Grow
Children & Youth
We believe children are full of God’s wonder. We can learn just as much from them, as they can from us.
At St. Mary's the young people are cared for, mentored and supported by the whole community and regularly take an active role in worship, such as in the Junior Choir, as acolytes, greeters, readers, or prayer leaders.
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We are currently searching for the right candidate to become our next Nursery coordinator.
Until then… Nursery-age children are welcome to join Children’s Chapel, either with an adult or they can be passed to Kingsley our Family Ministry Coordinator.
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Each Sunday we offer Children’s Chapel for children under 10 years of age. Children should gather with their families for worship and will be invited forward for a time of welcome, before proceeding to the Library for a chance to worship together. Children will return to the congregation at the time of the peace, in order to receive communion with their families. Nursery-age children are welcome to join Children’s Chapel, either with an adult or they can be passed to Kingsley our Family Ministry Coordinator.
At Children’s Chapel the children participate in a mini service similar to what the adults will be experiencing in the main sanctuary. Children will hear the same bible story (delivered at a more age-specific level), discuss and reflect on the story, say some prayers and a confession together, then return for Communion.
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We have a small but active youth group that comes together for food, fellowship, and fun. We have a dedicated space for the youth and they are often found spending unstructured time there.
The Youth Group meets on a regular basis every month in the Youth Room above the church office. All youth are welcome; we are a safe and inclusive LGBTQ2S+ group.
Youth are encouraged to bring their friends. Our programming is focused on building friendships, having fun, and teaching the values of walking with God through activity and example. This program runs from September to June.
Interested in joining?
Please contact our Family Ministry team via email at family@stmaryskerrisdale.ca
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We have a large Young Adults presence. We are beginning to gather for a book study, bowling nights, and other seasonal activities.
Our group is open and inclusive of anyone ages 18 to ~35 years old. This is a great way to make community connections and build friendships.
Interested in joining?
Please contact our Family Ministry team via email at family@stmaryskerrisdale.ca
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The Mom's Group gathers for fellowship, friendship, and faith. They explore different topics and how they impact families like yours. Gatherings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm (in September and January we meet on the first Wednesday of the month). Child supervision will be provided in the nursery upon request.
Interested in joining?
Please contact our Family Ministry team via email at family@stmaryskerrisdale.ca
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Confirmation is a sacrament of the Anglican Church when one decides to affirm one's baptismal promises and to be confirmed in God’s love. Confirmation often takes place between the ages of 12 and 16, however, anyone at any age who has been baptized may choose to be confirmed.
Confirmation at St. Mary's involves a set of classes that usually run from October/November until the Diocesan-wide confirmation service which takes place sometime around Easter (March/April). We offer this Confirmation course every other year.
Interested?
Please contact our Family Ministry team via email at family@stmaryskerrisdale.ca
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Each Spirit Sunday we creatively cultivate space for us to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church. This regularly leads us to explore different topics, spiritual practices, and liturgies. Then, together, we are emboldened to go out into the world where the Spirit is guiding us.
While this is not a service focused on children, it is an intergenerational service, that all generations can participate in.
Spirit Sundays are typically the first Sunday of the month, but there are exceptions throughout the liturgical year.
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Adult Formation
An important part of being a follower of Christ is to be transformed by the inner working of God through study, personal prayer, and spiritual practice.
St. Mary’s offers many different opportunities to help you on your spiritual journey in life. These include ongoing study/discussion groups, book studies, seasonal opportunities for prayer and reflection, resources to help you develop your own prayer and meditation practices and more. We want to help connect you to the things that will help you grow in grace and spiritual depth.
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While we have various opportunities for books studies, discussion groups etc throughout the year, during some of the special ‘liturgical seasons’ of the year we offer short-term study groups that focus on specific aspects of our spiritual life such as ‘living our faith’, learning different meditation and prayer practices, understanding different aspects of Christianity etc. These short studies are often held during the seasons of Advent (4 weeks leading up to Christmas), Lent (6 weeks leading up to Easter) and Easter (7 weeks following Easter) and they usually focus in some way on some of the themes of that particular season. These shorter special focus events allow people who might not have time to be involved in a longer-term study group to participate in exploring and strengthening their faith and spiritual development.
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At the start of the seasons of Advent and Lent, we usually offer a ‘Quiet Day’. This is a one-day ‘mini-retreat’ with short reflections on some aspect of our faith interspersed with times of silence and prayer, walking and journalling to allow us the ‘space’ to quieten our hearts and minds and deepen our relationship with God.
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We meet on Monday mornings for fellowship and mutual support, prayer, Bible study, discussion of faith, discipleship and everyday issues from personal to planetary. All are welcome.
When:
Monday mornings, 11am-12noon, in the Heritage Lounge (lower floor) at St. Mary’s and on Zoom.
Interested?
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