EDUCATION

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Telling the story of Jesus Christ and serving the needs of others is the central mission of the Church. The Christian Education Program at Our Savior’s Lutheran supports this mission through various opportunities for people of all ages to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith and its connections with their daily lives. The banners above were painted by our students to enliven the Sunday school classrooms.

Above is the Sunday School Christmas program for 2009. Back Row: Ellicha Gage, Nicole Vinson, Mason Libke, Sean Peters, Louis Nguyen, Kaylee Lawson. Second Row: Melony Orr holding Eden James, Jazmine Rathbun, Emily Rethwisch, Lucas Kerndt

Third Row: Alanna Pleasants holding Chloë Magnusson, Caelin Peters, Soraya Reyes, Hallie Vinson, Kyle Hitchins.

Left of manger: Laurel Scott, Makayla Peters. Right of manger: Nicholas Rethwisch, Emilio Rathbun.

Front Row: Jack Schweitzer, Kai Timmerman, Zoey Timmerman, Ethan Schweitzer

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school is held each Sunday morning during the school year from 10:00—11:00 a.m. The primary task of this ministry is to assist parents in the task of nurturing their children’s faith and helping them live out the story of God’s love for them. Let us be your partners in this important vocation. Children’s Sunday School classes for pre-K through confirmation meet downstairs in the classroom areas.

Above is our enthusiastic confirmation class. Left to right they are: Louis Nygen, Elisha Gage, Mason Libke, Shaun Peters, Melony Orr and Caelin Peters. Not pictured: Kaylee Lawson and Nicole Vinson.

CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a two-year education ministry of the church to prepare young people for publicly affirming the promises God made to them in their baptism. The program is for youth in 8th grade and older. It includes a year long study of the Bible and a year long study of Luther’s Small Catechism, which provides an explanation of the Ten Commandments, Apostle’s Creed, Lord’s Prayer, and Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.

Classes are generally held on Wednesday evenings (except during lent) and Sunday mornings at Sunday school time.

Retreats are occasionally held for further confirmation class learning time. These are conducted at Sugar Creek Bible Camp in Ferryville, Wisconsin. Pictured below is a winter retreat.

To the right is the confirmation of Ethan Libke on Pentecost Sunday, 2008.

FIRST COMMUNION
To prepare young people to begin receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion, an instruction course is offered to children at or around the fifth grade. After they have demonstrated their understanding of this sacrament and completed a final project, their first Communion is scheduled. This special ritual is held whatever time of year the child is ready.

ADULT EDUCATION
After a time of coffee, refreshments and fellowship, the adults gather in the parish hall to learn more about our faith through various topical studies. These are generally held during the school year only, but upon occasion the studies are held in the summer. Please join us as we strive to grow in faith and knowledge of the Bible.