Faith Formation (During the Pandemic)

• Children pre-K through 1st grade can participate in growing their faith with their families weekly through participating in the activities offered in Family Faith Seeds.
• 2nd grade- 7th grade have the opportunity to participate in Sunday School virtually each week.
• 8th Graders will have available during the pandemic an alternative to OWL, as the OWL curriculum has not been tested for online efficacies and is discouraged to use by our national setting and our OWL partners the Unitarian Universalist Association. For more information, please contact our 8th grade OWL curriculum coordinator, Trish Perry.
• 8th grade Our Whole Lives (OWL) helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health and behavior in the context of their faith. It equips participants with accurate, age-appropriate information in six subject areas: human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behavior, sexual health, and society and culture. It provides not only facts about anatomy and human development, but helps participants to clarify their values, build interpersonal skills and understand the social, emotional and spiritual aspects of sexuality.
• We use a variety of age-appropriate, progressive Christian resources to help children experience the love of God in community.
• We believe in intergenerational friendships. Each Sunday School has a Senior Friend, who stays with the class from pre-school through 12th grade.
• We believe in socially transformative programming that stretches beyond Sunday morning, from feeding the hungry to traveling together on mission trips.
• We participate in worship, from singing in choir and reading to serving Communion and ushering. A child’s place here is an equal member of the church.
• Throughout the year, parents and other adult members of Mayflower participate with children and youth in special learning events that enrich the lives and faith of all.

Learn more about faith formation here.

Worshipping with Children

At Mayflower, all are welcome to worship together. Young children are encouraged to participate fully with their families—to learn the stories of our faith and to experience the sacred rituals that nurture our life together.

During the pandemic, children’s corner worship materials are available for children that is distributed via email weekly, along with other information helpful for children, youth, and families.  If you would like to be added to this email list, please reach out to Interim Director of Faith Formation Bree McKee-Miller, bmckeemiller@mayflowermpls.org.

Activity bags, children’s bibles and books are located along the back wall of the Sanctuary (please do not leave a child unattended in this area during worship).

The Narthex, just outside the Sanctuary doors, is part of our worship space. Families with restless children may move about more freely in this space while still worshipping together.

The Parent Resource Room (room 100) is available for parents who need a quiet space to nurse, soothe a child, or spend a few moments apart from Sunday morning activities. The room is furnished with rocking chairs and equipped with overhead speakers, so that parents can hear the worship services while in this space.

Music

Mayflower has choirs for ages 7 through high school. Learn more

Mayflower Young Families

This group supports families with kids from birth to 5, through social events for the whole family and spiritual and educational programs for parents. Your ideas and your family are always welcome! To get involved and find out about upcoming events, contact Eli’jah Carroll.

Scouting

Mayflower Junior Girl Scout Troop #16913

6th and 7th grade girls from the Mayflower community and nearby neighborhood gather for activities, outings and “take action” projects that teach cooperation, teamwork, leadership, financial literacy and the value of community service. Girls meet one evening per month September–May. Contact: Emily Christie.

Scouting at Mayflower: Troop 187 & Pack 187

Cub Scouts (all genders ages 5–10) meet at Mayflower every other Monday evening. For older youth (all genders ages 10-18), Troop 187 meets every Monday evening during the school year. These are among the oldest and strongest scouting programs in the Twin Cities. Boy Scouts of America granted Mayflower Church its first troop charter in 1929.

Camping is the heart of our scouting programs and monthly campouts give youth a taste of the great outdoors in all seasons, providing opportunities to learn about teamwork, self-discipline and leadership. Mayflower’s Troop operates its own 120-acre facility, Camp St. Croix, using it for winter campouts, a two-week summer camp, and other scouting activities throughout the year. Parents play an essential role in the program.

For more information about Cub Scouts, check our website, Cub Scout Pack 187. For information about Troop 187, contact Scoutmaster Jay Perry.