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Family ministry continues to be an important part of the way we are thinking about ministry. The latest enhancement is with the midweek and confirmation setting.
We expanded midweek classes to include third and fourth grade classes this year. We have combined the before class time to have all grades, that is third through eighth, to be together in a big room for eating, singing, and more importantly table talk with table parents.
Everyone sits at the same table each week. The ages are mixed up, and we try to separate siblings. We have one set of parents, without their children, sitting at each table. The parents help maintain order, but more importantly role model for the children. Parents are modeling as a part of church for the students now.
The parents then will lead the students in discussions that have been prepared in advance. This gives the students a time to discuss “Bible type topics” with someone else's parents. The children are becoming comfortable with this, and are seeing the adults as co-people with who they study on Wednesday nights now. Two of the classes invite parents in on the class as part of the intergenerational setting. The parents then normally end up getting more out of the class than they thought they would. They see the children interacting with faith and the Bible in ways that surprise the adults. This leads to a strengthening bond between the students and the parents.
Overall Ellinwood continues to build upon the family ministry concept and grows as we develop our ministry throughout the church. Thank you God.
--Submitted by Chuck Merriman, DCE
----- Students going on to higher education were recognized the first Sunday in August. They were called to the front of the sanctuary during the service and asked to share the college they were attending. The congregation prayed for them and sent them off with their blessing.
----- Each month member milestones will be recognized as part of the worship service. This will be expanded to include, but not limited to, retirement, special birthdays, moving and any other special events members would like to recoginze.
-----Letters are sent to the parents of college students encouraging them to go with their children the first weekend and attend worship services with them.
----- A questionairre entitled "Seasoned Christians" is being distributed to those over 65 and single moms to determine some of their needs. Other members can then offer help where needed.
----- A Purity Conference for middle school students with parents may be conducted during the Sunday School hour for several weeks.
----- The concordia Reference Bible will be given to 5th grade students the third week in August. Selected adults called "connecting links" will present Blbles in the church service. They will sign and write words of encouragement in the Blble. They are to pray for and encourage the student through their educational years.
----- The annual church picnic will be held the last Sunday in August at a local museum. (Souders)
----- September 9th is designated as "Grandparents Sunday". Passing on the faith will be the focus.
----- To enhance parenting skills the church is planning a Love and Logic class this fall.
----- Our Family Life Committee will attend Biblesta Celebration in Humbolt October 6th.
----- A father/son event is planned in late September. Marvin Kohmeier will be our speaker. We will share a game meal and experiences to highlight the evening.
----- We will try for lay people (members) to write Devotional Booklets in 2008.
----- The 2nd Sunday in January is the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus. There will be special recognition during the service and the Sunday School hour focusing on this event.
----- The last Sunday in January is Lutherans for life Sunday. A DVD will be used in the Sunday School hour.
----- February brings on the annual Valentines dinner put on by the churches' youth. It is always very well attended. Strengthing marriage is also a February focus. Our pre school will be featured in a February service.
----- Kindergarten students are given Bibles in March.
----- "Bless the years" Sunday in April recognizes our "Seasoned Saints".
----- In April we will provide a format on which members may share well wishes on an individual basis with the students graduating from High School. In May these students will be recognized in a church service and given the well wishes of the congregation.
If you have any questions concerning these actifities, feel free to call or e-mail me.
Blessings,
Keith Jopp Keith@stpaul.kscoxmail.com
Phone: 316-542-0115
August is the time to “gear-up” after a more relaxed schedule of activities during the Summer months. Families are busy during the Summer months with ball games, camps, vacations and other special activities. The start of school also signals the start of the Fall activities: promotion to the next Sunday School Class; Fall schedule of adult Bible Classes; Catechism classes begin for 7 th & 8 th graders and their parents.
We continue helping parents (and grandparents) to remember the Biblical mandate that parents are the primary faith teachers – by word and especially by example. The faith-life demonstrated by the parents will be a very powerful model that the children will follow: when parents are faithful in prayer, devotions, public worship and service the family-value of faith-life will be a powerful influence. On the contrary, when parents do not model a prayer / devotional / public worship and service life, the children (and others) see a very powerful witness as well – contrary to the growing in faith that is promised at infant baptism; contrary to God's Word and commission to fathers and mothers.
In our weekly newsletter we continue to include Family Ministry Minutes in which one or more of the Scripture readings is developed in a Bible Study for families to do together. (You can view this on-line at www.holycrosslutheran.net )
Our confirmation ministry continues with full involvement by parents. We begin with a Saturday morning “orientation” meeting the Saturday before school begins in which parents and 7 th & 8 th graders spend quality time preparing for the year of instructions. Then, parents and youth meet with the pastors (separately as Level I and Level II – possibily not just 7 th & 8 th graders) on the every-other Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8:45 PM. Pastor, parents and youth from each level meet for the first hour for instruction and activities on the Catechism. Then the youth go with Small Group leaders for the final 45 minutes for small group Bible study while the parents remain with the pastor for additional discussion and instruction. On the Wednesdays that the whole group does not meet, the parents work with their students on memory work, homework, special activities at home. We are finding that this model of confirmation instruction is very beneficial for all involved – parents review (or maybe learn for the 1 st time) the basic doctrines; students, participating with their parents are encouraged and focus better (no discipline problems!) and pastors “equip the saints for the work of ministry,” Eph. 4:12. Contact us if you are interested in receiving more information.
We also continue to offer a “Family Life” Bible Class each quarter in our Sunday School hour. This Fall 2 Family-Life classes are being offered dealing with Life and Fertility issues and raising adolescents (using Kevin Lehman's video series: Running the Rapids). Plans are to offer classes on marriage; parents of young children; single-parents; blended families; divorce recovery; empty-nesters; grandparenting; care for elderly parents, and others.
We continue the milestone ministries of 2 nd -grader Bible presentations in January and High School Senior blessings in May. Contact us if we can be of assistance to you in family life ministry. revdmyers@holycrosslutheran.net
As many of the individuals on our prayer list are not members of our congregation, we have begun identifying these people both in our bulletin and in the corporate prayer. This helps our members identify more closely with the person being prayed for.
The weekend of October 6 is BIBLESTA weekend in Humboldt. The main feature of this 50-year tradition is a parade at 1:30 on Saturday with all floats depicting stories from the Bible. Musical entertainment following the parade will feature the well-known Gatlin Brothers. This is a one-of-a-kind event and we invite all of you to come and be a part of it. Plan to come in the morning for a tour of Humboldt and the opportunity to see store windows decorated for Biblesta. We would also like for you to be our guests for lunch at the church preceding the parade. Let us know if you plan to attend. There is also a free bean feed in the town square at 5:00. For more information call St. Peter's Lutheran Church , 620-473-2343.
St. Peter's uses Biblesta weekend to present Bibles to our third graders during our worship services on Sunday morning.
If you need over-night accommodations, we suggest the Super 8 motel in Iola.
In Christ's unending love,
Rev. David E. Meier
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
910 Amos Street
Humboldt , KS 66748-1021
620-473-2343 -- pastormeier@sbcglobal.net
This summer be are doing “Big Group Sunday School.” All children below junior high, and as many parents as are able to attend, meet together in one big group. We begin with library time to pick out books related to today's topic, open with prayer, sing a song, read a scripture lesson for the day, with the children and parents opening the Bibles to find the message, take the offering and then the children watch an animated video about a Bible character, such as Daniel, Esther, etc. While the children are watching the video, the parents are studying the Scripture lessons from an adult point of view, focusing on how each day's story relates to the family.
After the video, the smaller children go to a separate classroom to color video related coloring sheets or activity sheets. Grades 3-5 then take a quiz from the DVD provided story video. They are competing with the parents in answering the questions. The parents have not seen the video but have studied the scripture lessons. This is a fun interaction time for the entire family. The children do receive breaks and advantages in taking the quiz.
At the end of the class time, the small children share what they did, which tells that day's Bible story again. The older children (Grades 3-5) summarize what the main message was for the video that they saw. The parents then tell how this story relates to the family and parenting.
The Junior High Students meet separately but study the same scripture passages, so that when they go home, everyone has studied the same Bible story from their age appropriate level, and can discuss each day's lesson as a family.
We have become focused on being intentional about “doing church” as a family, encouraging discussions and “doing church” at home. God's blessings – Chuck Merriman
We are hosting our annual Ladies Night Off event in April with our Trinity men serving the women and guests. We have a guest speaker and special music for the evening to let the women relax. We also provide a shopping experience right here at Trinity. We have several mini shops ranging from candles, house wares and a lot of outdoor decorative items. This is a great dining experience and the men have fun too. Also in April we present our 3rd graders Bibles during worship. The child and parents have met together and marked the Bibles, plus the parents have placed an inscription in the front. This is a continuing journey for our Faith Stepping Stones. ~~ Cindy Twillman
May the Lord bless you as the Ablaze flame burns within you! Blessings - Keith Jopp
This year we've added “Wait Training” (a purity emphasis) for parents and 7 th & 8 th graders during the Sunday School / Saturday School hour Sept. – Nov.; Senior Care Callers (on-going telephone contacts through the year); we are planning a special Easter Sunday intergenerational celebration during the SS hour; a special “Family Cup Blessing” for the families of the confirmands; adding an evening family VBS to our traditional morning VBS. (Again, we'd be happy to share ideas and information for those who are interested.)
We've been reading together the book, Passing on the Faith , Merton Strommen, Richard Hardell and discussing ideas together, as well as meeting with our church commissions talking with them of how we can “partner together” in family life ministry.
Our goal is to: Lead the shift from a “church-based, home supported” to a “home-based, church supported” mind set; assisting the “faith-leaders” in passing the baton of faith as their children (grandchildren) grow in Christ from birth to death through the “milestone” ministry model. Each milestone we celebrate positions us to encourage and affirm parents and grandparents in their faith-leader roles.