Rite 13

Welcome to the Rite 13 class web site for the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church School (East Greenwich, Rhode Island)! We encourage you to browse the site to view our class lessons, discover samples of our work and read bios of our students and teachers. We also offer a slideshow with photos with actions shots from class and samples of our work.

Rite 13 is a two-year course of studies and service for middle grade students in our parish church school of religion. The curriculum challenges us to reflect on what we have to offer as children of God and to work together as a community of faith for the well-being of each other and our neighbors. In addition to our classroom studies, discussions and projects, Rite 13 students volunteer around the parish and in the broader community at local soup kitchens and other social service programs.

Rite 13 culminates in the Rite 13 Ceremony which we celebrate at a 10am Eucharist twice each year once students reach their thirteenth birthday. Similar in spirit to the Jewish bar/bat mitzvah tradition, Rite 13 is a way for our congregation to acknowledge and celebrate the gifts and achievements of our young people and to invite them to take on greater leadership responsibilities in the life of our parish.

Our class meets from 9:00 to 9:45 am three Sundays per month between mid-September and early May. We have no class the second Sunday of the month which is designated, "Celebration Sunday" at St. Luke’s. That day the youth of our parish take up leading roles as ushers, acolytes, lay readers, and gift bearers at the 10am Eucharist.