Sunday School
Confirmation Youth Ministry
Milestone Ministry
Adults
Youth Groups

New to Sunday School? PRINT REGISTRATION FORM or pick one up in the church office.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
9:15 a.m. September - May
Children 3 years old thru Grade 8

We are blessed at ELC to have a wonderful Sunday School program. We have students ranging in age from three years old through high school, and the classes are held Sundays from September through May at 9:15 in the Parish Education Building.

Our teaching staff consists of volunteers from the members of the congregation who commit their time and talents on a full-time or team-teaching basis. We also are happy to have several volunteers who are "helpers" in classes. All voting members of ELC are encouraged to share
their abilities in this very meaningful ministry.

If you or someone you know would like to become a part of our Sunday School program, either as a student or a teacher, please contact the church office or Sunday School Superintendents.

CONFIRMATION YOUTH MINISTRY
We would like to introduce you to Confirmation Ministry at Evangelical Lutheran Church. We believe that confirmation is an important time in a person’s life. Therefore we pray that it be both positive and life-shaping. Following is an overview of the confirmation program. In addition, students and their families receive a detailed letter on yearly requirements and expectations beginning in 7^th grade. If there is something you are unclear about, or if we have missed something, please ask or call the church office.

8th/9th Grade Confirmation Calendar

Confirmation: a milestone in your faith journey. At the center of faith is the wonderful story of God and his love for you. As you grow and develop, so do your questions and understanding about God. Confirmation is designed to help you explore what it means to be a Christian. We believe one of the best ways to do this is to follow a progression of teaching that helps you to learn, interpret, and confess the story of Jesus Christ and what it means for you. Will you be done growing in faith once confirmation is done? Absolutely not! Confirmation is only one milestone in your life-long journey of faith. Joining together with all God’s people, we know that God will grow faith in you your whole life long.

YOUTH ACOLYTE SCHEDULE YOUTH USHER AND GREETER SCHEDULE

Along with regular participation in Sunday School (3yr. old through 8^th grade), confirmation learning takes place in the following areas at these times in your faith journey:

Pre-confirmation classes:

	5^th Grade First Communion Attend 3 evening sessions with your parents. One of the pastors leads you through the meaning of Holy Communion. Participants are then able to receive 1st communion at the Maundy Thursday worship service. Classes for 2012 are March 7, 14, 21 Seder Meal is March 29. First communion is April 5th, 7pm.
	6th Grade Worship/Acolyte training Attend an evening session with your parents to learn about the order of worship and your role as an assistant. You are trained to acolyte, which you are asked to do 2 or more times during the year. *Class for 2011 is September 21st @ 6-8pm.*

Beginning Confirmation

7th Grade Martin Luther & the Reformation
In addition to attendance at Sunday School (required) you will acolyte at least 3 times during the year. In the spring of your 7th grade year, you will attend 4 evening sessions with your parents to learn about our Lutheran heritage as Christians. Classes for 2012 are April 18, 25, May 2, 9, @ 7pm.

Continuing Confirmation

8th & 9th Grade Small Catechism
In addition to attendance at Sunday School (required for 8^th graders), you will attend Wednesday evening classes from October-February, learning parts of the small catechism and how God’s word applies to your life. Most nights will have a large group learning session led by one of the pastors, followed by small group discussion led by an adult small group guide. In 8^th and 9^th grade you are required to attend worship regularly and take worship notes that are turned in to your small group guide, and you participate in service projects and fellowship activities, including an overnight retreat. Classes for 2011-2012 are October 5 - February 15. Eighth grade retreat is February 3 & 4, 2012. Ninth grade retreat is March 23-24.

Preparing for Affirmation of Baptism

10th Grade Lifelong Discipleship
By 10th grade, you’ve formed some ideas about what you believe and why you believe it. During the fall of this year you will finish writing your own faith statement to share with members of the Parish Education Committee. You will attend classes in the fall as you prepare for affirmation of baptism. Classes for 2011 are Sept. 14 - Oct.19. Confirmation service is on Reformation Sunday, October 30th, 1pm.

So you see, confirmation at Evangelical Lutheran Church is not really just a program, it is a process. When God claimed you as His child in baptism, God initiated a relationship which God promised would support you for your whole life. It is a time to share and grow with the help of leaders and friends. It is a time to make the promises made for you in baptism your own. God wants you to make the very best use of the talents and resources God gave you. So, make this time an offering of yourself, and God will bless you. You won’t be sorry!

A Word to Parents
The encouraging and sharing of our faith happens primarily in families and in the activities and conversations that take place there. The role of confirmation ministry at ELC is to assist you as you work to help your son or daughter grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. As we seek to work together on this, we are eager to hear from you as to how we can help. Here are some things you can do at home to encourage your child’s faith:

	Pray for them and yourselves.
	Pray for God’s guidance and blessing in your lives as a family.
	Talk with your son or daughter about the topics raised in classes regularly. Try to initiate other conversations about faith, values and life.
	Assist with, check and document memory work.
	Be an example of the Christian faith. Worship regularly, be involved in the church, support the confirmation program, and encourage participation in church youth and family events.
	Check in with your child often, review their confirmation learner sheets, and encourage them to keep up with requirements (8th & 9th grade especially).

Milestone Ministry
Fifth Graders Prepare for First Communion

Fifth graders and their parents participated in a "Seder meal" as they learned about Jesus' last supper with his disciples in preparation for first communion. The next milestone ministry event this year will be for High School graduates on Sunday, May 7th.

MILESTONE MINISTRY

What is Milestone Ministry? Milestone ministry is a way for us to celebrate the promises made in baptism, provide learning opportunities for families, and recommit ourselves as a congregation to nurture one another as the body of Christ as we mark "milestones" in a person’s journey of faith. The first milestone is baptism—when we hear the words proclaimed to us "child of God, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever." Throughout a child’s growing years, there are other times that we make a point to connect as a congregation and celebrate once again this identity as a child of God, a brother and sister in Christ. Each milestone has two aspects: a learning event designed for children and their parents, and a worship celebration in which the congregation offers their prayers and a blessing at this time in the child’s life. In this way, we are assisting and encouraging families to pass on the faith. Upcoming milestones that will be celebrated:
	One Year Anniversary of Baptism (January 9, 2012 at 9:30a worship)
	Beginning Sunday School for 3 and 4 year olds (September 7th at 6p and September 11th 9:00a worship)
	Worship for Kindergartners (November 6th learning event in SS, 13th at 10:30a worship)
	Receiving 3^rd grade Bibles (October 23rd learning event in SS, 3rd Gr. Bible Milestone October 30th at 10:30a worship)
	Learning to Pray - First Graders (February 12th learning event in SS and Milestone at 10:30a worship)
	Receiving first communion (Classes on March 7, 14, 21 Seder Meal on 29th, first communion on April 5, 2011)
	Leading Worship/Acolyte Training (September 21 at 6-8p, Acolyte Milestone September 25 at 10:30a worship)
	Beginning confirmation - 7th grade April 18, 25, May 2, 9 at 7p, 2012) 8th/9th grade October 5, 2011-February 15, 2012
	Affirmation of baptism (Confirmation - October 30, 2011)
	High school graduation (April 29 & May 27, 2012)

Of course, milestones don’t only happen when we are young. Perhaps you can think of special moments in your life when it has been especially important to be surrounded by the body of Christ, and when you have been especially thankful for the support and love of the community. Milestone ministry is for everyone—for children, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors—all of us together to remind one another that we are baptized. We are part of the body of Christ, fellow workers in the kingdom of God.

ADULTS
Adult classes 9:15 a.m. Sundays

Other worship, fellowship and service opportunities include Evangelical Lutheran Church Women events, Evangelical Singers (Weds. at 7:15 p.m.), Sewing Circle, Worship Committee, Parish Education, Church Council, Witness Committee, Visitation Team and much, much more!