Gearing Up For Youth Ministry
We have a number of exciting updates and changes as we look to the start of the program year for all of our Youth and Family Ministry activities.
Youth Ministry Intern
We are pleased to announce that Our Savior’s has launched a year-long youth ministry internship program and have identified our first intern. Esinam Ziddah served as a camp counselor at Shetek Lutheran Bible Camp this past summer and is a citizen of Ghana. Of course, that means that we are busily trying to secure the necessary visas for her to be able to work with us this coming school year. Please keep her and the church in your prayers as we seek to move forward with this ministry opportunity.
Release Time Returns
Release Time will be returning starting September 17. Information will be distributed through the school for this program which is for all students in grades 3-5. Release Time is a collaboration between all Jackson County churches to do basic Bible story education.
Third graders will work with me (Pastor Ted) and our own Deb Matthias, a retired teacher, in the basement of Salem Lutheran Church on Wednesdays at 1:00pm. Fourth and Fifth graders will work with volunteers from other churches at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Students will be escorted to and from the school buildings and will take their normal bus home.
Look for information distributed to your students during the first week of school for more information and to sign up.
Confirmation Orientation and Schedule Change
Confirmation classes will start on Wednesdays when school is in session. Council has approved an important change this year: we are going to hold optional office hours at 2:45pm and class from 3:00-4:00pm. The purpose of this change is to allow me to also be able to spend time with the Lighthouse students and to facilitate a new youth group (details below). If this schedule change causes a problem for your family, I am willing to open a second class time for confirmation this year. Please reach out to me (Pastor Ted) to discuss this possibility if you need it.
Confirmation Orientation will be held on Wednesday, September 3 at 5:00pm. All incoming sixth graders are expected to attend with a parent. Since there are no major changes this year (besides class timing) seventh and eighth graders are not required to attend orientation this year. The Confirmation handbook will be emailed out to all families.
Lighthouse Changes
We are happy to announce that Lighthouse children’s ministry will continue to be a collaboration between Our Savior’s, Salem, and Belmont Lutheran Churches. This year, Lighthouse will run for 60 minutes from 6:00-7:00pm. The churches have also agreed to discontinue the evening meal and worship service. Elements of the worship service will be worked in to Lighthouse itself. The Lighthouse kickoff / Rally Day will be Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00pm.
Our new youth group
Our new youth group, (yet to be named) will meet starting at 6:30pm for (optional) service project work with the children at Lighthouse. At 7:00pm, we will have a time of contemplative worship and then go deeper into the Bible with focused study, ending at 8:00pm. More information will be released soon.
Got an idea for a cool youth group name? Send it to Pastor Ted.
