1957 Pruneridge Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050 :: directions | email :: 408.296.8383
St. Mark’s works joyfully to be a comfortable and welcoming parish to children and their families, regular or visiting. We continue to make our children more involved and visible in parish life, including them in more ways in special events and holding a few events directed primarily toward them.
Our Sunday School classes for four age groups are going strong. Our youngest members, from infants through toddlers, join us in the nursery. The class for our very enthusiastic and unpredictable younger kids is led by Dave Muller with assistance from several others (more welcome!). The 7-12 class is studying a new curriculum that follows the standard lectionary. We have some volunteers, but will be looking for a few more in the coming months. Please let us know if you'd like to be involved in teaching, assisting or any other aspect (music, crafts, service projects,...) of this wonderful new program. Contact Dave Muller at (408) 246-2631.
Special events directed primarily toward the children include making Easter baskets for SMUM, the usual wonderful Children's Sabbath service, and a fantastic Christmas pageant, written and staged by the youth group. There are also fun kids’ activities at the Pentecost picnic and the Thanksgiving dinner, and the children and youth help out tremendously with parties, fellowship hours and the Christmas Luncheon. We hope to do more this year in the areas of children's fellowship events and outreach projects. Your input and new ideas are always welcome as we look forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, and good, wholesome family fun.
St. Mark’s Preschool opened in January 1994 with just four children enrolled. Now, every weekday morning 24 children attend St. Mark’s Preschool and continue to grace us with their laughter and love. We have morning classes from 9-noon, Monday-Friday. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays we offer a prekindergarten readiness program from 1 P.M. 4 P.M. We also offer a 3-week-long Summer School program.
Due to the popularity of our school, we will have a second afternoon preschool class for four year olds beginning in September 2006. Contact Kate Mikami at (408) 244-7903 for more information about this exciting program.
The preschool’s goal has been and continues to be the care, concern and preparation of young children to go on to kindergarten and to the world at large with the best possible foundation. St. Mark’s Preschool program offers a combination of academics; alphabet, phonics, numeration, science and arts, with many opportunities for children to play, socialize and practice skills to confidently navigate their world. In addition, by providing a loving Christian environment, we hope to help our families build and develop strong character and values in their children. A large part of this is our commitment to continue to respond to the needs of our children and community.
In 2004, we were delighted to participate in a grant that enabled us to build a fabulous, new playground for our kids! Recognizing the importance of play in the lives and learning process of children, Miss Kate, our preschool director, designed the playground to encourage children’s natural curiosity and sense of exploration, challenge them physically and create a safe place to play with nearly unlimited amounts of sun and water…messy fun being an integral part of any preschool experience!
St. Mark’s provides an Adult Education program that began during 2002. We meet on Sunday afternoons after the 10 A.M. service and discuss a variety of topics together. Our latest survey suggested that St. Mark's adults are interested in a very broad selection of topics, and our course offerings for this year continue to explore that diversity.
As we move through 2006 and into 2007, St. Mark's invites your suggestions for adult education topics you would like to explore-or perhaps lead! Contact Canon Linda at (408) 296-8383, Debbie Wild (debwild@sbcglobal.net), or Eloise Blanchard (eloise_blanchard@hotmail.com)
The New Theological Perspectives group reads and discusses the work of modern theologians and spiritual writers who bring fresh perspectives to the interpretation of Christian history, scripture, and teachings. The sessions begin and end with meditations drawn from a rich tradition of contemplative poetry and music.
Every Baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EFM) program provides people from all walks of life with the education “to be” Christians and to carry out their ministries. All Christians need a Christian education that supports their faith and prepares them to express that faith in day-today events.
EFM is a worldwide program developed by the School of Theology of the University of the South. It holds before us that the foundation for bringing Christ to the world lies in a church empowered by an active, theologically articulated laity. Thousands of persons have completed this four-year program. Students enroll one year at a time, can transfer almost anywhere in the USA and in many foreign countries, and can obtain 18 Continuing Education Units per year by participating. Contact Jani Wild at (408) 687-7280, email at whrab@sbcglobal.net. You can also access EFM on the web at http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMhome.html.