Christian Education & Youth

Wonderful Wednesdays & Children’s Choir
We have had a great start to this school year. Looking ahead there are many special events and activities planned for your children. Please put them on your calendars now. Wonderful Wednesdays will continue to start every Wednesday at 5:30 PM with a dinner, at 6 PM the choir will rehearse, games begin at 6:45 PM and the program will conclude each week at 7:30 PM.

In Lent there are two adjustments to the schedule:

· On Wednesday March 20 there will be a Seder dinner for the entire family. We encourage your entire family to join us for this. The kids will have light refreshments at 5:30 PM – then at 6 PM we will be led through a teaching Seder by two eminent teachers from Baltimore. Note that the Seder will finish at 7:45 PM. [If parents cannot join us for this event, your children will still be most welcome. Parent pick-up is 7:45 PM at the school entrance.]

· On Wednesday in Holy Week, March 27, only the choir will rehearse (the school is closed that day. There will be no dinner.) Please take your children to the choir room for rehearsal. Enter through the side door off of the Bishop’s Garden.

The choir will sing:

· Sunday, March 17, 2013 – call time 10:30 AM

· Sunday, March 31 Easter Sunday – call time 8:15 AM

· Sunday, April 14 – call time 9:15 AM

· Sunday, May 19 – call time 9:15 AM

On Sunday mornings when the choir sings, the easiest way to get to the choir room is to enter the Cathedral through the main doors on Front Street, walk past the organ and through the working sacristy into the Bamboo Room. Go up the stairs to your right in the Bamboo Room – that leads directly into the choir room.

Sunday Youth Group
Sunday Youth Group is this Sunday from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in the Upper Croft for students in 6th grade and up.

All are welcome, so please invite your friends.

Youth Group is a great way for Youth in our community to interact with their friends, play fun games, and reinforce their Christian values; all within the safe haven that St. Stephen’s Cathedral provides.

Youth Group members also participate in Service Projects with the community, dates will be announced.

Please use the school’s main entrance, and dinner or snack starts at 5:30 pm!

We welcome all Youth – Come Join Us on Sunday!

For more information, please contact: Joe Winter – Director of Christian Formation (717) 236 – 4059 X 102 or at

Wonderful Wednesday
Wonderful Wednesdays - 5:45-6:10 pm is dinner, 6:10-6:50 pm is Children's Choir (for ALL ages) and from 6:50-7:30 pm is Youth Games and Activities.

While Children's Choir and Youth Games and Activities are taking place, there is an Adult Form from 6:00-7:30 pm. Back by popular demand, this weeks discussion at the Adult Forum is "Self Esteem is a Family Affair" – EVERYONE is welcome to attend.

Please use the school entrance to get to the Upper Croft. We welcome ALL children and youth, so invite your friends.

For more information please contact Joe Winter at 717-236-4059 or

Nursery

In the Nursery, we work on laying the building blocks for the foundation for the infants' and toddlers' experiences with the church. We do this by providing an age-appropriate environment for children ages infant through 5 years old to play in close proximity to the church and the service. The Nursery is located in the Cloister, and it is available on Sunday mornings from 9:00-11:00 AM. An experienced childcare provider will be there during that time. Our nursery also has a supply of useful items such as diapers, wipes, change of clothes, and hand wipes.

In addition to various toys, games, books, crayons and paper, the Nursery itself contains a rocking chair for nursing, reading or just relaxing. There is also a sink, changing table, pack n play, bouncy seat, kid-sized tables and chairs, and fun activities provided by the Nursery Coordinator each week. Please stop by and say hello to the youngest members of our church. Volunteers are not only welcomed but needed. If you have any questions or concerns about the nursery, please contact Joe Winter at 717-236-4059 or at .

Sunday School
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is continuing the tradition of providing Sunday School to the Children and Youth of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We have renewed our subscription to the Living the Good News curriculum and will be using it to provide enrichment activities for all who attend.

St. Stephen’s welcomes all Children and Youth from ages 3 to 18. We are currently providing two classes, one for Children ages 3 to 5th grade and one for Youth grades 6th – 12th on Sundays from 9:00 – 10:00 am.

We welcome all Children and Youth and their Friends- Come Join Us on Sunday!

For more information, please contact Joe Winter – Director of Christian Formation at (717) 236 – 4059 X 102

Sunday Forum
Adult Forum meets at 9am every Sunday in the Uppercroft.

St Stephen's School
The Cathedral founded the school for a diverse group of elementary school students. Although the school operates independently of the cathedral, it is supported by many members.

Visit the school website for more information.

Special Youth Events – Mark Your Calendar

March 6^th – Wonderful Wednesday 5:30-7:30
Overview: Dinner, Choir, Painting Knitting and Pottery, followed by games.

March 9^th – Saturday Service Project 8:15-11:15 at Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
Overview: Meet at the Unitarian Church at 8:15, provides free meal to the community through volunteering as: waiters, table setters, drink stating, greeters, and children games and readings. The Unitarian Church is located at: 1508 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17103.

March 9^th – Sycamore House Service Corp. Dinner
Overview: From 6:00-9:00 Sycamore House is hosting a Service Corp Dinner. Tickets are $10 and benefit the Sycamore House and its ministry with St. Stephen’s. Contact Erin Weaver at for details. The Sycamore House is located at 221 North Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17101.

March 10^th – Sunday Youth Group 5:30-7:30
Overview: Dinner, Group Games and Fun, followed by a closing prayer. Please use the school entrance and proceed to the Upper Croft.

March 10^th – Sunday Children’s Choir Rehearsal 10:30-10:45
Overview: During the 10:15 service their will be an announcement for children to proceed to the Choir Room for practice.

March 13^th – Wonderful Wednesdays 5:30-7:30
Overview: Dinner, Choir, Our Fragile Earth and Environment, followed by games.

March 17^th - Sunday Youth Group 5:30-7:30
Overview: Dinner, Group Games and Fun, followed by a closing prayer. Please use the school entrance and proceed to the Upper Croft.

March 17^th – Sunday Children’s Choir 10:30-10:45
Overview: During the 10:15 service their will be an announcement for children to proceed to the Choir Room for practice. The Choir will then sing in church at 10:45.

March 20^th – Wednesdays Seder Dinner 5:30-7:45
Overview: Snack and games, Seder Dinner. This is in the Upper Croft, please use the school entrance.

March 24^th – Sunday Youth Group 5:30-7:30
Overview: Dinner, Group Games and Fun, followed by a closing prayer. Please use the school entrance and proceed to the Upper Croft.

March 27^th – Holy Week – Special Event, children’s choir practice 5:30-6:45.
Overview: Children’s Choir will be rehearsing for the Easter Service in the Choir room, please use the door off the Bishop’s Garden.

March 31^st – Easter Egg Hunt at Church 10:35
Overview: Easter egg hunt in Bishop Garden.

March 31^st – Children’s Choir performs during the 9:00 Service.
Please arrive at 8:15 in the Choir Room using the door off the Bishop’s Garden.

Sunday March 24^th we will have the procession of palms, so Sunday School will end at 10:00. On Easter Sunday there will be NO Christian Education. Any other Sunday from 9:00-10:15 there will be Christian Education. Elementary school students will have Christian Education class on the orange floor of the School. Middle School and High School students will meet in the Community Room.