St. James' Episcopal Church

Downingtown, Pa.

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You are here: Home / Parish Life / Church School

Church School

 

Please use the form at the bottom of this page to register for any of our youth Church School Programs, or click to download the Church School Registration form here. Return your completed form via email to the Education Committee, via USPS mail to the church office, or drop off at the Parish Office.

Church School at St. James’ is held each Sunday morning at 10 am from September through early June.  This gives the children the opportunity to attend either the 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. church service with their families.

Weaving God’s Promises – 2018

The Christian Education programs for young people are designed to enrich the spiritual lives of our children and teenagers.  The curriculum used for Pre-k (age 4) through grade 5 is called Weaving God’s Promises.  This program fosters the spiritual formation and growth of our children in Christ’s love. Each lesson contains crafts, games and projects that help teachers convey their message in a fun, engaging manor.

journey to adulthood footsteps walking to sun

Journey to Adulthood is the curriculum that the parish offers for middle schoolers through high school.

Comprised of three separate classes, the first class—Rite 13–is specifically geared toward 6th & 7th graders. It is loosely based upon the liturgical rite of passage for young people of that age when Jewish children celebrate their bar/bat mitzvah. According to LeaderResources, the overseers of Journey to Adulthood, it is a way “in which the entire congregation can celebrate the unique gifts of these young people.”

J2A is the name of the second component of the Journey to Adulthood curriculum, and it is during this two-year class that young people are offered the Sacrament of Confirmation. Therefore J2A is offered to 8th & 9th graders, and is more intensive than Rite 13. Now the adolescents begin to gather together not only in the church on Sunday mornings, but can also participate in lock-ins, regional weekend retreats, and a holy pilgrimage of their choosing which occurs following their Confirmation. The pilgrimages are wonderful opportunities for the young people to seek out Christ in the larger world, usually through a specific-type of cross-cultural experience. Oftentimes J2A pilgrimages can be offered through global, companion-diocese partnerships, through other Episcopal Church communities, or as part of other ecumenical Christian destinations such as: the Iona Community in Scotland or the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland, to name a couple.

Lastly, YAC—or Young Adults in the Church—is the final of the three classes, and it typically comprised of 10th graders through seniors in high school. Within this class, the adolescents focus directly upon how God is calling them to serve in the Church as individuals, as well as providing opportunities for service work and recreational pursuits. In the recent past, YAC has typically met a couple of Sunday afternoons a month in the parish’s Bartholomew Hall. At the conclusion of the Journey to Adulthood program, participants are expected to be fully-recognized adults as their have made their respective journeys through adolescence. Additionally, older adolescents in high school, are still encouraged to pilgrimage together (i.e., the Taizé Community in France, etc.) and to embark on mission trips (Appalachia, Rosebud Episcopal Mission, natural disaster relief, etc.) and projects (i.e., Habitat for Humanity; Good Works, etc.)

J2A – 2018
Rite 13 – 2018

Furthermore, depending upon the arrival and addition of new high schoolers to St. James’ who may not yet have been confirmed during their prior Christian formation experiences, the parish from time to time offers a separate Episcopal Church curriculum for Confirmation which is called Confirm not Conform (CnC). CnC is taught by other lay leaders within the parish not directly involved with Journey to Adulthood as well as by the rector.

We would welcome you and your children to visit us on any Sunday morning!  If you have any questions, please contact the Education Committee by email.

Church School Registration


  • Registration

    Please list the name of each child being registered.
    Use the child's age as of September 1 and the last grade completed.
  • FirstLastAgeGrade CompletedNew Student (Y/N) 
    Use the + at the end of the line to add another child.
  • If any of the children listed have allergies, please note it here with the child's first name.
  • Please list any other medical issues we should be aware of for the children listed.
  • Parent / Guardian Name & Address

  • FirstLastPhoneEmail 
    Use the + at the end of the line to add contact information for an additional parent/guardian.
  • Preferred Parent / Guardian Address
  • Pickup Information

    If your child is in Pre-K through grade five, someone must come to the classroom to pick the child(ren) up after class. Please list any other persons other than the parents who may pick up your child after class.
  • Volunteers Are Needed

    Christian education is very important at St. James’, and we are always happy and eager to have parents help out in any way possible. We believe that as parents actively participate in our Christian education efforts, it can only have a very positive effect on your children as they begin their spiritual journey. Below are some opportunities to participate in your child’s Christian formation.
  • Picture Permission

    As you know with church events like Sunday School, we always take pictures. These pictures are used for our Media (social and print) Sunday bulletin, newsletter, brochures, St. James’ website and Facebook page. If you DO NOT want your child’s picture published please complete the form below and return to the church office. If you DO NOT want your child’s picture taken and/or published please check this box.
  • Thanks

    Thanks for registering. We look forward to seeing you at St. James' Church School.
    If you have any questions, please contact the Education Committee by email.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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409 E. Lancaster Ave
Downingtown, PA 19335
610-269-1774

Office Hours
Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Friday: Closed

parishoffice@
stjameschurchdowningtown.com

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