CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Christian Formation, our development and growth into our faith, is a life-long process.  It begins, for many of us, at our Baptism when we are brought into the Christian Community.   The development of our faith life continues during our formative years when we are in elementary, middle, and high school through our parents sharing their faith tradition with us and through Sunday School and Confirmation programs.  And it continues as we progress into adulthood.  It is imperative that we never assume that at some stage we are finished being formed as Christians.  Like our skills and talents and hobbies, the ability to understand, communicate and live the faith of the Risen Christ takes learning, practice and committment.

In the parish family of Saint Paul we take Christian Formation very seriously and we provided many opportunities for all members of the parish, and the wider community, to come to know Jesus Christ better.

Devote some time each week to the deepening of the understanding of your faith, of your relationship to the Risen Christ, of the Scriptures, of your Church, and of ways that we can proclaim the Gospel to a broken and hurting world. Please join us, as Together We Build the Kingdom of God.

Please feel free to contact us to find our more information about our Christian Formation programs or to suggest programs that you would like to see us offer.  We can be contacted by mail at P.O. Box 96, 340 Locust Street, Columbia, PA  17512 or by e-mail at stpaulepchcolumbia@earthlink.net or by phone at 717-684-8496.

CHRISTIAN FORMATION

 FOR

YOUNG PEOPLE

Sunday School

A Jubilee Ministry Center

Please call the parish office (684-8496) to register your children / grandchildren.

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

Mary Elizabeth Bair Parish Center

Our preschool and Grade 1 program uses the Living the Good News Program which is based on the Sunday readings and the great stories of the Bible to help our children understand their relationship to God.  Our Grade 2 through Grade 8 program uses the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum which is based on the Lectionary readings for each Sunday to help our children practice what they learn in Sunday School.  Each Sunday our young people gather together to pray, sing songs, listen to the Scripture reading, and make their offerings to God.  They then go to their classrooms for instruction, learning, crafts and other activties suggested by the curriculum and / or the teacher.  The offerings that the children make are brought forward at our Sunday worship by the children.

Preschool - ages 3 - 5 and grade 1

Elementary School - grades 2 - 8

The High School program is the Adult Forum Program that is held on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Sundays.  Please see the Adult Christian Formation information for dates, topics, and times.

Our Sunday School is open to all members of the community.  You do not need to be a member of Saint Paul's to be part of our Sunday School.

Call 717-684-8496 to register or e-mail us at stpaulepchcolumbia@earthlink.net

Confirmation Program

This program prepares young people for Confirmation to be celebrated when the Bishop visits the parish.  Parents, in conversation with their children, should make the decision as to when their child should be confirmed.  A reasonable age to begin thinking about Confirmation is when the child is 12 - 16.  Confirmation is a commitment by the individual to a life based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to proclaim his name, therefore some level of understanding of what this means is necessary.  To be confirmed at Saint Paul, the young person must be an active member of the parish for at least six months.  An active member is defined as someone who is a regular particpant in Sunday School, attending church on Sunday on a regular basis, and a member of the parish youth group.  The upper age for Confirmation class is 13.  Young people older than 13 will be part of the adult class (Inquirer's Class) for Confirmation / Reception.  The dates for the 2012 Confirmation Program will be published in mid-February 2012.  To get more information now and / or to register your child, please call the parish office at 684-8496 or at stpaulepchcolumbia@earthlink.net

CHRISTIAN FORMATION

FOR

ADULTS

A Jubilee Ministry Center

There are two programs for Adult Christian Formation:  the Sunday / Monday / Wednesday Adult Forum Programs and the Spring Adult Faith Renewal (Inquirer's) Program.  All our Adult Christian Formation programs are open to anyone in the community.  You do not need to be a member of Saint Paul's to attend.

Adult Forum Programs

Those in grades 9 - 12 at Saint Paul's  will particpate in the Sunday / Monday / Wednesday Adult Forums as their Sunday School Program.  Parents / Grandparents should call the parish office (684-8496) to register the young people for this program.  Adults do not need to register for this program.

ADULT FORUM (MONDAYS)

Beginning on the first Monday of October and continuing through the Monday before Ash Wednesday the Monday Adult Forum takes place at 7:00 p.m. at Saint John Lutheran Church (unless otherwise noted).  This program is a joint program of Saint Paul Episcopal  Church, Saint John Lutheran Church, and Saint James Lutheran Church.

Monday, February 6

Moral Decison-Making - Part II

Rev. J. Patrick Peters, Rector, Saint Paul Episcopal Church

Saint John Lutheran Church (6th and Locust Street - enter via parking lot entrance - directly across from the CVS)

7:00 p.m. - program

Monday, February 13

Ecumenical Relationships Today

Bishop Joseph McFadden, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg

Saint John Lutheran Church (6th and Locust Street - enter via parking lot entrance - directly across from the CVS)

7:00 p.m. - program

Monday, February 20

Pastors' Panel Discussion

Pastor Peter Bergstresser, Interim Pastor of Saint John Lutheran Church; Pastor Mark Kopp, Pastor of Saint James Lutheran Church; and Father Patrick Peters, Rector of Saint Paul Episcopal Church

ADULT FORUM (WEDNESDAYS)

This program is held on the Wednesday evenings of Lent and is a joint effort between Saint Paul Episcopal Church and several western Lancaster County-based Episcopal Churches (The Western Rim of the Lancaster Convocation).

This program has ended for 2011.  A new series of programs will be scheduled for Lent 2012

ADULT FORUM (SUNDAYS)

Begins on the Sunday after Easter and runs through the Sunday before the Memorial Day weekend.  It is held at 9:05 a.m. in the Rector's Office.  Come join Father Patrick in a lively discussion on a variety of topics that are critically important to us as a parish family and a member of the Body of Christ.  Confront, challenge, lean, pray, discern, and grow.

Our Sunday Adult Forum has ended for this year.  It will begin again on the Sunday after Easter - 2012

ADULT FAITH RENEWAL

(Inquirer's Class)

This program prepares our young people and adults (14 years of age and older) who would like to become a member of the Episcopal Church and need to be Baptized, Confirmed and / or Received when the Bishop visits the parish.  For an adult person to be confirmed or received they must be an active member of the parish for at least six months.  To be an active member means to attend church on Sunday on a regular basis, particpate in the prayer, educational, and social life of the parish, and to contribute to the ministry and mission of the parish through their time, talent, and treasure.  High school students must also be attending the Adult Forum (the high school Sunday School) and be an active part of the parish youth group.  Current members who would like to renew and deeped their understanding of the faith are also welcome.  The class schedule for 2012 will be published in mid February 2012.  To get more information or to register, please contact the parish office at 684-8496 or at stpaulepchcolumbia@earthlink.net