KIDS & INTERGENERATIONAL FAITH FORMATION
Children
Sunday School for Pre-K through 5th grade is the first Sunday of every month during 9:30am worship. Through relational check-ins, storytelling, fun activities, and wondering questions, children will explore eight key stories and teachings from the Bible this year:
October 6: Learning about the Beginnings of everything and everyone in Creation.
November 3: Exploring the 10 Best Ways or 10 Commandments given to Moses in the book of Exodus.
December 1: Interacting with the nativity story as we begin the season of Advent.
January 5: Choosing 2025 intentions while celebrating Epiphany with the Magi.
February 2: Learning and understanding the prayer Jesus taught.
March 2: Responding with loving God and others as Jesus modeled and taught the Greatest Commandment.
April 6: Engaging and connecting with Jesus during Lent and Holy Week.
May: 4: Discovering who, what, why and how about the Holy Spirit.
We celebrate three Faith Milestones. While everyone is invited to the Lord’s table for Holy Communion, formal instruction (formerly “First Communion”) is offered for children who are in 2nd grade, but any age is welcome. Those who haven’t been prepared for Holy Communion, and do not feel ready to communion yet, are invited to receive a special blessing instead of bread and wine. Third graders receive their first Bible with some practical helps on how to use it. Contact us to let us know interest and availability for scheduling either of these milestones or the first faith milestone of baptism.
Families & All Ages
During Sunday Worship, whether online or in person, join in the Children's Time during worship. Starting in Advent and into 2025, we will intentionally experiment with helping children engage in worship through age-appropriate and tangible ways at the PrayGround for pre-readers and in worship bags for readers. As needed, families may take advantage of the wonderful play space in the Nursery.
Dinner Church is 6:00-7:00pm every third Wednesday upstairs. All ages are welcome, so invite your grandchildren, grandparents, neighbors and friends for:
delicious food
connection with others
table conversations
space for littles to wiggle and move
worship with song
simple Scripture lesson
Holy Communion
spiritual practice or service project
Develop relationships across generations this year as we give space for God to grow the Fruit of the Spirit in us.
October 16: Fruit of Love
November 20: Fruit of Joy
December 18: Fruit of Peace
January 15: Fruit of Patience
February 19: Fruit of Kindness
April 23: Fruit of Gentleness
May 21: Fruit of Faithfulness
While we appreciate an RSVP to help us with meal planning, it is not required.
Seasonal
September: Block Party, God’s Work Our Hands
October: Trunk or Treat
November: Turkey Bingo
December: All ages are encouraged to participate in the Christmas Program in some way, whether it be in speaking, singing or back stage opportunities. Little preparation or practice is needed to join in the fun.
Summer:
For a few hours a day during a week of each summer, Shepherd invites kids from Pre-K through 5th grade to Vacation Bible School (VBS). This is an opportunity for new friends, fun experiments and games, incredible music, and learning about the Bible in the context of a unique theme!
We believe in the power of the experience of camp and encourage kids to branch out and explore God's love in this unique way. Each year we send kids to Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria. Information about and registration for camp is available in the Spring at Luther Crest’s website.
