St. Anthony on the Desert
Life Long Learning

Lifelong Christian Formation in the Episcopal Church is a Journey With Christ, In Christ, and to Christ

At St. Anthony, we seek to provide opportunities for all ages to grow in their knowledge, service and love of God – a cradle to grave process. More than church members we hope to grow disciples – Christ followers who are made different by their faith so that they can make a difference in the world.

Offerings that Invite, Inspire and Transform

Nursery Infants and toddlers are warmly welcomed and invited to share stories, songs and games with the Growing Faith program. Our shelves are filled with toys, books, puzzles, and story-telling figures that introduce our youngest children to the wonderful stories of the Bible. The Nursery is open from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm on Sundays and for all special parish events.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 'Jesus loves you' is the message of the Atrium where 3 and 4 year olds gather each week to share stories, sing songs, and learn about Jesus in a gentle and loving group at 10:00 – 10:45 am on Sunday mornings.

Children’s Chapel Singing, praying, storytelling and a hands-on activity all happen during the Chapel gathering time at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings.

Workshop Rotations Imagine one exciting Bible story and six active and engaging workshops…Art, Drama, Music, Kitchen, Movie, Science…where children ask and answer questions, create with paint, paper, clay, wood and fabric, taste different foods, act, sing, and dance. Each story comes alive as we spend 4-6 weeks exploring the characters, actions and events it describes. For children in K through grade 5 from 11:15 am – 12:15 pm.

Registration for all children’s and youth programs begins on Sunday, August 23, classes begin on Sunday, September 13. For more information about all these programs contact Beth Hammond, Director of Christian Formation, (bethhammond@st-anthony.net)480-451-0860, ext 13.net.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Welcome to a wonderful journey…starting where you are right now and continuing through grade 12…The Journey to Adulthood
This is you………..
You are in grade 6 through 12
You want to learn about God, your friends and the world, and yourself …with Sunday classes, fun and active Youth Group meetings with lots of special events like Diamondbacks baseball, laser tag, bowling, swimming… with Rite-13 Ceremonies, Pilgrimages, and Mission Trips where you are celebrated.
You want to have fun!!
These are your groups…
Rite-13 – grades 6 & 7
J2A – grades 8 & 9
YAC – grades 10 - 12

Sunday Cafe
A combination of refreshments and lively discussion follows both our 8 and 10 am Sunday services. Our overall theme for 2010 is building disciples or Christ followers. Each café offers a stand-alone experience covering a wide variety of topics such as: - Your spiritual life – vibrant, parched or somewhere in between - Who is God for you? Becoming a practicing theologian - What does God want us to see in the world around us? - Learning to move from church membership to discipleship

Education for Ministry
Education for Ministry (EfM) is an international program of lay theological education established in 1975. Participants in the EfM program study the breadth of the Christian tradition from the earliest period to the present. Students learn the disciplines of biblical critical interpretation (exegesis), systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics, and ascetical theology. Students belong to small “communities of learning” or seminars in which the events of each person’s life may be examined in the light of the materials being studied. While the course materials provide substantial academic content, the focus of the program is on life as ministry and in understanding that ministry.

The EfM program, which can be completed in four years, provides Christians with the basic skills in theological reflection, which lay the foundation of Christian ministry. Through this process, students sharpen their skills of personal and cultural assessment and enhance their ability to be effective in a variety of ministries. Contact Jeanne Paige (jpaige112@aol.com)for information.

Disciples' Circle
Reaching back to the Book of Acts for inspiration, this small group gathers to pray, care, study and share, supporting one another while discovering ways of becoming more faithful ministers and followers of Christ. Disciples’ Circles form periodically, meet every other week and require a commitment of faithful participation for a period of at least six months. Contact Pastor Dorian Mulvey (dorianmulvey@st-anthony.net)for information.