We are a thriving, vibrant community of faith, and we want to see you at church! We know that schedules are tight, and families are unruly and sometimes unwilling. We also know that if you make the space in your life to worship at church once a week, once a month, whenever you can--it will enrich your faith in amazing ways. To encourage you in this journey, we offer several programs, many of which are designed for children and families but available for all. Join us!
Here are a few other opportunities for formation in this season:
LIFE 2.1
LIFE 2.1, or Living in Faith Everyday, is our hallmark faith formation program at church. It is interactive and multi-generational. Events occur most Sundays during the program year during Fellowship Hour after the 10:00 am service. We focus on learning through crafts, activities, service, and fellowship. Although we meet at church, we also seek to equip families and individuals for Faith at Home through our programs. In addition to our regular Sunday morning program, we offer several special LIFE 2.1 events, including:
Seasonal events such as the Advent Workshop each December and our Journey through Lent in the spring. We also publish take-home calendars for these seasons, with daily reflections, service ideas, and fun facts about our faith traditions.
Movie Nights several times a year. Join us as we camp out in the Parish Hall for dinner (or snacks) and a movie that connects with our faith, sometimes in unexpected ways. Discussion topics are available to keep the conversation going. Movies are announced in advance, but are selected with a wide age-range in mind.
Annual traditions such as the Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve and our All Saints' Celebration. We also celebrate the Blessing of the Backpacks in September, and Bible & Prayer Book Sunday in October. These are frequently church-wide events, and important parts of the fabric of our parish life.
Funday School, which is our summer formation program geared towards children in the summer. We meet at 10:00 am on designated Sundays for crafts and activities on the church lawn, then move inside to join the rest of the congregation for the Peace.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Wiggle & Worship
Wiggle & Worship is our Sunday morning program for children 6th grade and under. Sometimes the service can seem a little long, and the pews can be a little confining! On most Sundays (summer excepted) at the 10:00 am service, we gather all interested children at the front of the church at the beginning of the Gospel. We leave the church for our own active worship activities, returning at the Peace.
Note: As churches throughout New Jersey closed for in-person worship and formation in March 2020, we recorded over 50 videos for Diocesan Sunday School using our Wiggle & Worship format. You can check them out anytime on the Diocese of New Jersey’s YouTube channel!
Worship Ministries
One of the most meaningful ways to live out your faith at church is through participation in one of our worship ministries. For adults, there are a variety of options--please see our Worship Ministries page for more details. Children are also invited to participate in our worship ministries, and there is no better way to learn the beautiful rituals of our Episcopal tradition! Children as young as 4 can help bring the elements up to the altar before the Eucharist as oblationers. Children who are comfortable reading aloud can serve as lectors (readers) or by reading the Prayers of the People. Children from 4th grade and up are invited to serve as acolytes, and older children can serve as ushers. Please contact the church office for more details!
"It's been my experience that people develop a more meaningful faith when they are free to explore it on their own."
Read more from this Grow Christians blog entry, "My Daughter is Growing into Leadership--as an Acolyte" by Heather Sleightholm.