Adult Christian Formation
St. Mary's
provides a variety of Adult Christian Formation offerings throughout the
year. Some groups meet regularly and others are short term commitments.
Watch for many special educational opportunities and retreats in the weekly
bulletins and monthly "Messenger."
The Adult Forum
meets between 10:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sundays, in the Paca Parish Hall,
between the months of September though May. Through the years we have
studied the Nicene Creed, The Lord's Prayer and focused on The Liturgical
Year - featuring our own clergy as well as guest speakers. Please look for
our annual brochure detailing the offerings.
Church School
 Welcome to the church school of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Classes
are offered for children three years old through senior high school. A
nursery is provided for toddlers and infants. Education for sixth graders
through 12th grade is administered separately from that of the younger
children, and sometimes follows a slightly different format.
Three year olds through fifth graders follow the Episcopal Children’s
Curriculum which was developed at Virginia Seminary specifically for use by
Episcopal congregations. It is built on scripture, The Book of Common
Prayer, The Hymnal, church traditions, liturgy and history.
Not only is the curriculum rich in materials for use by teachers in the
classroom, but it is planned for parent involvement after the Sunday
session is ended. Take-home cards are provided for parents of children
through third grade; all children receive student books. It is important
that parents use these cards and books as vehicles for further discussion
of lessons.
Church School for all ages meets from 10:15
to 11:00 a.m. every Sunday morning. Each class has at least two teachers;
parents are asked to assist them as well as to bring a snack for the
children. Sign-up sheets for these volunteer opportunities are available on
the first Sunday of classes. Parents of younger children are assigned to a
schedule for supervising their playtime from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Regular attendance is imperative if the lessons are to have any real value
for the child. Small awards are given after each nine-week unit to those
children who have perfect attendance. On Youth Sunday, at the end of the
school year, awards are made to all who have near-perfect attendance. If
your family goes out of town and your child attends church elsewhere, bring
a note or church bulletin and your child will be counted as present at St.
Mary’s for that Sunday.
Children's Chapel
At both the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services, children
leave during the opening hymn and go to their own chapel (first through 5th
grades) or to a playtime in the undercroft (3 year olds through
Kindergarten). The older children leave chapel and rejoin their parents at
the peace and the younger children come into the chapel for their own
age-appropriate service. They rejoin their parents at the fraction and
accompany them to the altar rail for communion or a blessing, as
appropriate.
If you would like to volunteer in our church school, call the church school
superintendent at (703) 527-6800.
Youth
Forums
All
Junior and Senior High youth (sixth through twelfth grades) are invited to
come together with peers and adult leaders to explore topics on how faith
affects our lives (and vice versa).
Free discussion is a key part of this ministry.
Youth Forums meet during the school year, on Sunday mornings between 10:15 and 11:00.
Forums for 6th and 7th grades are generally
held on the lower level, 8th grade is in the chapel (upper
level), and the Sr. High Forum can be found in the Youth Loft (north end of
the building, above the upper
level). For questions (especially
about volunteering), contact Matt Presson at the
church office. For additional youth
activities, please reference the Youth
Page.
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