Children and youth are a very important and valued part of the St. John’s Episcopal Church parish family. We offer a variety of programs focused on learning about the Bible, sharing God’s love in our community, and growing together in faith.
Please contact Ayana Grady, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, at agrady@stjohnstampa.org with questions about any of these ministries, or to join our mailing list.
Programming for Children and Youth
For our youngest members, a fully staffed nursery is available during the 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday services.
St. John’s Children’s Ministry consists of lively, spirit-filled activities and classes for children from potty-trained three year olds through 5th grade. Our current offerings include Children’s Chapel during the 9:30 service, with a kid-friendly liturgy and Children’s Sermon. Children’s Sunday School, which takes place immediately following the 9:30 a.m. service from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. each week during the school year, features age-specific lessons, crafts, and games based on the Lectionary readings. Both Sunday School and Children’s Chapel occur during the school year, we take a break for summer.
Also, join us for our Wednesday Night programs for all ages! After a shared dinner, Christian formation for all ages engages and inspires.
St. John’s EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) is our youth group, and welcomes all youth in grades 6 through 12 to meetings on Sunday evenings during the school year! EYC is designed to give youth a place where they can have fun, meet life-long friends, be supported, and deepen their faith in Christ. Growing in maturity and in faith is easier and more fun when we grow together! Middle School EYC (6th through 8th graders) meets each week during the school year from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., and High School (9th through 12th graders) meets from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., with a combined dinner for both groups from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Youth Sunday School participants (5th through 12th graders) come up to receive Communion first during the 9:30 a.m. service. They exit into the parish office hallway and check in at the Sunday School check-in table near the office door. After check in, students go to their respective Sunday School classrooms. Parents can pick their children up from their classrooms at 11:15 a.m.
During the summer, St. John’s partners with Cornerstone Kids at St. James House of Prayer to present Vacation Bible School.