Ministry Catalog 2014-2015

Meet God… Find Life…

Make Friends!

Children and Family Ministries

CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRY BROCHURE

Churches, First Lutheran

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Library of First Lutheran Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Children and Family Ministries Ministry Catalog 2013-2014

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FauxSBN: 0-1234-5678-9

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirement s of our office machinery. It’s

probably not archival quality—but at least it doesn’t get stuck in the printer.

Manufactured in the good ol’ U. S. of A.

Our Vision and Mission

Meet God

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Fa-

ther except through me. If you really know me, you will know my

Father as well.”

John 14:6-7a

It is one of our core values here at First Lutheran Church to “… be-

come deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ.” The Children and

Family Ministry Team believes that a life-long commitment to disci-

pleship starts at birth, with families that uphold their baptismal

promises. From that time on it is our honor and privilege to create

and conduct a first-class Children and Family Ministry program. We

see the task of helping children to know God as primary to the suc-

cess of our ministry, this church and the development of faithful

adult disciples.

Find Life

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life

for me, you will find it.”

Matthew 10:39

As we grow and mature in our faith, we live our lives differently.

Instead of a life focused on the things of this world, the Christian

who is maturing in faith understands that a life focused on the

things of God’s heart is a life that is really life. The way to serve oth-

ers, the way to fulfill God’s purpose for us, the way to true happi-

ness is to spend life selflessly, for only then will we find life here and

hereafter. It is the mission of the Children and Family Ministries to

provide programs that help to raise-up the kind of disciples that

have truly found new life in Christ.

Make Friends

“’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ’and I will send you out to fish for

people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Mark 1:17-18

If there’s one thing Jesus knew how to do, it was to build relation-

ships. From the calling of the twelve and friendships with Mary, Mar-

tha and Lazarus to meals with societal outcasts; Jesus cultivated rela-

tionships, and in those relationships built up disciples. In the same

way, we recognize that God is best experienced in the context of

community; in relationships founded on his love and grace that exist

to raise up faithful disciples. We, therefore, endeavor to create pro-

gramming for children and families that create meaningful communi-

ty with age-appropriate class sizes and spaces, and well-trained vol-

unteer leaders.

Marissa Letscher, Director of Children and Family Ministries

Lindsey Scheibe, Assistant Director and Nursery Coordinator

Nursery Attendants: Katherine Grabe, Cristin Stansbury,

Kathy Runneals, Glorie Borsay, Abby Banker, Mariann Gilpin

Children and Family Ministries Team:

Jana Grimm, Michelle Kline, Jen Koester, Lindsey Scheibe,

Beth Morrissey, Mariann Gilpin, Julie Wegmann, Tonya Trudo, Katie

Cervantes

Contact Us:

www.firstlutherancr.org marissal@firstlutherancr.org 319-365-1494

Our Staff

Babies and Toddlers

Baptism

It is our pleasure and our joy to welcome all God’s children into

the family of faith through Baptism. At First Lutheran we offer

Baptism at any age. Our practice is to offer Baptisms at various

times throughout the year. Baptism Celebration Sundays are

preceded by a Baptism class one week prior, where you’ll have

the chance to meet other parents and children making the

Baptism journey with you. Also, at the classes, you’ll learn about

Baptism, what it means and why we do it; as well as have the

opportunity to choose a quilt for your child’s Baptism basket.

For more information, Baptism/Baptism Class dates and times,

and to sign-up for classes, please contact us in the church office:

319-365-1494, or recept@firstlutherancr.org.

Cry Room At First Lutheran we place a high value on families attending

worship together. However, we also realize that every

once-in-a-while we all need some “quiet time,” and for those

times we offer a Cry Room just on the east side of the sanctuary

for our littlest worshippers. Our Cry Room is equipped with

sound, a large picture window and comfortable furniture so

parents can still participate in worship, and little ones will be

soothed by the cozy atmosphere.

Nursery We are fortunate, at First Lutheran, to offer a fully-staffed

Nursery, for children age 6 months—4 years-old. The Nursery

can be found on the lower-level near the Luther Fellowship

Center. The Nursery is available during all weekend services.

Sunday Morning Learning See the details below to find out when and where your age-group

meets on Sunday mornings.

Preschool Sunday School

(3 and 4 Year-Olds) 10am—check in at kiosks

10:15am—meet in classrooms

11:05am—parents/approved grown-up pick up in classrooms

KidZone

(Kindergarten—5th Grade) 10am—check in at kiosks

10:15am—meet in Large Group (Room 307)

11:05am—parents/approved grown-up pick up in classrooms

Connect (4th and 5th Grade)

New for 2014-2015, Connect engages 4th and 5th graders by watching a witty video, exploring biblical text and creating projects for fun and for service! 10am—check in at kiosks 10:15am—meet in classroom (Room 306) 11:05am—parents/approved grown-up pick up in classrooms

Preschool—5th Grade

Preschool—5th Grade

Offering The generosity of First Lutheran’s children is amazing. Over the last

four years they have collected over $5,500 in offering monies. Because

of their generosity, they have helped our sister church in Samé,

Tanzania, Crossroads Mission, Families Helping Families, a family

affected by the 2008 flood, folks in need of bus tickets, and more!

That’s amazing!

We want to make sure that the offering the children bring on Sunday

morning continues to do good things in our community and around the

world, and that the children understand what giving is all about.

Money, and where it goes and what it does, are abstract concepts

especially for young children. So, we make it more concrete.

On the first Sunday of each month, we ask that the offering your child

brings with him to Preschool Sunday School, KidZone, or Connect is a

non-perishable food item or items. These will be donated to area

food banks.

On the second and third Sundays of each month, they can bring a

money offering, but they can also bring one or more of the following

items: stuffed animals (gently used and freshly cleaned), books (also

new or gently used), socks (new please), toothbrush (new), toothpaste

(new), shampoo (new), a hairbrush (new), soap, crayons, pencils, and a

notebook (all new, please). These items, along with blankets that we

will make together in class will be packed together in Foster Care Bags.

Many children, when they are placed in a Foster home, do so without

anything of their own. We want them to have their very own bag given

with love from the children at First Lutheran Church. We thank

Families Helping Families for helping us get these bags to the children

who need them most.

Milestones is a series of classes (three classes every year at every age level from birth through 5th grade) that educate

children on the who's, what's, whys and how's of the faith, and equip parents as the primary developers of faith in their children.

All Milestones classes will take place in your child’s Sunday school/KidZone classroom. Children must be accompanied by an adult to Milestones sessions.

We will celebrate Milestones Sundays at multiple times, as well as adding a few other special Milestones related events. Please use the calendar below to plan ahead for these special celebrations!

September 14, 2014, 11:15AM: 3 year-old and 3rd grade Bible presentation.

January 17, 2015: 9-10:30AM, Kindergarten Lord’s Prayer Activity day (make prayer mats, memorize the Lord’s Prayer).

January 25, 2015: Kindergarten lead Lord’s Prayer on prayer mats in worship at all morning services.

January 25, 2014: 5th Graders presented with Small Catechism and lead Apostle’s Creed all morning services.

February 7, 2015: 1st Graders paint First Communion plates at Potter’s Obsession

March 29, 2015: First Communion Celebration 9:30 & 11AM.

For Just About Everybody

Session 1

3s: 9/6/14, 9-10AM, Open

House

3s-1st: 10/5/14, 10:15am

2nd-5th: 10/12/14,

10:15am

Session 2

3s-1st: 1/11/15, 10:15am

2nd-5th: 1/18/15,

10:15am

Session 3

4s-1st: 3/1/15, 10:15am

2nd-4th: 3/18/15,

10:15am

5th: TBA

For Just About Everybody

OUR FAMILY OF FAITH… TOGETHER

At First Lutheran Church, we value families worshiping together.

We also want our families to help lead worship on Sundays. Entire

families can serve as greeters in the Narthex—welcoming folks as they

arrive for worship, helping prepare Communion supplies before

worship, or serving as Ushers during worship. Children can sign-up to

read Scripture or prayers during worship.

Also, during the sermon at each service, children from 3 years old

through 2nd grade are invited to join a pastor or other Children and

Family Ministry volunteer in the Children’s Library for the Children’s

Chat. This way the grown-ups can hear the sermon, and children get a

message at their own level. Just follow the instructions in your

bulletin to know when the right time is to go. The point is, we want

worship to be about our entire faith family, and we hope you’ll join

us!

It is our honor and privilege to care for your children while you are

on First Lutheran’s campus. We have numerous policies and

procedures in place to ensure, to the best of our ability, the safety

of your child. You can help us provide a safe and caring environ-

ment for all children by:

Keeping home children who are sick. Any child who appears to be severely ill, has fever and behavior change or one or more of the following symptoms:

Temperature of 100° F or higher

Diarrhea

Blood in stool

Vomiting

Abdominal pain (persistent)

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Pediculosis (Head lice)

Persistent runny nose, watery eyes, and coughing

Or any of the following: Hepatitis A, Impetigo, Measles, Mouth sores, Mumps, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Pin-worms, Rash, Scabies, Strep Throat, Chicken Pox or Tu-berculosis.

Following proper check-in and check-out procedures, including supplying names of adults who are approved to check your child in and out.

Picking your child up from their classroom at the proper time.

Speaking with your child about appropriate classroom behaviors and language.

Communicating questions and issues to us in a timely manner.

Procedures & Health Policies

Emergency Procedures

In Case of FIRE

Proceed out the building to the Cardiologist PC parking lot at

the corner of 3rd Ave and 10th Street.

DO NOT attempt to pick up your child/ren in ANY part of the

building—they will be evacuated by our trained staff.

WAIT at the parking lot until an ‘ALL CLEAR’ has been given

by an FLC pastor or staff member, then proceed to the grassy

area just to the left of the Margaret Bock building to pick up

your child/ren. Children must stay with their teachers until a

parent or guardian comes to pick them up.

In Case of SEVERE WEATHER

Proceed to the FIRST FLOOR hallway and Luther Fellowship

Center.

DO NOT attempt to pick up your child/ren in ANY part of the

building—they will be evacuated by our trained staff.

WAIT in the hallway or the LFC for an ‘ALL CLEAR’ to be given

by an FLC pastor or staff member, then (if all activities have

been concluded) pick up your child/ren from their class

group; OR (if all activities have resumed) wait until the regu-

larly scheduled dismissal time and pick up your child/ren

from their classroom following proper sign-in/out proce-

dures.

Community Building Events Milestones Events

Training Events Programmatic Events

Worship Events Service Events

September 2014 6: 3 Year Olds Open House, 9AM-10AM, room 111 7: Rally Day – First Sunday for PSS/KZ 14: Bible Presentation for 3 YO and 3rd Grade at 11:15AM worship 21: SERVICE DAY: Pack treats for animal shelters 21: Preschool and Kindergarten outing to Honey Creek Acres, 2PM

October 2014 5: Milestones Preschool—1st Grade, Non-Perishable Food Offering 12: Milestones 2nd—5th grade 19: SERVICE DAY: Fleece blankets and scarves for homeless 26: Trunk-or-Treat, 3-4PM @ St. Paul’s UMC

November 2014 16: NO Sunday Morning Learning (PSS/KZ/Connect) 23: SERVICE DAY: Make cards for armed services

December 2014 7: Non-Perishable Food Offering 13: Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal, 9-10:30AM 14: Children’s Christmas Program, 3:30PM 21: SERVICE DAY: Caroling at care centers 28: NO Sunday Morning Learning (PSS/KZ/Connect)

January 2014 4: NO Sunday Morning Learning (PSS/KZ/Connect) 11: Milestones Preschool—1st Grade 17: Kindergarten Lord’s Prayer Day, 9-10:30AM 18: Milestones 2nd—5th 25: Kindergarten leads Lord’s Prayer, 5th grade leads Apostle’s Creed and presented with Catechism in all morning services

Calendar

Calendar

February 2015

7: 1st Grade Event – paint First Communion chalices or plates at

Potter’s Obsession

March 2015

1: Milestones Pre 4s—1st Grade, Non-Perishable Food Offering

9: Milestones 2nd—4th Grade

15: SERVICE DAY: Clean-up FLC

22: Pajama Sunday (PSS/KZ/Connect)

29: Palm Sunday; First Communion at 9:30 & 11AM

April 2015

5: Non-Perishable Food Offering

26: SERVICE DAY: Decorate grocery bags

May 2015

10: Mother’s Day

17: Last Day PSS/KZ/Connect

June 2015

6: 5th Grade Promotion Celebration

22-25: VBS, Ingham—Okoboji Day Camp, 9AM-2PM

Approved Snack List

In an effort to ensure, to the best of our ability, the safety of all children

while they’re in our care, we ask that when providing snacks to your

child’s class, that you please select a snack from this list.

Thank you,

Marissa Letscher, Director of Children and Family Ministries

Orange slices

Apple slices

Grapes

Strawberries

Old Dutch or Rold Gold brand Pretzels

Oreo brand sandwich cookies

Mandarin orange cups

Bananas

Applesauce

Yogurt

Honey Maid brand graham crackers

String cheese

Goldfish brand crackers

Cheez-It crackers

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks

Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups

Kellogg’s Fruit Loops

Kellogg’s Apple Jacks

Ritz crackers

Keebler Fudge Stripes—original

Lorna Doone Shortbread cookies

Nabisco Wheat Thins

Nabisco Teddy Grahams

Nabisco brand Barnum’s Animal crackers

Keebler Scooby-Doo Graham Cracker sticks

Old Dutch Premium Gourmet popcorn

Welches Fruit Snacks

Starburst candies

Tootsie Rolls (in original bag)

TEACHERS: Please check the label on the back of every product, even if

it’s one that’s been provided before. We need to ensure that recipes

and processing/manufacturing has not changed.

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