Children and Family Ministry
As families come to worship at St. John’s, we want family members of all ages to know that they are warmly welcomed and loved at St. John’s. Our Children and Family Ministry strives to serve our parish family by providing opportunities for Christian growth, service, and fellowship through pastoral ministry, programs and special events.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is for ages 3-12 (preschool through the 6th grade). In the Catechesis we present age-appropriate themes from the Bible and our Anglican liturgy with materials the children use to internalize and ponder the great mysteries of our faith.
Instead of a “classroom” environment the children learn in an “atrium.” The atrium is like a chapel where children come to experience God and begin to connect the story of salvation history with their own their life as a Christian.
Junior and Senior High School. Our Junior and Senior formation uses the Didache Series. The name of the series explains a lot of what our catechetical focus is for this age group. The name “Didache” is Greek for “teaching” and it is also the name of a collection of writings and teachings of the early Church that are attributed to the Apostles. We teach and form our kids in the Christian faith that has been handed down since the Apostolic era to our present day.
Anglican Youth Ministry (AYM). Our youth group (grades 6-12) at St. John’s meets on the first Sunday of the Month at 10:15 am for spiritual formation and education, and the first Sunday at 1:00 pm for a meal, fellowship, and activities. In addition our teens are involved in our worship service, outreach ministries and Diocesan camps and events.
Vacation Bible School – Vacation Bible School is a fun-filled 5 day program for kids 3 years through the 5th grade. Many hands come together to provide an excellent week of faith, fun, and fellowship. Watch the website beginning in late spring for more details on the next VBS offering.
First Communion Instruction – Children ages 6 and up are invited to attend First Communion classes, along with their parents. Children are prepared to receive their first Holy Communion. These classes are scheduled on an as-needed basis. If you are interested in First Communion classes please call the parish office at 817-927-5341.
Inquirers’ / Confirmation Instruction – Classes for those who would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, as well as those who are inquirers, or who simply want to learn more or to take a “refresher” course, are taught annually at St. John’s, leading up to our annual visit from our Bishop. For more information about Confirmation, see the Confirmation page on this site, under the ‘Pastoral’ heading. Or contact one of our Clergymen or our parish office. We would love to have you join us!
Wednesday Evening Family Potluck. Wednesday evening family potluck is for any and all members of St John’s. It begins with a causal potluck at 6:00 pm, where each family is asked to bring an entree, followed by various activities from 6:30-7:30. The CGS Atriums are open for participating children, AYM activities, and programs for adults.