Growing in Faith Trinity Lutheran Church 2014-2015 A Guide for Children, Youth, & Family Faith Development This is a guide to faith development opportunities for children, youth, and families at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. This brochure tells about our Milestone Ministries with the different age groups of children and their parents at Trinity. We hope that you take advantage of the Milestone Ministry plan to help your family grow in their faith and toward a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Studies show that children whose families talk about faith at home turn into adults with a strong faith. All families with children or youth wishing to participate in Trinity programming must fill out the registration/health form enclosed in the center of this packet. Doing so keeps our information up to date and gives us emergency contact information to keep on file. The registration form should be turned in as soon as possible! Inside this issue: Milestone Ministry 2-3 Sunday School 3 WASS 4 VBS 4 Confirmation 5 Youth Group Ministry 5-6 Trinity Staff: Pastor Paul Hauschild phauschild@trinityhayfield.com Cindy Wiste, Children, Youth & Family Ministry cindywiste@gmail.com Christopher Ebling Youth Director christopherebling@gmail.com Brenna Scanlan, Admin. Asst churchoffice@trinityhayfield.com Mark Nelson, Custodian Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Nancy Matti, Sr. Choir Dir. nmatti@gofast.am Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deb Oelkers Jr. Choir Dir. dkoelkers@gmail.com Judy Follmuth, Sr. Choir Accomp follmuth@gofast.am Kathy Demmer, Parish Nurse krdemmer@gmail.com
Baptismal Promises - Spiritual Growth Connections As parents, we bring our children to be baptized in the Christian faith. Parents and sponsors make several promises at the baptism of their child. The whole congregation stands along with parents, sponsors, and families to help them keep these promises. Trinity offers many opportunities to help fulfill these promises through Sunday school, Milestone Ministry events, and Confirmation classes. During Baptism, parents and sponsors promise: to live with their child among God s faithful people. This is done by taking them to worship, participating in service projects, and seeking spiritual growth opportunities. bring them to the word of God and the holy supper, - through worship and Milestone Ministry events. teach them the Lord s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, - through Milestone Ministry events, Sunday school and Confirmation. place in their hands the Holy Scriptures, - through Milestone Ministry events, Sunday school and Confirmation. and nurture them in faith and prayer, - through parents growing in their own faith life through regular worship, fellowship, service and other spiritual growth opportunities. so that your child may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace. When students complete their Confirmation instruction and requirements, they affirm what their parents and God began for them at Baptism. This Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) usually happens the fall of their 10th grade year. Milestone Ministry Events for Families Each Milestone Ministry session will last about an hour. Students will attend the session with a parent or other caring adult. Baptism - when parents are ready to have their child baptized, please set up an appointment to meet with Cindy for a baptism class. Preschool Sunday school - for children who will be 3 years old by Sept. 1 and are ready for Sunday school and 4 year olds who will not begin kindergarten in the fall. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 6:30 pm for an orientation to Sunday school and a conversation about family prayer. Prayer is one of those basic faith pieces that parents know they are called to do with their children, but often need a little guidance. Kindergarten on Baptism - We are reminded that our faith life is centered on God s grace all while having a blast together creating memories that will last! We will meet in the Kindergarten classroom on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 9:30 am (after SS music). 1 st Grade on Lord s Prayer - Activities build on the classic prayer piece by piece in a very playful manner. We will meet in the 1st Grade SS classroom on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 9:30 am (after SS music). 2 nd Grade Bible Milestone - This milestone reaches out to all generations and introduces them or re-acquaints them with the Word of God. We will meet Sunday, Sept. 14, at 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Parents will write a message in their child s Bible, and will present the Bible to their child during worship on Sunday, Sept. 21. 3 rd Grade First Communion preparation takes place in the Spring, right before Holy week. There are two sessions. Parents attend both with their child. At these sessions you will learn about the Sacraments in the Lutheran Church, and specifically about Holy Communion. Homework for the parent and child is making a stole which will be worn at the First Communion worship service. All materials will be provided for you. Sessions are on Sundays, March 22 and 29 at 11:30 am. First Commun- Page 2 Growing in Faith
Milestone Ministry Events, continued ion will be given on Maundy Thursday, April 2, at the 7 pm worship service. 4 th Gr. Ten Commandments - will meet on Sunday, Jan.11, at 9:30 am (after SS music) in the Sanctuary. We will learn about the laws God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Are they more than just a list of do s and don'ts to live by? 5th Grade Worship - will meet on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 9:30 in the Sanctuary. We will explore why we do what we do for worship and where it comes from in the Bible. 6th Grade Apostle s Creed - will meet on Sunday, March 8, at 9:30 in the Sanctuary. We will discover why the creeds were written and used as our statements of faith. Confirmation - For youth in Grades 7-10. See page 5 for more information about Confirmation. Workshop Rotation Model Sunday School (WoRM) We use a workshop rotation model of Sunday school at Trinity where the children attend workshops each week that teach to their different learning styles. At this time there are four rotations on each Bible story being taught through the year. The current rotations include Computers, Puppets, Video, Art, and Temple/Games. Seven Bible stories are covered each year, repeating the yearly rotations every six years. After spending four weeks on a Bible story, children know it much better than if they d spent a brief 45 minutes on that same story with the more traditional curriculum. Even those children who can only attend church every other week still get to spend 2 weeks on each story. You are welcome to stop by and take a tour of our creative Sunday school rooms. The 3 & 4 year old preschoolers, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd grade children will go to the same classroom each week, and the rotation teachers will come to them. We hope this removes any anxiety they may have about going to a different classroom each week. The 3rd through 6th grade students will be the older kid s rotation and will move to a different classroom each week. 9:15 am Music for All kids 3 year olds through 2nd grade students will meet in the Resource room each week at 9:15 for opening music and then go to their designated classroom. 3rd - 6 th graders will meet each week in the Sanctuary at 9:15 for opening music before going to their classrooms. There is a magnetic board on the wall in the SE entrance to the church that tells the rotation locations each week. Sunday school begins on Sunday, September 7, at 9:15 with a carnival outside on the east lawn of the church. Sunday School Carnival Christmas Program On the first day of Sunday school, Rally Day, Trinity puts on a carnival for all of our SS children. We set up in the lot next to Trinity with bouncy rooms, cotton candy, games and prizes for all. This year, the carnival will be on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 9 to 10:15 am. In case of rain, the carnival will be cancelled and we will do something indoors instead. We ask that parents attend this event with their children. We are planning our Sunday School Christmas program for December 21 at the 10:30 worship service. 2014-2015 Page 3
Wednesday After School Special (WASS) Grades 3-6 Beginning September 10, children in grades 3 6 come to the church on Wednesdays right after school and stay until about 5 pm. If parents can t arrange a ride home for them at 5, they can hang out for a bit and work on homework quietly in the Fellowship Hall until parents come in and pick them up. Please try to pick them up by 5:30 at the latest. Our schedule includes: 3 3:30 arrive and have snack, homework, read, and quiet board games. At 3:30 pm, the children will have some activities and learning around our theme for the year. At 4:30 they will go to choir practice and work on music to be sung for worship. After choir practice children can go home, or stay for supper for just $3 per meal. Children can ride the 3 rd grade Brownsdale bus to church after school. That has been Bus #9 in the past. We try to do something special for the last day of WASS, which will be on April 22 this year. This will likely be either a swim party, a roller skating party, or Oxbow Park and Zoo. WASS will go from September 10, 2014 through April 22, 2015 (the day of our party). A calendar will be sent home with students on the first day of WASS. Vacation Bible School Day Camp (VBS) Kindergarten 5th Grade Day Camp is a camp experience right here at home (OK in the park!) for children who have just finished Kindergarten 5 th grade. We have crafts, play games, sing camp songs, and learn Bible stories around the summer camp theme. We meet Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm, and 9 noon on Friday; June 8 12 (these dates are tentative at this printing). Children will bring a sack lunch each day and we will provide snacks and lemonade. Adults and older youth are needed to put on a successful day camp program so please sign up on the registration form. We also need housing and meals for the Camp college age staff. Tentatively June 8-12, 2015 9 am - 3 pm M - Th 9 am - noon Fri Youth Group Opportunities 5 th and 6 th Grades 7 th and 8 th Grades 9 th - 12 th Grades Sunday school 3 rd 6 th Grade WASS Quarterly fellowship activities as planned by the Youth and Family Ministry Board. 7 th 9 th Grade Confirmation activities 7 th and 8 th Grade Sunday school shepherds for the younger SS kids every Sunday morning from September through May. Quarterly fellowship activities as planned by the Youth and Family Ministry Board. Monthly Activities as planned by the Youth and Family Ministry Board. Wednesday night Youth Group for youth in 10 th Grade and older who have an interest in growing in their faith. Sunday morning education hour for 9 th 12 th Grade in the youth room. Page 4 Growing in Faith
Confirmation Grades 7-9 Confirmation begins with a youth/parent orientation on September 17 at 6:30 pm. We have Wednesday night Confirmation instruction on a three year rotation. One year students study the Old Testament, one year the New Testament, and one year is spent studying Martin Luther s Small Catechism. We begin each Wednesday night at 6:30 as a large group in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor Paul teaches the large group around the year s theme. Then youth split into small groups with one or two group guides. This is a time for discussion and relationship building. Each small group has an assigned space. Group guides are given discussion guides, and groups talk about their week, their highs and lows of the past week, and leaders use the discussion guide to lead the group through the night s lesson. Confirmation is done by 8 pm each Wednesday night. Classes runs from Sept. 17 through April 29. In addition to Wednesday nights, small groups do three fellowship activities and three service projects together. Other Confirmation expectations and a calendar are handed out at the beginning of the year at the parent/youth orientation. Confirmation Grade 10 The fall of the 10 th grade year, youth confirm for themselves the faith in which they have been baptized. We start with a meeting on Wednesday Sept. 10, at 7:30 pm. That is when students will get their faith paper assignment and will be measured for their Confirmation gowns. Pastor, students, and group guides go on an overnight retreat at Good Earth Village the Thursday & Friday of MEA weekend (Oct. 16-17). This is a time for us to hang out together as a group and go over our faith papers before we read them publically. On the Sunday before Confirmation (Oct. 19), we have a brunch for the Confirmation students and their families. Each student brings 4 5 pictures of themselves growing up. On the Wednesday night before Confirmation (Oct. 22 at 7:00 pm), the 10 th graders read their faith papers to their parents, Godparents, family, and the younger Con- 10th grade students are Confirmed on Reformation Sunday which is October 26 this year. firmation students. 10 th grade students are Confirmed on Reformation Sunday which is October 26, 2014 at the 10:30 worship service. Peer Ministry Leadership Retreat for youth in Grades 10-12 High School youth are invited to an overnight retreat for Peer Ministry Leadership training at Good Earth Village. We will do all four sessions in this one retreat and then those leaders will help out as small group leaders with youth group each Wednesday night at Trinity. Peer Leaders will each make a plan on other ways they want to use these skills in the congregation and/ or in the community. Dates TBA 2014-2015 Page 5
2014-15 All Trinity Programs - Family Registration Form (one form per family) 1. Student s Full Name Birth Date Sept. 1, 2014 Age Grade Baptism Date 2. Student s Full Name Birth Date Sept. 1, 2014 Age Grade Baptism Date 3. Student s Full Name Birth Date Sept. 1, 2014 Age Grade Baptism Date 4. Student s Full Name Birth Date Sept. 1, 2014 Age Grade Baptism Date Home Address: Home Phone: Most frequently checked e-mail address: Please like the Facebook page, Trinity Lutheran church so you are sure to get regular updates Mother s Name Work Phone # Cell Phone # Mother s Address Father s Name Work Phone # Cell Phone # Father s Address Emergency Contact: Phone # Any known allergies? (Food or otherwise) X Sign above for permission to use any pictures taken (without names) in the church newsletter or on the church web site. Please check the appropriate boxes below and on the back side of this page: My child will attend WASS. - $25 activity fee for WASS enclosed - will send fee My youth will attend Confirmation. - $20 activity fee for Confirmation enclosed - will send fee We will usually eat at the church on Wednesdays for $3 meal. 10 Punch card available for $30. # from our family to plan for. My child will attend Sunday School in 2014/15. (there is no activity fee for Sunday School) My preschooler with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on SS Orientation / Prayer Milestone. (no fee) My Kindergartner with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on Baptism. (no fee) My 1st grader with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on the Lord s Prayer. (no fee) My 2nd grader with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on the Bible. (no fee) My 3rd grader (or older) with parent or guardian will attend the 2 sessions on First Communion. (no fee) My 4th grader with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on the 10 Commandments. (no fee) My 5th grader with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on Worship. (no fee) My 6th grader with parent or guardian will attend the 1 session on the Apostle s Creed. (no fee) (OVER)
Adult Volunteer Form Please prayerfully consider volunteering to help with one of our many youth programs at Trinity this year. We need your help. These programs are only successful if there are Christian adults willing to share their time and talents for the spiritual growth of the children and youth. Thank you! All adult volunteers over the age of 18 must take a child safety class and allow the church to do a background check. Volunteer s Name Best Phone number I would love to help with: (please check all you are interested in) Wednesday After School Special (WASS): WASS snacks (Cindy will have snacks available in kitchen) 2:45-3:15 or so on Wednesdays. Help teach one or two grades of WASS 3:30 to 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. Lessons are prepared in advance for you. Confirmation: Confirmation Small group guide for incoming 7th graders (6:30 to 8 pm on Wednesdays and a few small group activities.) We usually have a pair of guides for each small group. No prior knowledge needed! You will learn everything you need to know in large group taught by Pr. Paul. Wednesday night suppers: Cook (have suppers ready to go by 5:15 on Wednesdays) Help serve (serve and clean up kitchen from 5:15 to 6:30 on Wednesdays) Bake cookies or bars (have at the church by 5:15 on Wednesdays) Sunday School: Sunday school teacher (9:15 to 10:15 on Sundays) (we usually pair two people per workshop) Lessons are prepared for you. Sunday school adult shepherds (9:15 to 10:15 on Sundays) Shepherd will work with the same kids each week to assist teachers in the classroom. Sunday morning music with SS children (9:15 9:30 each Sunday morning) We really need help with this! We have CD s available so no musical knowledge is necessary! 3 year olds through 2nd grade 3rd through 6th grade. Substitute SS teacher (on call as needed) Help set up and run the carnival on September 7th. About 7:30 to set up and done by 10:30 or so. Help direct the Sunday school Christmas Program which will be on Dec. 21 at the 10:30 service this year. This involves working with the kids about 4 to 6 weeks ahead of the program to teach them their parts and music. Youth: Plan or help with a quarterly youth activity for: - 5th and 6th Grade youth - 7th and 8th Grade youth VBS Day Camp for Kindergarten through 5th Grade: I am interested in helping with Day Camp. Call me in the Spring when you start planning.
Trinity Lutheran Church 104 1st Street SE PO Box 476 Hayfield, MN 55940 Phone: 507-477-2248 Fax:507-477-2249 E-mail: cindywiste@gmail.com U.S. Postage Paid Non-Profit Org. Hayfield, MN 55940 Permit No. 3 We re on the web! Trinityhayfield.org Trinity Lutheran Church has been serving the Hayfield community for 90 years. Throughout the years we have focused on our mission of Proclaiming God s Grace...Nurturing Faith...Serving the World in Love.