13601 Saratoga Avenue (at Fruitvale) • Saratoga, CA 95070 • • 408 867-3493
Saint Andrews Ministries
Children, Youth & Family Ministries
Director of Children’s Ministries
Katie Machemer
408-867-3493 ext. 255
Children’s Ministries at Saint Andrew’s includes a Nursery, Sunday School, Parish Family Events, All Parish Eucharist’s, Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation, Children’s Eucharist’s and Intergenerational Activities. The parish Nursery is open to children age 6 months to age 4. It is open on Sunday from 9:00 through the 10 o’clock service. The nursery is also available by reservation for other church events. Saint Andrew's is committed to the spiritual nurture and growth of its youth, and to providing opportunities for fellowship and fun in a Christian environment.
Sunday School
Sunday School offers classes for children age three through 8th grade. Our Preschool program is called Godly Play and is open to children three to 2nd grade. 3rd through 5th grade use a curriculum called Gospel Light and 6th-8th grade class uses a curriculum called Grapple. They are both theme based program that engage the children at their appropriate age group.
We offer preparation for Holy Communion Sunday which is held in January each year. This program is open to first grade students and older children who have not participated in this class before.
Confirmation classes are held to prepare students in seventh and eighth grades for Confirmation by the Bishop in the Spring.
Children participate in the All Parish Eucharist's and attend these services to worship with their families monthly. Classes have specific roles and responsibilities within the service. These services are: Homecoming, All Saints, Thanksgiving, Christmas Pageant, Epiphany Service, Blessing of the Animals, Lenten service, Holy Communion Sunday, and our End of the School Year Service.
Each year the Sunday School fills Mite Boxes, and participates in a Christmas ingathering to support their own Stewardship and Outreach programs. Each year teachers and students decide how and where the money raised will be spent.
Each summer, we hold Vacation Bible School for toddlers, preschoolers, and children in elementary school. Using fun and innovative curriculums, we have replicated the cities of Bethlehem, Galilee, and Jerusalem on the Saint Andrew's campus. Our middle school and high school youth are heavily involved during these week-long camps to ensure that they are a fun and memorable experience for participating children.
Sunday School offers classes for children age three through 8th grade. Our Preschool program is called Godly Play and is open to children three to 2nd grade. 3rd through 5th grade use a curriculum called Gospel Light and 6th-8th grade class uses a curriculum called Grapple. They are both theme based program that engage the children at their appropriate age group.
We offer preparation for Holy Communion Sunday which is held in January each year. This program is open to first grade students and older children who have not participated in this class before.
Confirmation classes are held to prepare students in seventh and eighth grades for Confirmation by the Bishop in the Spring.
Children participate in the All Parish Eucharist's and attend these services to worship with their families monthly. Classes have specific roles and responsibilities within the service. These services are: Homecoming, All Saints, Thanksgiving, Christmas Pageant, Epiphany Service, Blessing of the Animals, Lenten service, Holy Communion Sunday, and our End of the School Year Service.
Each year the Sunday School fills Mite Boxes, and participates in a Christmas ingathering to support their own Stewardship and Outreach programs. Each year teachers and students decide how and where the money raised will be spent.
Each summer, we hold Vacation Bible School for toddlers, preschoolers, and children in elementary school. Using fun and innovative curriculums, we have replicated the cities of Bethlehem, Galilee, and Jerusalem on the Saint Andrew's campus. Our middle school and high school youth are heavily involved during these week-long camps to ensure that they are a fun and memorable experience for participating children.
Saint Andrew's Youth Group
Saint Andrew's Youth Group has built a strong sense of community through service, worship, outreach, and fellowship. Our participants are engaged in all aspects of the church, from their youth representative on vestry to their active participation in our strategic planning session. Stepping out of the typical confines of a youth organization, this group has actively developed and pursued the activities of most interest to its members: recent outings include a Super Bowl party, bowling, lazer tag, movies and the beach.
Our youth are active in service and outreach as well. They feed the homeless, clean the nearby creek, and serve ice cream at community fundraisers.
An annual summer mission trip is an integral part of the youth program. In the past, members of our youth group have reconstructed houses on an Indian Reservation in Covelo, CA, painted and repaired houses for low-income homeowners in Watec, CA, and demolished Hurricane Katrina-damaged houses in Bay Saint Louis, MS (high temperature 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity). This year a group of 7 High School Students went to Honduras. Every three years we hope to have a High School group do an International Mission Trip. Through pancake breakfasts, a dinner dance, and "rent-a-kid" odd jobs, they have earned the funds for large portions of their trips.
The varied components of the youth program allow teens to participate to the degree they feel comfortable. As they get to know each other better, members of the group are willing to try a wider variety of activities, allowing each one to recognize God's gifts in each other and to offer help when needed.
Saint Andrew's Youth Group has built a strong sense of community through service, worship, outreach, and fellowship. Our participants are engaged in all aspects of the church, from their youth representative on vestry to their active participation in our strategic planning session. Stepping out of the typical confines of a youth organization, this group has actively developed and pursued the activities of most interest to its members: recent outings include a Super Bowl party, bowling, lazer tag, movies and the beach.
Our youth are active in service and outreach as well. They feed the homeless, clean the nearby creek, and serve ice cream at community fundraisers.
An annual summer mission trip is an integral part of the youth program. In the past, members of our youth group have reconstructed houses on an Indian Reservation in Covelo, CA, painted and repaired houses for low-income homeowners in Watec, CA, and demolished Hurricane Katrina-damaged houses in Bay Saint Louis, MS (high temperature 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity). This year a group of 7 High School Students went to Honduras. Every three years we hope to have a High School group do an International Mission Trip. Through pancake breakfasts, a dinner dance, and "rent-a-kid" odd jobs, they have earned the funds for large portions of their trips.
The varied components of the youth program allow teens to participate to the degree they feel comfortable. As they get to know each other better, members of the group are willing to try a wider variety of activities, allowing each one to recognize God's gifts in each other and to offer help when needed.
Camp Saint Andrew's
Camp Saint Andrew's is not just a cornerstone in the Christian education of our youth, it is an outreach to children beyond our parish. Past campers are now counselors, and past counselors are now adult leaders and staff. As a result of its long-standing success, Camp Saint Andrew's has been designated the camp of the Diocese of El Camino Real.
Camp Saint Andrew's is not just a cornerstone in the Christian education of our youth, it is an outreach to children beyond our parish. Past campers are now counselors, and past counselors are now adult leaders and staff. As a result of its long-standing success, Camp Saint Andrew's has been designated the camp of the Diocese of El Camino Real.