Christian education at St. John's is made up of broad and diverse programs involving all ages. Church School and Adult Forum follow the Sunday morning sermon, and during the week there are book groups and a Bible study. In particular, the Bible study meets Tuesday mornings for the session, “What Does Scripture Say?” Books by authors such as Reynolds Price, Joan Chittister, and Garry Wills have been used for mid-week discussions during Lent and Advent as well as for the Adult Forum. Other midweek groups have focused on topics such as Islam, Jewish spirituality, and Bible stories every Christian should know.
The Adult Forum program itself explores many topics such as architecture of the Church, church construction around 1900, the Protestant reformation, science and religion, bio-ethics, and liturgical music. Adult Forum also devotes part of each year to subjects that are local in nature such as Wick Neighbors, the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Library, and Habitat for Humanity.
The Church School program is directed by Thea Hare and supported by parishioners. One year, twenty-one adults were involved in teaching and leading sessions for children on Sunday morning. All ages of children gather for opening prayer and the Nicene Creed and then divide into classes, usually studying the same scripture. This study is complemented with art projects such as building a Noah's ark. Church School kicks off in the fall, and this year it was preceded by Camp Eagle — a sleepover involving children and parents. The current curriculum guides students through the life of the Apostle Paul.
St. John's Vacation Bible School has been described as a gift to the community, for those children who participate are not only children of St. John's but children in our community. The theme for one summer was Habitat for Humanity with children making blankets and garden stones for a Habitat house.
Youth Group activities at St. John's reflect our commitment to community service. The Youth Group regularly hosts the Sunday soup kitchen known as the Red Door Café; they also distribute soup, crackers, and peanut butter to low income apartment residents in the Youngstown area and have provided a pumpkin carving evening at a local nursing home. The youth participate in the CROP Walk and assist with the Thanksgiving dinner delivery. Each year at the end of November, the youth coordinate a coat and blanket giveaway.
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