Parents and Our Saviour a Working Partnership In Faith and ‘Core-Value’ Formation For our Children For Over a Decade
Youth Baptism
Cradle Roll- Mailings every 6 months about developmental stages and faith-development for children.
Educational Resources for home: Video resources for home viewing. Borrow, sign out and return within one week, no charge.
Tracts, resources: Available at worship entrance points for everyone to take, read, and share with family and friends about family issues, and life situations.
Educational Support for pre-schoolers- Sunday School and Vacation Bible School (VBS) for youth ages 3+
Ages 5-18
Weekly- Sunday School, September (Rally Day, 1ST Sunday After Labor Day) through 1st Sunday of June, each year. Rally Day is special for us. We gather and launch from worship balloons to witness to our Lord and our faith and have a pitch-in meal for the congregation with KFC chicken. Yum-yum!
Vacation Bible School- 1st full week of August every year. Supper is served to entire family before our five evenings begin, desiring to keep families together. Learning opportunities are provided for all ages from 3+, even for the parents!
Youth Summer Bible Camp experiences- there is a charge. Michi-Lu-Ca, Fairview, MI Camps are offered for entire families, and separate age groups, plus specialty retreat weekend themes for singles, etc. The church contributes to every camper from our general budget as well in supporting our youth in their fund-raiser endeavors throughout the year.
Youth encouraged at all years to be in Christmas program and Easter program every year. Here we prepare our youth to learn and then to give public witness of their growing faith in Jesus Christ.
Weekly worship- Encourage families to worship regularly as a model, year round for their families.
Family Events throughout the year: annual softball battle of the ages in June, bowling usually twice a year, occasional swim nights at the Y, church picnic, trips/outings, special concerts/ groups in, Mother-Child dinner, Annual Halloween Family Party, etc.
Home devotions- the church provides about 5 different daily devotionals for all of our families on table in narthex. Issues are available quarterly with a $2 donation, per issue.
Support for parents: We do provide a nursery operated by members during the 11 a.m. service, only. If you need it we hope you will use it and also help us staff it on an occasional basis.
We also have “Quiet Bags” for families in the narthex (as you enter) with crayons, pictures, etc. for our smaller youth. Please use. Our deacons can provide them for you from our narthex (entrance).
Children’s Bulletins- We weekly provide children’s action bulletins based upon the day Bible lessons. They may be completed at church or at home.
Children’s Sermons- Pastor Don and our members provide children’s sermons as part of our 11 a.m. service. We want our youth to grow up knowing we planned for them and want them at church. All members are welcome to give a children’s sermon, not reserved to PD only. He began offering children’s sermons in his ministry since 1970.
6 year olds-
First Communion instruction- Pastor meets with parents and child(ren), 3 sessions, usually, 2 months before Christmas and Easter of each year. Special arrangements can be negotiated with Pastor. Classes are usually on Saturdays. Our Saviour provides a free Good News, American Bible Society Bible to our youth on their First Communion.
Youth may enter Junior Choir with Mrs. Kathryn Arnett, if they can read words. They will be singing weekly in our worship.
Parents and Our Saviour a Working Partnership In Faith and ‘Core-Value’ Formation For our Children For Over a Decade
(Continued from front side)
10 year olds-
Catechism/Confirmation Classes- September thru June. A two year educational ministry program with Pastor Don and our lay mentors from the church. They meet weekly, as well as with Sunday School. Assignments and regular attendance expected. A beginning COVENANT is signed by all explaining what we each bring to the learning process for success.
12 year olds-
When confirmed, youth may serve as youth-ful deacons, serve on our church committees. They encouraged to read lessons as worship, serve as greeters, etc. on a monthly basis, 4th Sundays, our youth serve as leaders. Here they can learn to speak publicly of their faith. All post-confirmed youth are encouraged to lead the entire worship service, twice a year, in June and November for the congregation. We wish to develop their God-given gifts and faith in the public forum.
14 years old-
Encourage youth to attend Leadership Training School at Camp. Church pays ½ of fees. Youth are expected/covenant to share learning and experiences the following year in our youth group as service to the Lord and the church.
15 years old-
Encourage youth to attend Advanced Leadership Training School at Camp. Church again shares financial cost with the expectation the youth share their growing for the church youth group ministry.
12-18 year olds-
Sunday school still encourages youth presence and growing. Mid-week youth study and support led by youth from LTS. Our Wednesdays are Our Saviour have been known as WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS for the past 12 years. Youth encouraged at all years to be in Christmas program and Easter program every year.
Junior High and Senior High Years-
Our Synod of South East Michigan offers a Senior High Youth Gathering in Lansing, MI annually, the same dates, December 27-30. There are costs and fund-raising opportunities to cover those costs throughout the year. Registration is in October. Junior High ‘gathering’ called the QUAKE is offered to youth in Lansing, MI the first weekend of January. We encourage all youth to take advantage of these opportunities as they grow in the Christian faith.
It is hoped that parents actively involved in their children’s life and development will also support their spiritual/faith growth, as well. When we work together, good things will have and God’s blessings over flow. We value the shared responsibilities of youth, parents and church in the nurture and development of disciples of our Lord.
Every baptized young person is the planting of another seed of the Holy Spirit in the life of the people God so dearly loves, your son or daughter. Working together and blessed by God your child will live a life truly pleasing to God and respect by their friends. From our lips to God’s ears! Amen!
Pastor Don