessons for the liturgical year. Sunday School ends at noon.

• Those entering 6th and 7th grade are now in Rite 13! At St. Stephen's these Youth participate in an excellent religious eduation program called Rite 13. The name comes from a liturgical rite of passage we celebrate with young people near their 13th birthday, as they begin along their path to becoming adult members of our faith community. The two years of Rite 13 focus on recognizing the gifts God has given us, celebrating our creative potential, and learning to live out our faith as we interact with one another. The Rite 13 students have a traditional Sunday School each week, beginning after the celebration of communion, combined with fun outside activities, for example movies, corn maze adventures, laser tag and lock-ins, where they bond as a group and build trust and camaraderie.

• 8th and 9th grades are in the J2A classroom at the far end of the classroom wing.Journey to Adulthood or J2A follows Rite 13 and is at the heart of St. Stephen's youth program. During the J2A program, teens learn and practice six basic skills for adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research & information management, partnership, leadership. Teens also learn different methods of interpreting the Scripture, prayer and community-building. 
  
  After completing these two years of their spiritual growth and development, they are given an opportunity to declare their desire to become autonomous members of the Episcopal community through the rite ofConfirmation. In celebration of their full commitment to Christian discipleship, the youth plan and embark on a Pilgrimage together at the end of this segment.

• 10th through 12th graders are now in YAC in the "fish bowl room" - which dervies its name from the glass walls and fish motif. This final phase of the St. Stephen's youth programs encourages the 10th through 12th grade youth to take on more adult responsibilities – both in their church and in their community. They are challenged to become good stewards of their time, talent and treasure. They work on identifying their spiritual gifts and commit to participating in a specific ministry using those gifts.  They become role models and leaders for the younger youth in our programs. A final rite of passage sends them out into the world as ambassadors of Christ.  In 2013, YAC will be exploring their spirituality and working toward a MISSION TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!​​​​

The Hospitality Committee will be serving a fantastic brunch spread in the Parish Hall immediately following the 10:00am service. 

Bring your families and experience the joy of worshiping the Lord with our St. Stephen's Household of God.