St. Mark's Lutheran Church

At St. Mark's, we focus on engaging people of all ages in faith formation. Our Sunday School classes start at age 3 and our Wednesday night programs offer “faith in daily life” programs for grades 1 through 12. In addition, we offer a wide variety of faith-filled activities, including youth outings, mission trips, Vacation Bible School, music education, children’s musicals, and retreats. We also work with the Child Development Center to offer high-quality child care, education, and after-school care for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years. We hope you will find what you and your family are looking for!

If you have questions about any of the kids programs at St. Marks, email our Director of Youth and Family Ministries (or call the church office, 630-897-6891),

If you are interested in being part of our Family Ministry Facebook community, visit and join our St. Mark's Aurora Family Ministry Facebook page.

Nursery

SUNDAY MORNINGS, 9:00 and 10:00 A.M.
DURING SCHOOL YEAR
AGES 0 TO 3

We believe even the littlest ones can know that God loves them. Our Sunday morning nursery program includes a different Bible story theme each month, with coordinating activities that include craft/coloring, story time, interactive activity, media center, and a snack. We have hired staff who maintain consistency for the kids each week.
SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY MORNINGS, 9:00 A.M.
DURING SCHOOL YEAR
AGE 3 THROUGH GRADE 2

Sunday School at St. Mark's is a weekly fun, faith-building experience for children. They spend time learning about the weekly message with music and other interactive activities. Our Sunday School program is designed to help students build a strong foundation and learn how to apply God's Word in their everyday lives.
faith in daily life

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 5:30-7:30 P.M.
SEPTEMBER-MAY
GRADES 1 THROUGH 5

Our Faith in Daily Life (FDL) program promotes opportunities during the week for our students to build strong relationships with each other and with God. Every evening begins with a shared meal and then a Bible lesson that is experienced through music, craft, games, and fellowship.
confirmation classes

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 6:00-7:30 P.M.
SEPTEMBER-MAY
GRADES 6 THROUGH 8

Confirmation classes are part of our Wednesday night "Faith in Daily Life" (FDL) program, which supports young people's growth and process in affirming their own faith. Through lessons, discussions, retreats, service projects, and prayer, our confirmation students consider how to be God's people in the world and how to participate in God's work. Each Wednesday evening begins with a large group session, followed by a shared meal and small group time with mentors. Every year on Reformation Sunday, which is the last Sunday of October, we confirm our eighth-grade students. And in the Spring of each year, the Confirmation students enjoy a weekend retreat at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, Illinois (see below).
WEDNESDAY WORSHIP

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 7:30-8:00 P.M.
ONCE A MONTH, SEPTEMBER-MAY

Once a month, students from the FDL program prepare a worship service. Students get a chance to be creative and use their ideas to share their gifts with the congregation. The worship is done in the sanctuary at the conclusion of regular Wednesday FDL activities. Parents and friends are invited to participate in this inspiring service led by students.
Children's message

ALL SUNDAY SERVICES, 9:00 and 10:30 A.M.
ALL YEAR

During our Contemporary service each Sunday, one of our pastors will ask the children to come forward for a message geared specifically for their age and interests. It's a great way for children to engage and absorb the lessons of Scripture in more personal, practical ways.
HANDBELL CHOIRS

Roaring Ringers (grades 3 through 5) rehearse on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m., prior to the 5:30 dinner for FDL students.

Joyous Praise Handbell Choir (grades 6 through 8) rehearses on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., prior to the 6:00 dinner for Confirmation students.

For more information about our bell choirs for children, visit our MUSIC page.
CHILDREN'S MUSICALS

Each spring, our Music Director, Kristin Young, works with the FDL students to prepare, rehearse, and perform a children's musical. For 2020, it will be "It's Okay to be Different,." a charming yet timely story of lions and lambs learning to get along. SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, April 29th, 7:30 p.m.
confirmation retreat

SPRING RETREAT
CONFIRMATION STUDENTS, GRADES 6 THROUGH 8

Each year, our Confirmation students spend a weekend together at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (LOMC) in Oregon, Illinois. It is a time of learning, bonding, and great outdoor fun and the kids especially enjoy the zip line, which is the largest in Illinois. They also participate in team building, arts and crafts, hikes, campfires, and team worship. Every year, the students leave uplifted and energized. It’s a wonderful experience for them that they will never forget!
VAcation bible school

SUMMER EVENT
AGE 3 THROUGH GRADE 5

Every summer St. Mark's hosts around 100 children for five days filled with activities, games, music, and crafts. It's a great time for kids to make new friends and make new discoveries about faith. The 2020 dates for virtual VBS are Monday-Friday, July 20-24, and our theme is "God Is With Us."
christmas play

Each year during Advent, children and youth from St. Mark’s present a Christmas play. The program is always a highlight of our Christmas season as our kids bring the story of Jesus’ birth to life. It is made extra-special by a lavish Christmas Potluck spread for all families at the conclusion of the performance. The story of Jesus’ birth is always good news; it’s never old news. We appreciate our youth using their voices to help us hear the news in a fresh, new way that Jesus is born to us.
child development center
CHILD CARE, BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, SUMMER CAMP
AGE 6 WEEKS TO 12 YEARS
6:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
1995 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506

PRESCHOOL AND PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
AGE 3 TO 5 YEARS
6:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
1995 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506

St. Mark's Child Development Center (CDC) is an early learning center, which strives to foster optimum growth and development in children between the ages of 6 weeks to 12 years. Our program focuses on each child's physical, intellectual, social-emotional, and spiritual development. We were established to meet the need for a quality early learning center within the growing community. Activities are selected and organized by qualified staff members who understand the needs and interests of young children, and are designed to meet the challenge of keeping each child engaged, safe, and structured.

Our program has received the Silver Circle of Quality through ExceleRate Illinois. This circle recognizes that our program has met quality goals and goes above and beyond quality standards in three areas: Learning environment and teaching quality, administrative standards, and training/education. Our program is actively engaged in continuous quality improvement. For more information about ExceleRate Illinois, please visit their website.

St. Mark's CDC offers the following high-quality programs for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years:
- Child Care (Infant,Toddlers and 2's)
- Preschool
- Prekindergarten
- School Age Child Care—Before/After School bus service to Hall,Freeman,McCleery, and Holy Angels.
- School Age Summer Camp
The CDC facilities are available to St. Mark’s members and non-members. It is a not-for-profit, DCFS-licensed corporation.

St. Mark's CDC admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

For more information about our programs or to schedule a tour please give us a call. We look forward to having you come and grow with us! Visit our Facebook page.

CONTACT: Colette Patterson-Moon, Director (630-897-6063)