First Lutheran Church

Upcoming Youth events

Video

We are going to the ELCA Youth Gathering this Summer!

July 24-28, 2022

Grades 8 -12

Check out information about the trip here!

Registration Forms

October

17: "Who can Relate?" for grades 6 - 12 from 1-3 p.m.

This interactive discussion prompts students to identify who needs them, who loves them, and where

they find their value.

23: Boo at the Zoo for grades 6 – 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Separate buses for Middle School and High School depart from First Lutheran at 6 p.m.

Cost: $24/person

29-30: High School Halloween Retreat in the Peel House for grades 9 – 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.

*Overnight portion TBD based on COVID numbers. Optional: Stay from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday to

decorate Luther Hall for Halloween (free lunch!) Sign up Here.

31: High School Trip Planning Meeting at 12 p.m.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @first_lutheran_church_youth!

The Youth Group Permission and Health Form can be found and signed digitally here.

This is needed for all Middle School and High School Youth Group.

The printable version can be found here.

Sunday School - Preschool & Elementary

At First Lutheran we strive to make Sunday school a place where children experience the unconditional love of God and the joy that comes with it. Through teaching, music and service projects they learn what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Sunday school: Beginning September 12

PreK thru 5th grade
We have a dedicated staff of teachers who make a year-long commitment, offering consistency for the students. Our teachers are carefully screened and background checked. During this COVID surge we will be hosting Sunday school on the front lawn at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday. Children are then picked up around 10:30 a.m. from their grade tables.

Masks are required for all unvaccinated individuals in the building and highly recommended for everyone else.

Little Lambs (PreK): September 19

Each year we welcome our newest pre-schoolers to join the Little Lambs class for Sunday school! The little lambs and their parents are welcomed in church by the congregation, the pastor, and their teachers, given a blessing and a little lamb and then head off to their first Sunday School class!

First Communion (5th Grade): April 14th, Maundy Thursday

First Communion instruction happens in the Spring of 5th grade for our youth. Part of the 5th grade Sunday school curriculum includes instruction on Passover and the Last Supper, which provides the background for further instruction with our faith formation leadership and parents. Some youth might feel moved to begin receiving communion prior to 5th grade and that should include a conversation with the pastor and parents.

Please email michaela@flccs.net for more information.

6th and 7th grade

Youth join our weekly Wednesday Night LIGHT worship at 7pm, then meet for the remainder of the hour in their own small group time. This is considered our pre-confirmation class. Therefore, participation with the confirmation students on Wednesday night allows them to get a foretaste of the confirmation community and content, but in a way that is appropriate for their own spiritual development.

First Bibles - (6th grade): August 18th

At the beginning of each year, we recognize our 6th graders as they transition from elementary Sunday School into Middle School Youth Group. To help prepare them for the affirmation of faith we equip them with new study Bibles which they receive on the first Wednesday of the new school year during our 7 p.m. Wednesday Night LIGHT worship.

Kids Kamp

Summer 2022 Dates TBD

Kids Kamp is a daytime event that brings Preschoolers through 5th grade together for spiritual formation in the summer. Come learn and play through stories, games, crafts and snacks. Our amazing KICK team is a bit part of planning and running this event.

Vacation Bible School - VBS

Summer 2022 Dates TBD

We host our VBS in the evenings from 5-8 p.m. We eat dinner together first, then break-off into age-appropriate groups. Parents are welcome to stay for their own spiritual formation offerings or to volunteer with the kids programming! Next year's theme is not yet decided. Come and enjoy the stories, music, games, and fun! Open to all students currently in Preschool through 5th grade.

Additional Opportunities for Children

There are numerous additional opportunities for younger children to be involved in the First Lutheran community. Please visit our music page to learn about bell choir opportunities and our Gallery of Living Art page.

Confirmation

August 18th - April 27th

Confirmation in the Lutheran tradition is a public profession of faith after two-years of intentional instruction on the topics of the Bible, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, Church History, Spiritual Practices, and Christian Living. Our 8th and 9th graders come together once a week to worship together and dive into the ancient questions of our faith in large and small group discussion. From 'why do bad things happen to good people?' To 'is the New Testament more important than the Old Testament?' To 'why did Jesus have to die?' Or even 'I have doubts, is that okay?'

Curious spiritual seekers of all ages are encouraged to join us each week at our 7pm Wednesday Night LIGHT (Living In God’s Holy Truth) Worship Service. After the service our youth will break off into a small group and adults are welcome to stay and enjoy their own faith formation time for the remainder of the hour.

Should weather not allow us to worship inside, we will worship and small groups in the newly-renovated Peel House.

Program Expectations:

1. Wednesday Night LIGHT worship

Attendance at no less than 24 out of the 30 offered. Once a week the class will meet with Michaela and confirmation mentors. In this time together we will explore scripture, learn about the catechism and Lutheranism and spend time connecting this information to our everyday experiences.

2) Brunch and Worship Together, 1x month

Confirmation students and their families help to put together a brunch and eat together at 10:30 a.m. then head over to the 11 a.m. service to worship as a group. This adds a critical community component to our program.

3) Confirmation Mentorship

You will be assigned a confirmation mentor who will check in with you weekly either through a phone call, text message, email, or in person Sunday at church depending on your preference. You will also need to meet with them in-person a minimum of 4 times a year, about once every other month. These are faithful men and women who want to help guide you through this important part of your faith journey.

4) Service in Worship

Students will serve as acolytes, ushers, greeters, and communion assistants, using their gifts to bless the congregation and grow new relationships.

5) Camp and Retreats

Students who have finished 8th grade will attend Confirmation Camp at Rainbow Trail. Students will also participate in a variety of retreats throughout their two years in confirmation. Check the info packet below for dates.

Click here for the 2021 - 2022 schedule.

Get the 2021-2022 Confirmation information packet here.

Middle and high school youth groups

Secondary Title

We work to develop our youth into mature leaders for the mission of Jesus. Our vision for Youth Ministry is to create a safe place for youth to grow in their faith in Jesus. Our youth love one another and develop a community that is both closely knit and welcoming. Through relational lunches once a month, retreats, and leadership training we create fully committed followers of Jesus. Our director of youth and children’s ministry, Shelly Schmidt, is always available for conversation and mentoring.

Middle School

See the top of this page for all the exciting events we have on the calendar this month!

Our 6th and 7th graders meet alongside our 7 pm Wednesday Night LIGHT worship service with a small group all their own. This is our pre-confirmation class.

We have Confirmation class for 8th and 9th graders taught by Michaela Eskew, our Minister of Faith Formation. It meets on Wednesdays from 7-8pm, details above.

Our middle school youth also have the opportunity to be part of the KICK Team (Kids In Christ Helping Kids.) The KICK team helps in the ministry of Preschool and K-5 age group kids.

High School Youth Group

See the top of this page for all the exciting events we have on the calendar this month!

High School students also have the opportunity to be part of the KICK Team (Kids In Christ Helping Kids.) The KICK team helps in the ministry of Preschool and K-5 age group kids.

High School students can also serve as Sunday School Shepherds and assist in teaching the faith to our children during Sunday school.

High School Bell Choir is called the Celebration Ringers and they meet weekly for practice and then go on a week-long concert tour in the summer.

Each summer we offer two youth trips: one for our middle schoolers at First Lutheran and one for High Schoolers out of state. These trips help our youth to grow in faith, serve the community and deepen their friendships.

The High School Trip will be announced in service on September 26! Make sure to mark your calendars to attend the information meeting at 12 p.m. after the services to find out where we are going and how to register.

The Youth Group Permission and Health Form can be found here. This is needed for all Middle School and High School Youth Group.

Family Ministry events

Secondary Title

Spirituality Forums are a bi-annual event that helps parents to understand new ways of connecting faith into the everyday. This year’s Spirituality Forum theme will be Spiritual Formation at Home. We hope to offer you physical resources to openly discuss faith and scripture at home. We are your partners in this journey of faithful parenting, so please reach out to Michaela Eskew, our Minister of Faith Formation, if there is a topic in particular that is difficult or intimidating to discuss with your children.

Mental Health First Aid

(For Parents and Youth Workers)

November 13, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Peel House

Youth Mental Health First Aid training is a wide-spread, well-respected, evidence-based program that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This 8-hour training gives adults the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to adolescents (ages 12-18), de-escalate crisis situations safely, and initiate timely referrals to mental health and substance use disorders resources available in the community.

Youth Podcasts