Sunday Morning Programs

The mission of St. Mark’s Youth Ministry is to cultivate a contemplative spiritual consciousness in our youth; to establish a strong spiritual and community foundation and to equip our youth to continue this on their own.  We will enable them to personally name and respond to their own God the Creator, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.  They will be lovingly and patiently guided in the discernment of their spiritual gifts and encouraged to be the future and the active present of our Church. 

We will offer Jr. High and Sr. High Sunday morning youth groups, a weekday evening Confirmation class, lock-ins, many fun events, retreats, and a Sr. High mission trip to Colorado in July 2012.  We will also participate in several Episcopal Church in MN  youth events including ECMN Youth Blasts, TEC, Summer in the City, and a Ski Trip!

Jr. High ‘Foundations’

A Sunday morning program for 6th – 8th grade that will focus on relevant and timely bible answers to real-life issues today’s teens face.  Topics include: Prayer, What is in the Bible, Church, Friends & Family, School, Pressure and Decision-Making.  We will also tie our classes to the Episcopal Church in MN Youth Blasts.  These are metro area youth gatherings with topics such as BCP, Episcopal History, You and the Church, Sexuality/Race/Culture.  Jr. High is strongly encouraged to participate in the metro-area ‘Summer in the City’ mission trip mid-June.

Sr. High ‘Primed’

The Sunday morning courses for the youth of 9th -12th grade will challenge them to discern and develop their spiritual faith and beliefs.   We hope to equip them with an understanding of their personal faith, a moral compass, and spiritual principles that are developed from within with God’s help and honed for application in the real world.  Courses include: Bible Studies, Prayer Practices, BCP, Comparative Religions, Theology and more!    We will also have a week long Community Building mission trip to Loveland, CO the last week in July 2012.

For information about currently offered classes, please contact the youth minister,  Stacey Olson.

Getway Confirmation Classes

Starting in October, Saint Mark’s will offer a one year Confirmation program for those students that are in 9th  grade or above and have not yet been confirmed. Confirmation is a reexamination of one’s Baptismal vows; it is an important Sacrament that explores and honors a youth’s transition into spiritual adulthood.  A small group of our parish will be asked to sponsor this group throughout their year long journey.   The youth will start off with a weekend spiritual retreat together up north, followed by 15 classes, TEC, and Confirmation in the spring.

Youth can begin the program in 9th grade, doing the various components as their schedule allows, and can be confirmed in fall or spring of their 10th grade year or later.  Some exceptions to this are possible depending on the maturity of the youth.  If you would like to start the confirmation program, please e-mail Stacey Olson.

Youth Trips

Youth Pilgrimage

Every three years the Sr. High youth take a pilgrimage to somewhere in the world. In the past, they have gone to the Iona community in Scotland, Turkey, and Cuba. In Fall of 2010 the youth will select the place that they want to go and then will decide on fundraising efforts and community building plans to make the trip happen in the summer or Winter vacation holiday of 2011.

Youth Mission Trip

Each summer our Jr. High youth in 6th-8th grade take part in a  summer mission trip and city immersion for youth from metro area Episcopal churches.  During the day we will be working at a variety of charities in small groups of young people, adult and high school leaders.  Each night will be a fun activity like swimming at a Water Park or city scavenger hunt.  City busses will be used for transportation.

Youth Choir

Our youth choir, the Cathedral Choristers, provide an opportunity for children and teenagers who enjoy music and singing to use this passion to worship God. More Information…