SCUBA! VBS 2024
June 10 - 13 | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

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Calling All Kids!

St. John’s Children and Youth Council is excited to launch an all-new program this fall for children and youth! Our fall Christian Formation year begins with Rally Day on September 10, 2023, with the first day of Sunday School on September 17. Register your kids online.

Beginning September 17, Sunday School for Children and Youth runs from 10:00 until 10:50. Parents/guardians must sign in and sign out all children in the nursery (ages 0-2), PreK 3-4, Kindergarten, and 1st grade. Teachers will take roll for students in 2nd-12th grades.

Nursery

During the 9:15 service before Sunday School and the 11:00 am service following, childcare is available in the nursery and PreK classrooms for children ages 0 to 5. Children ages 6 and older are expected to be seated with their parents during church services, with children’s activity packs available in the Welcome Center at the entrance of the church. 

Preschool 3- and 4-year olds

Our youngest will use the Episcopal Children's Curriculum (ECC) developed by the Virginia School of Theology. This curriculum follows the Eucharistic lectionary on a 3-year rotating cycle. Both Old and New Testament studies are included and taught based on developmentally appropriate levels. Creation, Jesus—Son of God, Baptism: Belonging, and We Are the Church are the overarching themes for this year. 

Kindergarten and 1st Graders

Godly Play is back! A wonderful curriculum developed by Fr. Jerome Berryman that utilizes the Montessori teaching style and relies on theme-based story telling as the primary tools. This is a highly structured learning program that provides a framework to help students internalize the critical components of God's Word.

2nd and 3rd Graders, 4th and 5th Graders 

These two groups will also use the Episcopal Children's Curriculum (ECC) for their respective grade levels. Unit studies include the Pentateuch, Jesus: Healer, Baptism: People in Covenant, and the New Testament. Artistic expression will be the focus of ECC lesson summaries. During the spring study of People in Covenant, 2nd and 3rd graders will complete The Holy Eucharist for young readers Rite 1. This study will prepare them for the "First Informed Communion” and give them an up-close tour of the Sacristies, altar, credence table, as well as instruction in table manners. Although many children at this age will have already begun taking Communion, this course is intended to give them a thoughtful, age-appropriate perspective that deepens their understanding of the Sacrament. 

Our youth program for Middle and High School uses the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) curriculum, a spiritual formation program for 6th-12th graders arranged within three categories of Self, Society and Spirituality.

Middle School (6th through 8th Grade)

The Middle School segment is called Rite 13. Kids completing one year of Rite 13 will be Confirmed by the Bishop at the end of the Spring semester. After the second year, Middle Schoolers may serve on a mission trip as well as engage in various socials, events, and retreats.

High School (9th through 12th Grade)

Our High School youth continue with the J2A curriculum, with deeper focus on growing up and becoming an adult with character and values based on the Gospel, modeling after Jesus. A pilgrimage—a spiritual journey to a sacred site—is also part of this coming-of-age experience along with various socials, activities, and retreats. 

Register your kids for Sunday School online

Volunteers needed!

We hope to have your commitment to volunteer either as a Sunday School teacher, CYMC council member, or for any children and youth service. Go to our ministries page and sign up under Christian Formation Ministries.