2025 Children, Youth and Family Program Descriptions
Sunday Schedule for worship and Education Hour
- 8:30am-11:30am nursery staffed
- 8:30am Worship
- 9:30am Sunday School
- 9:30am A.C.E (Adult Christian Education) 2nd Sunday- Parenting Littles
- 10:30am Worship
Wednesday Schedule for Affirm, Ablaze, Highlights, Choirs and Youth Group
- 5:30pm-6:45pm Meal
- 5:30pm Elementary Choir
- 6:00pm Highlights Sunday School
- 6:00pm Middle School Choir
- 6:30pm-7:00pm Worship
- 7:00pm-8:00pm Affirm (Confirmation) Ablaze and Adult Choir
- 8:00pm-8:45pm Youth Group
Sunday School
Ages: Preschool-4th grade
Sundays 9:30am-10:15am or Wednesdays 6:00-6:30pm
Please register anytime throughout the year, children are always welcome to join us.
Sunday School: Join us as we dive into the Bible for some amazing adventures! We begin each day in our large group with fun Bible Camp Songs led by our Children’s Music Director, Malynda Riehle. We have special visits from our amazing puppet duo Abel and Zabel. Following our large group, we go to our classrooms and learn more about the Bible Story and engage in fun activities, crafts and games that connect to our story.
Sunday School Highlights
Ages: Preschool-4th grade
Wednesdays- 6:00pm-6:30pm
Sunday School Highlights: Life is busy! Sometimes Sundays don't work for families, maybe it is just a few weeks or for the entire calendar year. A Wednesday night option hopes to give the opportunity for all of our students to connect with their church friends and learn about the Bible story every week. All are welcome to join us for our Sunday School Highlights program on Wednesday nights at 6:00pm. Please register for this program using the Sunday School Registration link, no additional registration is needed.
Ablaze: Pre-confirmation program
5th grade students
Wednesday nights 7:00pm-8:00pm
Ablaze was created to form a transitional bridge from Sunday School to our confirmation program, Affirm.
The program goals for Ablaze are to prep students for confirmation by reviewing key points of the Bible. We start around the campfire for the first five weeks reviewing the Old Testament, then we move indoors with a large group/small group model. In spring, we focus on preparing students to receive their Rite of First Communion.
Affirm: Confirmation Ministry for 6-9th Graders
Wednesday nights 7:00pm-8:00 pm
In Affirm, we believe that each person is a child of God, with faith given as a gift from God. In Affirm, we build relationships in small groups, where each person can show up and be their true self, ask their real questions, and grow in faith together. Affirm operates on a four-year cycle, specifically oriented to deepening the life of faith, so that each youth can 1) develop a confidence in reading their Bible thoughtfully and well, 2) approach the world around them with spiritual curiosity, and 3) claim faith for themselves.
Grades 6-8 have one year focusing on each: “Who is Jesus,” “Practicing Faith,” and “I am a Lutheran.” Grade 9 becomes a capstone year, emphasizing discovering each one’s self, faith and gifts for service, culminating in Affirmation Sunday, when 9th graders affirm their baptismal promises surrounded by family, friends, and our faith community.
Each Affirm year includes small group lessons, service projects, fellowship bonfires, lenten mentors, and Family Milestones.
Elementary and Middle School choirs
JAM Choir (Jesus and Me) is for students who love to sing, K through 4th grade and meet Wednesdays from 5:30pm to 6:00pm We will sing one Sunday of every month during service!
The Middle School Choir (Fly) is for 5th through 8th Grade (or older if you want!) we meet on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 6:30pm. We will sing and lead service one Wednesday every month!
Do you play an instrument and want to be involved with the choir, but not sing, GREAT! We would love for you to join us and play instrumental parts with our choir!! If you have ANY questions, please reach out to Malynda Riehle! You can connect with her on Sundays, or email her at Malynda@sjlcl.org.
Summer Stretch
St. John's Summer Stretch is a program for Upper Elementary and Middle Schoolers (students entering Grades 4,5, 6, 7 and 8 in Fall 2025)
Participants put their faith into action! They are encouraged to be the light of Christ through participation in service projects for the greater community. Each day includes fun adventures with faith leaders and friends. Yes, friends are welcome as participants and leaders!
Volunteer Guides: Students who will be in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade in the fall of 2025 can apply to be small group guides and adult chaperones will be welcomed.
When? Dates: June 25, July 9, July 16 and July 24
Times: 9:00am-4:30pm
Register for all of the program days, or all of them!
Nursery Care:
Children, Youth and Family ministries at St John’s strives to create a seamless line of ministry from birth through high school and to walk alongside families to raise compassionate, respectful, and service-orientated children – with hearts of faith-filled love.
Our nursery is part of that promised mission to walk alongside families. We believe that caring for children in a safe, nurturing environment of the nursery is essential in order for parents to tend to their own spiritual care. As a part of that journey we encourage and support parents to participate in choir, teaching, mentoring, Adult Ed Classes (ACE) Bible Studies, and worship. Children are always welcome in worship yet we realize there are times when nursery care may be a better option for your family.
When you bring your children to the nursery, they will be safely in the care of St. John's Nursery Paid Staff who are: high school juniors and seniors who are trained in CPR & First Aid, familiar with basic child development, and have passed a background check.
Parents need to stay in the building while your child(ren) are utilizing the nursery and you need to provide your contact information.
The Adult Christian Education (A.C.E) ministry invites you to continue to connect with others and grow in faith and discipleship throughout adulthood. A.C.E is held each Sunday morning, September through May, at 9:30 in the Sanctuary, and is also available via livestream. Past A.C.E sessions can be viewed here. Specific topics, presentations, outside speakers, and Bible study units are announced in advance. Everyone is welcome to participate!
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St. John's Lutheran Church of Lakeville
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