CHAPEL
St. John's begins Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with chapel. The School incorporates worship from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979 into the services. St. John's shares Jesus Christ with our students through the rites of Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist. In spirit, St. John's fosters the Anglican ethos that Creation belongs to God and we have been given minds to explore and discover the gifts, structures and wonders of creation. Much of worship is led by children, and visitors will find them reading the scriptures and prayers. Our choirs also sing in the services. Parents and family members are invited when your child's class leads Chapel. Elementary School and Preschool chapel services are separated. Early Preschool 2-year-old classes experience chapel and music in their own building at a time more suitable for their age group. Students from all religious backgrounds are welcome and respected.
GODLY PLAY
In addition to chapel, students EPK 3 through 5th grade attend a religious education class once each week called Godly Play. Godly Play is a nationally acclaimed a Montessori style of spiritual formation. It has three main elements which speak to the whole child and teach biblical literacy, theological inquisition, and liturgical action. Children are told either a sacred story, a parable or a liturgical lesson, and then are led by the storyteller to wonder. They are free to play with the story materials and develop art responses to the stories. Godly Play is very quiet and contemplative. It is ecumenical in nature, and is used by Southern Baptists, United Methodists, Churches of Christ, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Quakers, and non-denominationalists on most continents in the world.
THE CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST
St. John's Episcopal School was born from the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest. The Church of the Heavenly Rest loves St. John's and continues to support the School. Several of St. John’s Board of Trustees are Episcopalians and members of Heavenly Rest. Heavenly Rest supports the School financially and holds various scholarship endowment funds with the Heavenly Rest Foundation. Each year a member of the Heavenly Rest vestry serves as a liaison to the SJES Board of Trustees. The Rector of Heavenly Rest is a non-voting member of the Board of SJES. The clergy of Heavenly Rest serve as chaplains to SJES and lead Wednesday worship. Whenever possible the students, faculty, and staff of St. John's are integrated into the worship, education, fellowship, and outreach of the Church of the Heavenly Rest.