CHILDREN & YOUTH

Students in PreK-12th grade experience God in community—learning, serving, praying and helping each other on our journeys of faith. Our robust program for children and youth is led by a full-time Family Formation Minister and Youth Formation Minister with spiritual guidance from clergy and supported by adult volunteers.

Please subscribe to our Youth email list.
Questions? Contact: Jackie Vigil (infant-3 year olds-children's nursery) Kindergarten - 5th graders (including 4th and 5th grade Youth Group), Jr. High (6th-8th graders) and Sr. High (9th-12th graders)
Children and Youth Formation is a responsibility of ALL adults in our parish family. We are always looking for volunteers to help serve our young people! Email Jackie for more details. All Volunteers with our children and youth are trained to maintain best practices for misconduct prevention and child safety. If you are a volunteer who needs to renew or take this required online training, click here.

Children's Ministry Registration

Youth Ministry Registration

CHILDREN & YOUTH FORMATION

Children's Chapel

PreK-3rd Grade Students

Sundays through June 15th at 10:00 am

After the processional, children are invited to follow the cross out of the Nave and into either the children's chapel downstairs for PreK-K or the Chapel upstairs for 1-3; children rejoin their parents during the peace. Volunteers are always welcome to join our team! Inquire with Jackie Vigil.

Junior High Youth Group

1st & 3rd Sundays of the Month

6-7:30pm

Jr. High students meet at St. Mary’s from September through early May for food, fellowship, games, outreach projects, and formation with a team of leaders. Occasional off-site events and projects will be scheduled with student input!

Sunday School

PreK-5th Grade Students

Every Sunday at 9:00 am (September - May)

We organize the children into classrooms by their school grades. Two trained teachers lead the children through lessons, games, art projects, and other activities. Our mission is to form the children of St. Mary’s as followers of Jesus Christ by teaching them about the Christian Faith. "The classes spend the year learning about our three parish priorities: care of one another, racial equity and care of creation while also diving into the seasons of the church. It's never too late to join!"

4th/5th Grade Youth Group

Select Sundays

4:00-5:00pm

During the school year, children in 4th and 5th grades are invited to participate in gatherings to prepare for them the next steps in their faith journey. At each meeting we provide snacks along with activities and games that encourage children to deepen and widen their faith.

Sr High/High School Youth Group

1st & 3rd Sundays of the Month

6-7:30pm

From September through May, students in 9th-12th grade gather at St. Mary’s for dinner, social time, game nights, bible study and prayer. We are excited to plan monthly service opportunities with student input and grow our community impact this year!

Jr. High Youth Forum

Sundays (Sept.-May) at 9:00 am

Jr. High youth meet in the youth loft to learn about the stories and figures of the New Testament through games, video, and lots of discussions! We will also explore questions about faith, current events and how to connect our faith to our everyday life.

Sr. High Forum

Weekly on Sundays (Sept-May)

at 9:00 am

Find friends in the Sr. High Room downstairs during Sunday School for drop-in service projects (we are happy to sign off on hours!) Snacks and beverages are provided weekly.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Christmas Pageant: December 21 at 5pm; December 25 at 4pm

Children in PreK-5th grade are invited to sign up by Nov. 23rd to be assigned a role in one of two pageant plays this Christmas. We will practice throughout the month of Dec. and have a required dress rehearsal on Dec. 20th.

Outreach for Children

Outreach is a major part of our programming at St. Mary's! We incorporate service projects into our Sunday School curriculum, 4th and 5th grade Youth Group and Intergenerational Project Days throughout the year that help us to fulfill our mission: Build Community, Form Disciples, and Serve the World.

Family Fellowship Events

Looking for community with other families with children? We plan to host quarterly family fellowship events offsite as well as other intentional gatherings throughout the year to support parents and develop friendships outside of church.

Sr High/High School Mission Trip

School Youth travel with chaperones for a week-long mission experience. The 2025 team returns to New Bern, North Carolina to rebuild after Hurricane Florence. Past mission destinations have included Texas for Hurricane Harvey relief in the Houston suburbs, Illinois to engage in street ministry in Chicago, and a week in Kentucky with Appalachia Service Project to help the poor in rural towns weatherize their homes.

Youth Leadership Council

Students in 6-12 grade may apply to serve on our youth planning team for events, projects and celebrations throughout the school year. Weigh in and plan events like offsite trips, our annual March Madness Bracket Release Party and Youth Sunday in May. Meetings will be scheduled with team input.

Youth Confirmation: A Year Long Journey

Confirmation is a personal response to the Holy Spirit’s presence in one’s life. Each Spring, in early March, students in 8th-grade and high school are invited to embark on a spiritual journey complete with required retreats, lessons, stories, and conversations guiding them deeper into the Episcopal tradition and the pillars of the one, holy catholic and apostolic Church. The following January or February, our confirmands are confirmed by one of our Bishops. Questions? Email Jackie Vigil

Nursery on Sunday Mornings for 3-month-

3 year olds

8:30-11:30am during the school year

Find professional sitters waiting at the end of the Sunday School hallway ready to welcome our youngest members to a fun and safe space for play and community during morning formation and worship. If you have questions about the church nursery, please contact Jackie Vigil.

Communion Preparation Class

Communion Preparation for Children: Does your elementary school student have questions about the Holy Eucharist and have a desire to receive communion on Sundays? While communion preparation classes are completely optional in the Episcopal Church, families are welcome to learn together during a series of classes offered in Lent, 2026. Stay tuned for more details!