CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Nursery • Birth to 36 Months

St. Francis' Nursery provides a nurturing and safe Christian environment for infants and toddlers on Sunday mornings from 9:15am through the end of the 10:30am service.  Children follow a simple routine that provides stability, stimulation and continuity to their church experience.  A silent pager system is available to keep families in direct contact with the caregivers in the nursery.

 

3 Years Old

Most children of this age are best served in the Nursery. However, if a child can demonstrate that she/he is able to function appropriately in the Children's Chapel class with older children, she or he is welcome to join in.  (All children must be potty-trained in order to attend Children's Chapel.)

 

Children • 4 Years Old to Grade 5

Children’s Chapel provides children with a special time to learn about the mysteries of God’s Divine love in an age-appropriate setting. The children light and extinguish the chapel candles at the beginning and end of their service in which the lesson reflects the same scripture reading that the adults are receiving in “big church.” Singing and arts & crafts allow the children to “get their wiggles out” in the midst of their worship. At the end of Chapel, children are invited to contribute to their own offering plate that is brought forward with the congregational offering during the Offertory. The children rejoin their parents during The Peace so that they are able to receive Holy Communion with their families.

 

Youth • Grades 6 through 12

Christian Formation for this group is accomplished through experiential methods. Junior and High School students take part in all Sunday Worship Ministries on a rotating basis while learning about these ministries (ushers, altar guild, lay readers, choir). This experience in worship is complemented with relevant outreach activities in the community, as well as fun-filled social events.  This Fall’s activities include a game-day tailgate party and seats to watch a UMHB Crusaders’ game, serving the hungry at Feed My Sheep, and Make Your Own Pizza and Game Night, to name a few.

 

Adult

A variety of topics and themes are offered to help adults in their ongoing formation as Christians. The topics are determined by current interest in an effort to ensure that the classes are relevant to our lives and our context.