SAINT MATTHEW'S
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
36 NEW CANAAN RD
WILTON, CT 06897
HOW WE LEARN & GROW IN FAITH
About
Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? We will, with God's help.
St. Matthew’s learns and grows in faith through worship, relationships, and a range of formal and informal formation opportunities, though children’s and youth ministry are areas of concern and hope. Our formation programs for children and youth (except confirmation preparation) are done jointly with Wilton Presbyterian Church (WPC). Our adult programs tend to be lay led by several volunteers but are often in collaboration with clergy.
Children
We believe children are formed by being welcomed in worship, seeing that they matter to the community, and watching the example and practices of their parents and other caring adults. Church School and age-appropriate activities are offered for children, as well as fun, games, and interaction with peers at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings in a one-room schoolhouse approach using the Episcopal Church’s “Lesson Plans That Work.” (In the past we have used “Godly Play” and “Shine” curriculum.) Children then return to the sanctuary for Holy Communion. There are few families with children who attend on a regular basis at St. Matthew’s, making it difficult to sustain such a program which we jointly share with Wilton Presbyterian Church who share our concerns. Several voices note that children’s formation is currently thin or inconsistent and that more leadership and structured opportunities are needed.
Youth
Traditionally our teens have learned and grown through confirmation classes (8th grade), youth groups, mission trips to Washington, DC (during winter break), service projects, and fellowship events. Youth are encouraged to be engaged members of the parish, learning by serving alongside adults and through multi generational activities such as “Rise Against Hunger” and other mission experiences. A real decline in numbers and consistency of youth has been noticed since the pandemic; there is a strong desire to rebuild youth ministry, often in collaboration with other churches, and to hire formation leadership (like a Director of Religious Education) to minister with children and youth in collaboration with Wilton Presbyterian Church.
Adult Formation
There are a multitude of offerings for adults to learn and grow at St. Matthew’s. Sermons, Sunday forums/after church discussions, Bible study, Education for Ministry (EfM), Spirited Sisters (a women’s group), Social Justice events, book studies, and pub theology are held throughout the year. Adults also learn by engaging in mission and outreach, wrestling with hard theological questions, and connecting faith to daily life and community needs. Many value St. Matthew’s as a place where adults can question, test, and explore faith in a supportive environment, learning side by side with others.
We also have an active young adult population who seek to serve and lead us in energetic and creative ways. Throughout Epiphany and Lent in 2025, they led all ages in “Melody Madness” (based on Lent Madness) in which the congregation voted on their favorite hymns each week from seasonal and topical brackets. Hymn #490, I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, was the winner!
The Future
There is a strong sense that intergenerational experiences—children, youth, and adults learning and serving together—are powerful and should be strengthened going forward. We desire all people across ages and backgrounds to grow in faith by attending worship, praying and singing together, participating in projects that help others, and sharing honest conversation and fellowship.
As noted above, we are in conversation with Wilton Presbyterian Church about hiring a part time Christian educator to oversee our joint children and youth ministries.
