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Welcome!!!

St. Mark’s Youth

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Saint Mark's Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill is a warm and welcoming community for children, teens and their families. We strive to integrate young people into every aspect of our communal life. Please contact Megan Courtney, Director of Youth Ministries, at 202/543-0053 if you have questions that are not answered below.

What are Youth Ministries at St Mark’s?

  • The Director of Youth Ministries works with the teams of the Youth Ministries Council to plan and execute a wide array of activities and events for families and children ages 4-19.

  • St Mark’s is a lay-led parish and, as a result, many functions of the church are organized and run by lay groups called “Pillars.” There are opportunities for children and youth within the various Pillars. Some of these are:

    • Christian Education - The Christian Education program at Saint Mark's is a hallmark of our communal life. The Christian Education Co-Directors have creative and administrative oversight of Sunday School. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program has its own leadership but both it and the “Functionally” taught 4-12 grade program are not in the portfolio of the Director of Youth Ministries.

    • Worship - Depending on their age, young people participate in weekly worship services as Acolytes, Beadles, and Lay Servers. Sunday School classes and other youth groups are also given an opportunity, from time to time, to write parts of the liturgy in conjunction with other projects.

      • Eight to 19 year olds interested in serving as an acolyte should contact Leslie Allen.

    • Arts - St. Mark’s has a Children’s Choir (grades 1-3); Boys & Girls Choir (grades 4-8); and Chancel Choir (which includes qualified high school students). The St. Mark’s Players, our resident theater company, the St. Mark's Music Studio, and the Dance Studio also provide artistic opportunities for our youth.

      • Young people interested in the choir should contact Director of Music, Jeffrey Workman.

    • Outreach - St Mark’s signature youth service activity is our biennial teen trip to Honduras. Students also participate in service activities throughout the year, usually associated with Capitol Hill Group Ministry or Sustainable Harvest International, our service partner in Honduras.

What activities fall under the Youth Ministries Council (YMC)?

  • The YMC has five teams. During the school year, the Special Events Team plans extra-Sunday School activities for 4-12 year olds, the Middle School Team works on retreats and activities for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, and the High School Team does retreats and activities for 9th-12th graders. In the summers, the Shrine Mont Team plans activities for the annual parish retreat and the Summer Sunday School team plans classes for the session running from the middle of June through the third Sunday in August.

  • Though the YMC actively helps with the annual Christmas Pageant, the “Mother of Mary” (MOM) is the official organizer of the pageant and post-pageant reception.

  • For more details on the YMC, please refer to the Organizational Chart (PDF).

  • For more details about individual events, please refer to the Youth Ministries Calendar.

What opportunities are there for parents to participate in the YMC?

  • Without active parishioner engagement there is no YMC (and, as a result, fewer activities for our children and youth).

    • The Special Events, Middle School, and High School Teams are established in the late summer and serve through the school year. The summer teams are usually formed by Easter and serve through their individual events. Parishioners interested in serving on those teams in the future should contact the Director of Youth Ministry.

    • The events found on the calendar and organizational chart occur throughout the year and we can always use extra hands. Parishioners willing and able to help with those should contact the Director of Youth Ministry.

  • Parents are also encouraged to complete the volunteer survey (PDF) and mail it to Baxter House (118 3rd St, SE Washington, DC 20003).

When is Sunday School and how do I register my child?

  • Sunday School for ages 3 1/2 through high school meets every Sunday, 9:45 - 10:45, Labor Day week-end through Memorial Day weekend.

  • Classes for K-5th Grade students are located in the Undercroft of the church, while middle and high school students meet in Baxter House at 118 3rd St, SE.

  • Complete this Registration Form (PDF) and email it to the Parish Administrator or send it to Baxter House (118 3rd St, SE Washington, DC 20003)

Where is the nursery and how do I register my child?

  • Our nursery, for newborns through 3 1/2, is staffed by experienced, loving caregivers and is open during both the 9:00 AM. and 11:15 services.

  • The nursery is located on the west side of the church Undercroft.

  • Complete this Registration Form (PDF) and email it to the Parish Administrator or send it to Baxter House (118 3rd St, SE Washington, DC 20003).