St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s program for Christian formation is both inter-generational and age-related. We are revitalizing our program and creating ministries that reflect our mission to bring the love of God to all by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We offer seasonal study opportunities of the Bible as well as thematic study. Each year the clergy leads a class called Anglican Voices (Spring 2008), a foundational class for newcomers and others to prepare for membership in the Episcopal Church, as well as a refresher course for those who want to deepen their understanding of Anglican spirituality, history and worship. The Seasons of the Spirit worship & art exploration discovery and Adult Lectionary Study Group meet September-May. We are also part of the Servant Leadership School of the Berkshires, a new cooperative parish ministry initiative that encourages and enables laity to explore their faith journey and ways to be engaged in ministry.
· Seasons of the Spirit: A Family Style Service of Worship is a program that combines both Worship and Christian Education – a faith formation experience that both adults and children will appreciate. The liturgy of the 30 – minute worship service emphasizes the presence and gifts of younger members of our parish, which is then followed by arts, crafts and activities for sensory expression of the children’s learning experience (ages Toddler-12 years). On the fourth Sunday of the month, our children and youth infuse the worship of the more traditional 9:00 am service.
· The Catechism Class (ages 13-18) meets on Sunday mornings in the rector's office, at 9:40am. At St. Mark’s we are encouraging a later age for Confirmation (around 15-18 years-of-age). In this class the youth will explore with the priest and other designated persons, their faith journey and discovery of their call to be disciples.
· The Adult Lectionary Study Group is an informal gathering to discuss the following Sunday's Lectionary readings. There is no preparation involved, except an inquiring mind and desire to be challenged and grow in faith and knowledge. Coffee and good fellowship provided. The group meets on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 from September through May in the Parish House.
· The Knit & Stitch Prayer Ministry meets on Mondays, 2:30pm, combining contemplative prayer, the biblical story and mission outreach. Those who are unfamiliar with needlecraft are invited to learn a new skill and be engaged in a rewarding time of community.
· Wednesday Mornings at the Millhouses (9:30am) is a ministry where we extend the walls of our parish to include the Millhouses of Adams (Section 8 housing for the handicapped, elderly and low-income families), gathering with residents in the common room for prayer, scripture discussion and the breaking of bread in the Eucharist.
· Youth Ministry is focused on the gathering of youth (12-college age) in fellowship, service and a broad participation in the life of the parish. The Youth Group has led the parish in mission outreach through Operation Christmas Child (shoebox mission) and the Relay for Life (raising money for breast cancer research); and sponsoring the annual August “Tag & Bake Sale” to raise funds for youth events.
· Servant Leadership School of the Berkshires believes that every church in the world is called to prepare servant leaders to follow Jesus Christ and serve God’s dream for a transformed world. A school of servant leadership invites its student to explore both an inward journey of personal transformation and an outward journey of discerning their own particular “call” and giving expression to some form of life-giving service in the world. If you’d like to see where the Berkshire School is headed, go to www.servantleadershipgreenboro.com. The Berkshire School hopes to have its own website soon.
The outside circle surrounding the
swirls represents the Holy One, God, our loving Creator in whom we have our
being.
The three intertwining circles represent the intent of the curriculum – the
integration of Worship, Learning, and Serving:
The blue swirl, ending in a shape symbolizing wind, represents Worship, the movement of the Holy Spirit
that flows inward, outward, and around our coming together.
The green swirl, ending in a leaf shape, represents Learning and growing in faith, as we
explore meaning and mystery in the Bible and are transformed in Christ.
The orange swirl, ending in a hand shape, represents Serving, as we reach outward into the world,
engaging in ministries of love, justice, and witness.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
39 Commercial Street, P.O. Box 191, Adams, Massachusetts 01220
© 2008 St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Adams Ma.