First Lutheran Church

Upcoming Youth events

All Youth Group Activities (including online) have been suspended until June.

Instead we are focusing on creating an exciting summer calendar with many in-person events out in the beautiful weather. Please watch the Ekklesia and email for details about our exciting summer plans!!

Summer is Finally Here!

June - August 2021 Summer Youth Calendar

Want to volunteer in our Children and Youth Ministry at First Lutheran? Click here for more information

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and join our Remind App for up-to-date notifications!

Instagram handle: first_lutheran_church_youth

Elementary School Remind, click here to sign up.

Middle School Remind, click here to sign up.

High School Remind, click here to sign up.

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
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.

Little Lambs (PreK): September 19

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

We will be returning to Sunday School in-person this Fall!

We meet concurrent with the 9:30am worship service in the Fellowship Hall.

Stay tuned for updates on teachers and classrooms!

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 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

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 exploring the theme of the Book of Daniel. 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 in the sanctuary and have small group time 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) 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.

3) Service in Worship

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

4) Camp and Retreats

Students who have finished 8th grade will attend Confirmation Camp at Rainbow Trail. Date TBD. Students will also participate in a variety of retreats throughout their two years in confirmation.

Click here for the 2020 - 2021 schedule.

Get the 2021-2022 Confirmation information packet here.

Middle and high school youth groups

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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

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 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.

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’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.

Family Ministry events

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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.

Bible Book Fair

September 19th, 2021

Gathering Space during all services

Come and check out the many different children's bibles and christian resources available for your family! We will have bibles for all ages, including adults. We will have copies of many, but should they sell out by the time you make it to the fair, we will be happy to order one for you! This is a chance to try out bibles and books before you purchase them. Figure out which books align with your family's faith and what can help bring the scriptures alive again for your children and grandchildren. Browsing and loitering are welcome, just come enjoy this chance to be surrounded by good Christian books!

Youth Podcasts