Message from Christian Education Co-Directors
2009 - 2010

Our sister, Verna Dozier, has written, “Theology is making meaning, making sense out of our lives in terms of what we believe to be the nature of ultimate reality.” In describing functional education, our Rector, Paul Abernathy, has said it is a way of living life in community together, a discipline that engages people authentically as they try to make sense out of life, as they wrestle with the joy, fear, pain, dread, and hope that is encountered in real life. We engage in this discipline primarily through our stories.

We tell the stories of our own life experience. We listen to the stories of others we know or are coming to know in our community. We read the sacred stories of our spiritual ancestors. We find common threads in all of the stories and weave them into a richer understanding of our lives. The meaning we make out of our lives in this way can help guide our decisions as we face life’s dilemmas. It can help us to live together more successfully, openly, lovingly, and authentically. As St. Mark’s continues with the theme of “Engaging the Other,” we look to our relationship with the other in our midst, the other outside our doors, the other from the distant past, and the other deep within each of our selves. The classes that will be offered seek to support this journey of discovery and creation, discovering new life in our stories and creating meaning to guide and enrich us. The co–directors have sought to respond to your feedback by offering classes at convenient times and venues. We invite your feedback and suggestions to help make the Christian Education Program at St. Mark’s a valuable support to each of you in facing the challenges of life.

In the Youth Program, the 3–12 year olds will be invited to engage in the Montessori–based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Our dedicated Catechesis team provides students with a safe and centering place where each child can explore simple, yet profound, questions about Jesus’ parables and our church’s Eucharistic practices. Our teachers invite their students’ thoughts, encourage their reflections, and channel their energy with love and patience. For those young folks in middle school and high school, we offer classes using St. Mark’s functional education approach. Students are invited to use their own stories as a lens through which to look at their lives at home, and their lives outside–in school and in the community. These stories and experiences are shared along with the Christian lore and traditions. Each class is guided by an issue that all humans encounter in a wide variety of ways at different ages. Functional education issues are universal ones that we all encounter within our unique stories. Megan Courtney, Director of Youth Ministries, will help these classes experience and explore some of these issues through community service. She will incorporate service into each of the classes by visiting regularly throughout the year. All the leaders will invite the sharing of stories and the transformation of students’ relationships within the world.

More than 100 members of our parish have volunteered to share their time, talent, energy and creativity in support of the Christian Education Program this year. Our heartfelt gratitude and admiration go to each of them for their kindness, diligence, and generosity.

Brock Hansen
Nadine Hathaway
Don Lipscomb
Heather Powers

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