Childcare
St. Mark's offers childcare during our Sunday worship services and adult education classes in our renovated nursery. It is located at the north end of the lower level of the parish hall. Our trained attendants are screened and offer a safe, caring environment for your children. Pagers are available to connect parents to the nursery staff. For more information, please call (247-1129) or e-mail the church office.
Godly Play and Living the Good News
Our Christian Formation program for young children, preschool through third grade, uses the Godly Play program. Children are gathered during the early part of the 10:15 service and taken down to the Godly Play room where the stories of our faith are presented in an engaging, multi-dimensional format where creativity and wonder are encouraged. Children have opportunities to respond to the stories in a variety of expressions. Children are then escorted back into the main worship service in time for Communion.
Our Christian Formation program for children in the fourth and fifth grades uses a lectionary-based program called Akaloo. Children are gathered during the early part of the 10:15 service and taken down to their room where the lessons of the day are presented and addressed in a variety of media. Children are then escorted back into the main worship service in time for communion.
For more information, please call (247-1129) or e-mail the church office.
Youth Group
St. Mark's youth are joining with the youth from First Presbyterian Church! The Youth Director at First Presbyterian, Russell Duren, oversees groups for middle- and high-school youth. There will also be fun activities such as ski retreats that we will participate in together.
Surge (Middle School Youth Group) Tuesday nights, in the Youth Basement of the church classroom building at First Presbyterian. Each week, the program runs from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Come as early as 6:00 to just hang out with your friends and leaders. Gatherings consist of crazy icebreakers and games, sharing a snack together, and watching a thought-provoking video clip followed by discussion and Biblical insight. Each week's discussion builds on or digs deeper into the topic of the lesson covered a few days earlier in Sunday School.
Oasis (Senior High Youth Group). Thursday nights, in the Youth Basement of the church classroom building at First Presbyterian. Program runs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Light food and casual hang-out begins at 6:30. The focus of these gatherings is to discuss the relationship between our faith and the crazy culture around us. We use the TV show Arrested Development as a springboard for conversations about parents, cultural pressures, commitment, ethics, society's views of Christianity, faith and doubt, confession and forgiveness, and many other relevant topics.
The vision for Surge and Oasis is to build Christ-centered community for students without becoming just another event to burden your tight schedule. Surge and Oasis are designed to be a safe place for anyone, regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. Definitely a low-pressure atmosphere perfect for bringing a curious friend!
For more information, please call (247-1129) or e-mail Father Andrew.
Acolytes
Acolytes are made up of any young person age ten or older who is encouraged to be trained and serve at the altar during our worship. Acolytes assist by helping create the holy environment of worship by attending to the lighting of candles, participating in processions, elements of the sacraments, offerings and being the priest's assistants. Please let the office know if you are interested; a training date will be scheduled soon. For more information, please call (247-1129) or e-mail the church office.
910 E. Third Ave. • Durango, CO 81301 • (970) 247-1129