Nursery
Childcare service is provided during the 10:00 a.m. service for children up to 4 years old. The Nursery is located in the Lower Guild Hall. Activities include videos, toys, books, and coloring, all in a nurturing environment for young children.

  Children's Chapel
Our weekly Sunday School curriculum is a lectionary-based program written especially for Episcopalians, called Living the Good News. We have 10 volunteer teachers for these ages.

A typical Sunday includes:

▪ A children's processional through the church and down to the Children's Chapel for a children’s service. This service includes special prayers and an Old Testament or Gospel reading of the day.
▪ Monthly, a full service is led by one of our priests and includes communion.
▪ After the service, the children break into Sunday School groups for the lesson of the day and a weekly craft.
▪ The Children's Chapel also includes a music program. The first Sunday of every month, the children perform special songs for the congregation during the offertory.

Special Programs 

Youth Sundays – Children are responsible for all lay positions, including readings, offerings and ushering.

Christmas Pageant – An annual event held on Christmas Eve. All children perform the Christmas story, including readings and music. This is an event that is not to be missed!

Shrove Tuesday – Also known as "Fat Tuesday." This is our annual kick-off event for the Lenten season. Our families celebrate Mardi Gras-style with a pancake dinner, festive masks, sweet treats and games and prizes!

Maundy Thursday – The children participate in the parish simple supper of soup and salad. The children provide the readings and perform, "A Meal Among Friends" skit for the congregation.

Easter Sunday – A special Eucharistic children's service with a priest as celebrant. Music, crafts, and special treats are enjoyed by all!

Vacation Bible School (VBS) – A St. Mary's tradition! A summer vacation program held for five days. Each summer, a theme-based Biblical journey is provided for children ages _____ to _____. This is a relaxed and casual environment that includes theme-based t-shirts, music, skits, crafts, and food.

Summer Sunday School – A more relaxed Sunday School environment that includes lessons taught using videos, crafts, food and games.

Children's Offertory – Special organizations are chosen by the children for the funds collected during the weekly offering. In the past, organizations have included The Heifer Program, Children's Hospital of Orange County, The
American Red Cross International Response Fund (for the tsunami victims) and The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter.

  St. Mary's Youth Group and Journey to Adulthood (J2A)
The St. Mary's Youth Group and Journey to Adulthood (J2A) are for 6^th through High School age youth. The Youth Group now consists of two separate subsets, the Rte-13 (grades 6^th and 7^th) and the J2A (8^th Grade - High School) groups. Rite-13 is an Episcopal curriculum that prepares youth for young adulthood. The J2A series is a continuation of the Rite-13 program.

The focus of J2A is on spiritual formation and making disciples.  It is very different from a standard curriculum that focuses on information transferal or from a standard youth group that focuses on entertainment.  J2A is a process of spiritual formation.   

The Youth Group program includes social events and service projects.  The Youth Group enjoys monthly Fun in Fellowship nights to build community among the young people of St Mary’s and to add excitement to the Youth Group.  During the year, the Youth Group conducts several special events such as the New Year’s Bash and Back-to-School Barbecue. These events are a huge hit with the young people and their friends from outside St Mary’s.

As Youth Group members “graduate” from Middle School and move to High School, the St Mary’s J2A curriculum is growing with them.  The Youth Group's expanded curriculum includes the second phase of the J2A program, specifically designed for this age group. A ceremony, performed with the participation of the entire congregation, marks the “graduation” of individuals moving from Sunday School to Rte-13, and from Rte-13 to J2A.  This year, St Mary’s will conduct rituals associated with both the Rte-13 and J2A programs.  These rituals include the important ceremony of Confirmation.  The Youth Group plans conducts several additional educational and spiritual field trips including ski trips and a visit to the Crystal Cathedral.

The very livelihood of the Youth Group program at St Mary’s depends on the support and resources dedicated to it.  Support for the Youth Group has expanded to include a total of five teachers along with the Youth Group Coordinator.  The Youth Group program also relies heavily on the continued support of the Youth Group members and their families.  Participation from the youth in the weekly lessons as well as the special events is crucial and the families conduct the Fun in Fellowship nights and commit to the service projects.  Several members of the congregation volunteer to lead lessons with the Youth Group in their own area of expertise. 

  Adult Education
St. Mary's Learning Program steps off from Brian Blount's thought, "Because the biblical words are not the last Words. They are the living Word." Following the seasons of the church calendar, the programs are meant to enlighten our minds, stir our hearts and strengthen our wills as we work and pray for peace, seek justice, freedom and the necessities of life for all people, and respond to God in our daily lives. The programs are open to the public. Evening programs are generally held in the Children's Chapel. Afternoon programs are usually held in the Guild Hall.

Click Here to download a PDF flyer detailing Adult Education Programs for 2007

  Confirmation
Confirmation is a public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism made by youth and/or adults. Confirmations are performed by a bishop, with the laying on of hands, generally during the bishop's regularly scheduled parish visitation. The parish clergy present candidates for confirmation after a period of instruction. Clergy may also present new members to the bishop for Reception into the Church, and established members who wish to reaffirm their baptismal vows may be presented for Reaffirmation.

For information about confirmations please contact the church office, or see Rev. Elizabeth and/or Rev. Pat.