Faith Formation

Mayflower’s vision for life-long faith formation focuses on five key areas:

• Engaging the whole community in worship
• Strengthening relationships and ministry across generations
• Providing at-home resources
• Fostering connections for children, youth, and families with Mayflower’s justice work
• Nurturing strong leaders within the congregation

Programs

• Children that are babies through Pre – K and their accompanying adults can participate in Music Together classes. Music Together is a music and movement experience that fosters a love of music.
• Kindergarten through 1st grade will participate in Godly Play which is an interactive and creative exploration of Bible Stories.
• 2nd grade through 7th grade have the opportunity to participate in weekly Faith Formation classes on Sunday mornings from 9:45am-10:45am.
• 8th grade Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a year-long comprehensive human sexuality course founded in the understanding that our bodies are gifts from God. It helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health and behavior in the context of their faith using accurate and age-appropriate information.  For more information, please contact Bree McKee-Miller.
• 9 – 12 grade Youth Group meets on Sunday mornings from 9:45am – 10:45am September through May. Click here for more information.

What to Know About Our Faith Formation

• 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 by singing, reading, 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.

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.

Child Care is available during our Education Hour (9;45am – 10:45am) and for worship services in room 210.

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 opportunities for music making for babies through high school. Learn more

Scouting

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.