Youth
Our Theology of Youth Ministry
- Youth contribute and serve in all the work and ministry of the church – this is our foundational understanding of youth ministry - that every ministry includes young people.
- You don't have to be a member of St. Mark's, or any church to take part in youth group - you just have to come with a heart and mind willing to serve, and learn, and share
- Youth ministry is relational - it is about showing up and being fully present
- Confirmation is a rite of passage into the community, not out of it
- Youth will speak in the language of faith, if that is how we speak to them
Youth Fellowship 2025
We are working on a menu of service/learning opportunities for our teens.
The 2025-2026 youth schedule will have some great opportunities for fun and fellowship, service and learning.
Youth Service & Learning Opportunities:
- 2nd & 4th Saturday Food Pantry & Soup Kitchen: Set-up starts at 8:30am and serve our guests from 9:00 - 10:00am. Come and help provide welcome and care for those who need our help and support.
- Service Learning Opportunities with community-based non-profit and social justice organizations such as Shalom Farms, FeedMore, CARITAS, Richmond Slave Trail, Indivisible, and others.
- Young Leaders in the Church, teens are invited to serve in all of our ministries. Find out what feeds your spirit in service and worship!
- St. Mark's Reads Book Group A Justice and Advocacy group that encourages the thoughtful consideration of contemporary issues of race, social justice, and equality.
Image by Dyversions from Pixabay
What we did one Covid Summer:
Summer 2020 No-Contact Mission: Justice and Advocacy
July & August 2020
Activity One: The Legislative Process and your Voice: Fostering civic engagement
Zoom call with GA Rep Dawn Adams about being in government – 20- 30 minutes
Education around 3-4 topics of interest (climate change, racial equality, gender equality, health & science around the pandemic)
Write a letter (template provided to a government official of your choice expressing your concern as someone who will soon be a voter)
Government officials: Dawn Adams, Abigail Spanberger, Tim Kaine, Levar Stoney, Ralph Northam, Bobby Scott, Mark Herring, and or your city council person, county board person.
Activity Two: Your Voice: Who do you want to thank for their courage during this virus pandemic?
Education: a quick look at some of our local/state/national leaders rap sheet on the issue
Write a letter of thanks for this person’s courage and persistence
Government officials: Levar Stoney
Other officials: Bishop Susan Goff, school superintendents & teachers, health care workers, first responders
Activity Three: Just Mercy – is our justice system “just”
Zoom call with Rev. Dorothy White & Malinda and our other leaders.
Read the YA version of the book
Activity Four: Love of Neighbor - Family Outreach
Sign up as a family to:
work at the CARITAS Furniture Bank,
help with the opening of the CARITAS center