Children, Youth, and Families

St. Luke’s seeks to offer children, youth, and families a variety of programs to foster a life of faith at the church and at home. Mirroring our membership, our families are of many colors, backgrounds and designs, and we want to be a part of introducing children to God’s world, instructing them in the faith and encouraging them to uphold their Baptismal vows, and producing adults committed to a spiritual life and service to others.

Our programs strive to give children tools to navigate their own spiritual journeys as they learn who they are and make their way into the world. Rather than indoctrination, we encourage young people to seek God, love themselves and others, and to celebrate themselves as a unique individual made in God’s image. For parents and other adult family members, we also provide classes on parenting and rearing capable young people.

Similar to the concept “it takes a village to raise a child,” many members of St. Luke’s without children or whose children are grown take an interest in our young people and their families, and we value the wonderful intergenerational relationships in our parish. Our parishioners look forward to Senior Sunday, when we honor high school graduates, many we remember seeing baptized and confirmed, and celebrate their lives as followers of Christ.

Under our Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry, our Children, Youth, and Family Council meets regularly to plan activities and find new ways to reach families. In the winter of 2020, we tried what we called “The Great Experiment,” where for five weeks we offered extra classes for parents and children along with Sunday dinner. We continue to look for new ways to be supportive of children and families of all types.

All teachers of children and youth must complete the “Safeguarding Our Children” training.