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 meets via Zoom 
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.

Our theme this year is Love Your Neighbor. We couldn’t imagine a better theme for this time in the pandemic and a better calling for our Children’s Ministry. 

Preschool Zoom 11 a.m. on Sundays

Kinder-1st Grade Zoom 7 p.m. on Mondays

2nd-3rd Grade Zoom 7 p.m. on Saturdays

4th-5th Grade Zoom 7 p.m. on Tuesdays

6th-7th Grade Zoom 7 p.m. on Wednesdays

If you have not received previous emails from Shelly, our Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry, or are interested in these gatherings and would like the zoom links, please email her at shelly@flccs.net.

Preschool

Preschool is meeting online through Zoom. Their teacher will share a story, a finger play or a possible snack that they can prepare at home to go with the lesson for the day. There will also be conversations with the preschoolers so they can share what is going on in their lives, and so they know that their teacher and the people at First Lutheran care about them very much.

Little Lambs (PreK): Postponed till the Fall

Each year we welcome our newest pre-schoolers to join the little lambs class in January! 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!

Kindergarten thru 5th grade                                 

Our kids are meeting online during this time. Each lesson will be led by our talented teachers and will include storytelling and conversation. Find links at the top of this page.

First Communion (5th Grade): April 1st, Maundy Thursday

First Communion instruction happens in the Spring of 5th grade for our youth. Part of the 5th grade 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.

This year due to Covid-19, we will be doing two self-study class videos with interactive worksheets and an in-person practice by appointment on either Sunday, March 28th or Wednesday, March 31st. 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.
Should weather and the pandemic not allow for Wednesday night LIGHT to continue, the 6th-7th graders will still meet on Wednesdays via Zoom.

First Bibles - (6th grade): September 20th

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 Sunday of the new school year during 9:15 worship.

Kids Kamp

June 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2021     9 a.m. - 12 p.m.                                       

We are doing Summer Kids Kamps this summer! Our theme this year is the Book of Daniel. Come to learn and play through stories, games, crafts and snacks. Open to all students currently in Preschool through 5th grade.

Vacation Bible School - VBS

July 11th-16th, 2021  - 5-8 p.m.

We are moving our VBS this Summer to the evenings. We will 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! We will be continuing the theme of the Book of Daniel from Kids Kamp, but you don’t have to attend Kids Kamp to have fun 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.

We work to develop our youth into mature leaders for the mission of Jesus. Through weekly meeting, Sunday school classes, retreats, and leadership training we create fully committed followers of Jesus. Our youth love one another and develop a community that is both closely knit and welcoming. Our director of youth and children’s ministry, Shelly Schmidt, is always available for conversation and mentoring.

Middle School

We have Sunday school for our 6th and 7th graders which meets alongside our 7 pm Wednesday Night LIGHT worship service. During COVID-19 they will be meeting online via Zoom during the same time. See link at the top of the page. 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 below.

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.

Minecraft Game Nights (6th-8th grade): 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 7-8 p.m.

Minecraft is a fun computer game and it is a great way for Kristi and the kids to be in community with each other while not being able to be in person. We will be hosting a zoom call during the game so that the kids can talk and interact while building and playing in the Minecraft World. For any questions or to sign your kid up, email Kristi, the Youth Intern, at youthintern@flccs.net In order to join this event, Kristi must add youth as a friend on Minecraft and accept them into the survey. This allows the Minecraft server to be a completely safe and controlled environment.

High School Youth Group

In this time of COVID-19 we are being careful to balance our time together with offerings that are safe for all those that can attend. We will be alternating our meetings between interactive zoom youth group lessons and community-building outings.

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’s location is TBD.

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