Children and Youth

Education opportunities are available for all children and youth from age three through senior high.  Our focus is to develop and encourage a deeper love and faith for our Lord, an understanding of His Word and a recognition of the importance of outreach within our community and beyond.

Schedule

Sundays – September through May

• 9:40 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Firelight Sunday School for age three through grade four, G.A.P. (God Answers Prayers) for grades five through twelve.

Wednesdays – September through May

• 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Affirm (Confirmation Ministry) for grades seven through ten
• 7:00 p.m. – 7:50 p.m.  Ablaze for grade five and six

Thursdays – January and February

• 6:00-6:50 pm First Communion instruction for grade five in place of Wednesdays

Vacation Bible School

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  First Monday through Thursday in June after school is out for the summer

Program Explanations

Firelight and Ablaze      Calendars:  2011-2012 Firelight       2011-2012 Ablaze
Our Sunday School program at St. John’s Lutheran is made up of a variety of components.  Each Sunday School session starts with “Fire Up” for children age three through grade two.  Fire Up is a time for singing praises, sharing our love for Jesus and getting all of our wiggles out before learning time.  It is a valuable component of our curriculum in that it shows our kids how being a part of a family of believers feels.  Music has a way of connecting with everyone, just as Jesus is always seeking to connect with everyone.  It also has a way of changing how you feel, just as Jesus yearns to come into your heart and make you happy.

Once the children are back in their classrooms, the rest of our curriculum begins.  At St. John’s, we use Augsburg Fortress’s Spark curriculum for our Sunday School program.  It offers an opportunity for the kids to engage in the Bible in every lesson. Grade level goals. The Bible serves as the primary resource in this faith formation program.  The curriculum also includes weekly leaflets for your children to take home. Both Old and New Testament Bible stories are shared.

Another important part of our curriculum involves learning through  focus projects .  At each age level, the children take on different year long projects.  The projects are a hands-on way to show the children how they can make a difference in their community by putting their hard work into action.

In order to promote community within our own church, the children meet with their peers of the same age on class combination days .  On these special Sundays, the teachers can chose to have a typical session with all of the children, work on their focus project, read from an assortment of Christian children’s books or play a Christian game with the whole group.  

Memorization pieces are also given to each age group and are a beneficial component of our curriculum.  The pieces range from songs such as “Jesus Loves Me” to Bible verses to The Lord’s Prayer.

All of these components together make up the balanced curriculum that we want for our children at St. John’s.  We will strive to make our program more successful each and every year.  The best part about having a curriculum that consists of various components is that each child’s needs are met.  Every child sees, hears, feels and learns differently.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone.   1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Benevolence for Firelight and Ablaze
Our benevolence for each year is decided upon by the children on Outreach Day which is each fall.  This year money will go to the Community Action Council, the Crisis Nursery, Sharing and Caring Hands, the Child Fund, the Heifer Project, Habitat for Humanity, and the Muhanga Parish.  When the children made their decisions for this year’s benevolence, they also learned about each of the organizations they chose, tied fleece blankets for the Crisis Nursery and wrote letters to the sponsored child from the Child Fund and to our friends in the Muhanga Parish.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.  Acts 20:35

Christmas Program
Every student in Firelight and Ablaze has the opportunity to participate in the Christmas program.  Practices are held during the education block on Sunday mornings.  The Christmas program itself is also held on a Sunday morning during the education block in December.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Teachers, Helpers and Leaders
The core of our program is a group of wonderful volunteers.  Please join them by filling out a volunteer form.  Opportunities are available to teach, co-teach, substitute, help in a classroom or in the education office.
Education Committee:  Trish Cozad, Lisa Horn, Selina Vaith and Kristi Winkels                         
Education Council Representative:  Sigrid Iversen
Director of Children’s Ministry:  Kristi Paulson  

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  He then took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:14-16

Classroom Arrangements
Each class meets in an individual classroom.  The classrooms are located in and around the fellowship hall.

First Communion Instruction

Instruction is offered to fifth grade students in January and February of each year.  Participants meet with Pastor Helland for eight consecutive Thursdays. On two of those evenings students create and glaze communion cups.  On First Communion Sunday, the students are welcomed to the Lord’s Table to receive communion with the congregation.

Service to the church is included as part of Affirm Ministry. The purpose is to instill the understanding that participation in the church is never for one’s own sake alone. But rather that participation in the church is always for the sake of the church as well. Students will serve St. John’s Lutheran Church Sunday mornings on a rotating basis in the role of:

Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is held Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., the first week after school is out for the summer.

Bible stories and verses lead us through the week.  The children are truly able to experience each story.  The curriculum is very hands on and kid friendly.  Through music, crafts, games and snacks that are all connected to the Bible story of the day, we come to know our God even better.

Outreach for the week will be both at a local and a global level.  We will collect donations for children in the Lakeville area and take part in an outreach opportunity called “Operation Kid to Kid”, which provides for kids globally.

Go into the world and preach the Good News to everyone.  Mark 16:15