FAITHQUEST SUMMER!
Throughout the summer, we are incredibly grateful that MJ will continue to support the youngest members of our community in the Mustard Seeds room. FaithQuest lessons will pause beginning after Pentecost (June 8) and will resume when the choir returns in September. This will give our volunteer team an opportunity to rest and enjoy the full service.
During the summer, families with young children are invited to join an informal, drop-in group in the courtyard, where we will read the day's readings from a children's bible and then have free-choice play and simple crafts until Communion begins. There will not be a designated facilitator, and we will lean on each other to create this community together; it will be an open invitation for any families who are present.
At the back of the church, we will also provide take-home activity bags with a small coloring book and crayons.
Our Faith Quest program will resume in the fall.
During the summer, families with young children are invited to join an informal, drop-in group in the courtyard, where we will read the day's readings from a children's bible and then have free-choice play and simple crafts until Communion begins. There will not be a designated facilitator, and we will lean on each other to create this community together; it will be an open invitation for any families who are present.
At the back of the church, we will also provide take-home activity bags with a small coloring book and crayons.
Our Faith Quest program will resume in the fall.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS September-June
We welcome all families to St. Paul's, and invite your children to participate in Mustard Seeds (for under 5) and Faith Quest/Sunday School (for ages 5-12), or they may sit with you during the service.
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (under age 5)
Mustard Seeds is designed for younger children; all are welcome. Professionally staffed nursery in the back of the church (Bride's Room).
FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-12
Faith Quest/Sunday Schools is for older children, located in the Chapter Room. 2 adult Volunteer teachers will be present. Parents are welcome to accompany children who need assistance to stay. The children will be brought back into the service at the Offertory. Curriculum will include Storymakers art and Bible storytelling, songs, as well as prayer. We can help direct you to the Chapter Room at the beginning of the service when you arrive.
If your teen is interested to assist, please contact Sarah [email protected] or Katie [email protected]
FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN (under age 5)
Mustard Seeds is designed for younger children; all are welcome. Professionally staffed nursery in the back of the church (Bride's Room).
FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-12
Faith Quest/Sunday Schools is for older children, located in the Chapter Room. 2 adult Volunteer teachers will be present. Parents are welcome to accompany children who need assistance to stay. The children will be brought back into the service at the Offertory. Curriculum will include Storymakers art and Bible storytelling, songs, as well as prayer. We can help direct you to the Chapter Room at the beginning of the service when you arrive.
If your teen is interested to assist, please contact Sarah [email protected] or Katie [email protected]
Report to the Annual Meeting
February 2, 2025
Sunday School FaithQuest Report
- submitted by Katie Lauter, Virginia McManus and Sarah Smith
Sunday School at St. Paul’s concluded Lenten lessons in early 2024 and took a pause after Easter 2024. Once parishioners voiced new goals and new ideas in May, they also identified an emerging need: including younger children in lessons, as well as exploring adding to and enhancing our faith formation activities for children in the parish, beyond our existing curriculum, “Storymakers,” which we have used since 2022.
(1) We are grateful to MJ Wilson for providing a safe, reliable and fun space for our youngest children in the Mustard Seeds room.
(2) Safety training (Safe Healthy Church) from the Diocese was provided to us in Summer 2024 thanks to Archdeacon Carolyn, so that volunteer teachers were ready to go with the tools and background checks in place for September lessons.
(3) Parents and supporters joined (and re-joined) Faith Quest teacher ranks so that we were able to have 2 adults for each Sunday of Fall 2024.
(4) We successfully increased our meetings’ frequency and increased communication in preparation for September’s first lessons of the new school year.
(5) We were provided by Archdeacon Carolyn and the Diocese with a new Storymakers curriculum on 1 Samuel, following the stories of Samuel, King Saul and the youthful David, culminating with David defeating Goliath and the Philistines, and David sparing Saul’s life.
(6) Attendance at Sunday School was increased from an average of 4 attendees per Sunday to 6. We had consistent weekly attendance by children so that there were no Sundays in which children were not present for lessons.
(7) Virginia McManu
s led us in creating a structure, prayer rituals, and a visual schedule to help our children in settling in and understanding Faith Quest purpose and lessons, so that they have come to expect and look forward to seeing their teachers and participating in the activities on Sundays.
(8) Faith Quest Sunday School participants engaged in reading and discussing concepts from Bible stories, creating arts and crafts, acted out dialogues from the Bible stories, wrote their own song about praising God, and created community together.
(9) Thanks to Sheila Fischer, Athena Honore, Scott Buckingham, Katie and Digger Lauter, Virginia McManus, Sarah Smith, Sergio Prieto and Archdeacon Carolyn for leading the Sunday School sessions.
(10) With Carolyn’s help we put on the Christmas Pageant at the 5pm Family Christmas Eve service – directed and managed by Virginia, and participated in by 15 St. Paul’s kids.
In 2025, we are eager to support our children to explore, reflect upon, and connect with the seasons of Epiphany, Lent, and Easter before our summer break begins in June.
Sunday School at St. Paul’s concluded Lenten lessons in early 2024 and took a pause after Easter 2024. Once parishioners voiced new goals and new ideas in May, they also identified an emerging need: including younger children in lessons, as well as exploring adding to and enhancing our faith formation activities for children in the parish, beyond our existing curriculum, “Storymakers,” which we have used since 2022.
(1) We are grateful to MJ Wilson for providing a safe, reliable and fun space for our youngest children in the Mustard Seeds room.
(2) Safety training (Safe Healthy Church) from the Diocese was provided to us in Summer 2024 thanks to Archdeacon Carolyn, so that volunteer teachers were ready to go with the tools and background checks in place for September lessons.
(3) Parents and supporters joined (and re-joined) Faith Quest teacher ranks so that we were able to have 2 adults for each Sunday of Fall 2024.
(4) We successfully increased our meetings’ frequency and increased communication in preparation for September’s first lessons of the new school year.
(5) We were provided by Archdeacon Carolyn and the Diocese with a new Storymakers curriculum on 1 Samuel, following the stories of Samuel, King Saul and the youthful David, culminating with David defeating Goliath and the Philistines, and David sparing Saul’s life.
(6) Attendance at Sunday School was increased from an average of 4 attendees per Sunday to 6. We had consistent weekly attendance by children so that there were no Sundays in which children were not present for lessons.
(7) Virginia McManu
s led us in creating a structure, prayer rituals, and a visual schedule to help our children in settling in and understanding Faith Quest purpose and lessons, so that they have come to expect and look forward to seeing their teachers and participating in the activities on Sundays.
(8) Faith Quest Sunday School participants engaged in reading and discussing concepts from Bible stories, creating arts and crafts, acted out dialogues from the Bible stories, wrote their own song about praising God, and created community together.
(9) Thanks to Sheila Fischer, Athena Honore, Scott Buckingham, Katie and Digger Lauter, Virginia McManus, Sarah Smith, Sergio Prieto and Archdeacon Carolyn for leading the Sunday School sessions.
(10) With Carolyn’s help we put on the Christmas Pageant at the 5pm Family Christmas Eve service – directed and managed by Virginia, and participated in by 15 St. Paul’s kids.
In 2025, we are eager to support our children to explore, reflect upon, and connect with the seasons of Epiphany, Lent, and Easter before our summer break begins in June.
Report to the Annual Meeting
February 2, 2025
Youth Activities
– submitted by The Ven. Canon Carolyn Bolton
In April and October 2024, the youth led the morning service preaching, acolyting, ushering, servicing on the altar, administering communion and singing. Clark Gregory gave the sermon in April and Zachary Strait gave the sermon in October. It was a wonderful day.
The youth participated in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday overnighter at the church and participated in the Pilgrimage with the deanery youth to Grace Cathedral in May.
In April and October 2024, the youth led the morning service preaching, acolyting, ushering, servicing on the altar, administering communion and singing. Clark Gregory gave the sermon in April and Zachary Strait gave the sermon in October. It was a wonderful day.
The youth participated in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday overnighter at the church and participated in the Pilgrimage with the deanery youth to Grace Cathedral in May.
Report to the Annual Meeting
February 2, 2025
Acolytes
– submitted by The Ven. Canon Carolyn Bolton
An Acolyte is part of the worship team, actively assisting the celebrant in the worship of God. Becoming an acolyte, you understand and agree that the individual is expected to perform the duties of an acolyte and assignment faithfully, reverently and seriously.
The Acolyte ministry is building slowly back up. Currently the following are serving as Acolytes, Clark and Harriet Gregory, Annette Blue, Damiane and Elisha Fisher, Scott Buckingham, Kiandra Wilson Morris, Saundra Robinson and the newest Acolytes Andrew Lager, Phoebe and Josephine Prieto-Anderson.
Thank you all for your service.
An Acolyte is part of the worship team, actively assisting the celebrant in the worship of God. Becoming an acolyte, you understand and agree that the individual is expected to perform the duties of an acolyte and assignment faithfully, reverently and seriously.
The Acolyte ministry is building slowly back up. Currently the following are serving as Acolytes, Clark and Harriet Gregory, Annette Blue, Damiane and Elisha Fisher, Scott Buckingham, Kiandra Wilson Morris, Saundra Robinson and the newest Acolytes Andrew Lager, Phoebe and Josephine Prieto-Anderson.
Thank you all for your service.
Acolyte practice is held every first Saturday of the month @ 10am. We’re in need of Acolytes young and old. Please come if you feel called to serve on the Altar. See Deacon Carolyn to discuss.