Youth Ministry at First

Welcome! 


First Lutheran’s Children and Youth Ministry strives to creatively guide our children and youth to…

          Know Jesus as their Lord. To be confident in themselves and their faith.

          Feel welcome and accepted. To experience a safe place to doubt and ask questions.

          Share their passions through service both in worship and out in their community.

          Be active participants in their faith and claim their identity as lifelong believers.

          Experience joy and celebration with their community.


Here at First, we seek to walk alongside families as they grow in their faith together. 

We do this intentionally through our Milestone Ministries. 


Please select one of the links below to see what we offer each age group and look to the bottom of the page for our family and parent events.


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  • We offer weekly Sunday School for our children in preschool through fifth grade. At First Lutheran we strive to offer a place where children experience the unconditional love of God and the joy that comes with it.


  • For our Youth in Middle School (grades 6 – 8) and High School (grades 9 – 12), we offer weekly faith formation offerings as well as monthly opportunities to grow as a community. Our vision for Youth Ministry is to create a safe place for youth to grow in their faith in Jesus. We offer many opportunities for our youth to develop into mature leaders for the mission of Jesus.

  • Confirmation is a two-year class for our 8th and 9th graders on the basics of Lutheran faith. At the end of the two years of instruction, our confirmands affirm their baptism and join the congregation as full adult members.

  • Our youngest members, age 0-5, are welcome in our Nursery during all three of our Sunday Services and during our 7 p.m. Wednesday Night LIGHT service. We have background checked nursery attendants that will make sure that your child is cared for while you worship.

Regular Sunday Morning Schedule

(starting January 15th)


9:30-10:15 a.m.      Sunday School for Preschool - 5th Grade in the Fellowship Hall

                                     Children will return to their families at the Announcements to finish worship together.

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.    Youth Faith Formation for Middle School and High School

                                     6th-8th Grade in the Peel House Youth Center

                                     9th-12th Grade in the Peel House Upper Lounge

10:15 -10:45 a.m.   Sunday School Shepherds Bible Study in the Shepherd Space

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.  Rainbow Ringers (2nd-5th grade) Handbell Practice in the Choir Room

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.    Middle School Handbell Practice (Jubilate Ringers)

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.       High School Handbell Practice (Celebration Ringers)


On WEDNESDAY NIGHTS we have Worship and Small Groups for Confirmation (8th - 9th Grade), Middle School (6th-7th Grade), and High School (10-12th Grade) from 7 - 8 :15 p.m. in the Peel House.


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


Register Here for Sunday School Year 2023-2024

Register Here for Youth Group Year 2023-2024



Get to know our staff


Contact Michaela Eskew                                         Contact Linda Loflin                                          Contact Colton Laptad

  • Michaela Eskew

    Minister of Faith Formation


    Michaela Eskew is a Californian girl born and raised, but she is enjoying her new home in the mountains. She has over a decade of experience in Children’s and Youth Ministry and oversees the Christian Education here at First Lutheran. She has two kids, Lincoln (5) and Lilah (3), and is a licensed foster parent. In her *limited* free time she likes to read and try new coffee shops around the Springs.

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  • Linda Loflin

    Director of Children's Ministry


    Linda Loflin is native to the Colorado Springs area. She taught elementary school for over 30 years, primarily kindergarten and first grade. She and her husband Ritchie, also a retired elementary school teacher, taught preschool at First Lutheran Church for ten years. Ritchie and Linda have two sons in their twenties, Lyndon and Riley. Her free time includes spending time with family and friends, biking, reading and traveling.

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  • Colton Laptad

    Youth Minister



    COLTON LAPTAD GREW UP IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA AND MET HIS WIFE, FARREN, IN COLLEGE IN ARKANSAS AT JOHN BROWN UNIVERSITY. THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED CLOSE TO THREE YEARS AND HAVE A WILD/ LAZY (ONLY THE EXTREMES) GOLDEN HUSKY NAMED ODIE. HE HAS A DEEP PASSION FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING, BOARD GAMES, THE OUTDOORS, AND BASKETBALL. GO NUGGETS!


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Want to get involved?

All volunteers working with children and teens are required to have a background check. We also do not accept volunteers that have been with the church less than 6 months. You are welcome to fill out the survey at any time.

Family Ministry events

Faith Full Families Dinner

Sunday, September 3rd from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the Peel House

Faith Full Families is a gathering for all families with children aged 0-12 to come and spend time together for free play, food, and fellowship! Please bring a main course or side to share for dinner. First Lutheran will provide games and activities for our children and families to do together.

This event happens every other month on the First Sunday of the month. September, November, January, March, May, and July.


Creating Sacred Moments at Home: An Interactive Workshop for Families

Sunday, October 8th from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Fireside Room

We will be exploring ways to celebrate the holiness of the everyday. We will explore daily, weekly, and yearly rituals you can build into your routine as well as ways to faithfully respond to things like illness, traumatic events, and everyday anxieties. Every "sacred moment" we will talk about will have an interactive component, so bring your kids and let them explore the sacred through all their senses - hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching.


Cyber Safety for Your Teen: A Workshop for Parents

Sunday, November 5th from 12 - 2 p.m. in the Peel House

This workshop is for parents of all ages, but particularly those who are parenting children with cell phones. We will be bringing in an outside speaker to speak on proper cyber safety for your child and what is out there today. Spread the word! Friends and neighbors are all welcome to this important discussion.



We at First Lutheran seek to be 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.


Missed our Sexuality, Gender, and Non-Binary Discussion for Parents?

Here is the recording of Daniel Kirschbaum's amazing talk. Passcode: r$5w%HO?


Here is the outline of his talk, if any of these are interesting to you check out the zoom recording above.

  • Defining Terms: Gender, Sexuality/Attraction, Romanticism, Binary, Sex, Queer, Expression
  • Breaking Down the above Terms in terms of common identities, definitions, language that’s comfy, language to steer clear from and why, and confusing trends and identities.
  • Responses to coming out, transitions, identity exploration
  • Queer Theology - How the LGBTQ+ community explores the Bible