2018-2019 Ministry Catalog - First Lutheran Church
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2018-2019 Ministry Catalog
CHILDREN AND FAMILY MINISTRY BROCHURE
Churches, First Lutheran
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without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of First Lutheran Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Children and Family Ministries Ministry Catalog 2013-2014
f. lc.
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.
Table of Contents
Vision and Mission …………………………………………………………………………. 4
Our Staff …………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
For Babies and Toddlers
Cry Room and Baptism …………………………………………………….. 6
Frolic Faith Classes ……………………………………………………………. 7
Nursery …………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Nursery Technology Policy ………………………………………………… 9
Health Policies and Procedures ………………………………………………………. 10
Emergency Procedures ………………….……………………………………………….. 11
For Preschool through 5th Grade
Sunday Morning Learning …………………………………………………. 12
Offering …………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Milestones ………………………………………………………………………… 14
Worship ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
A Word About Communion …………………………………………………………….. 16
At-Home Connections …………………………………………………………………….. 18
Calendar …………………………………………………………………………………………. 20
Approved Snack List ……………………………………………………………………….. 23
Our Vision and Mission Meet God “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father 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 “… become deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ.” The Children and Family Ministry Team believes that a life-long commitment to discipleship 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 success 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 others, the way to fulfill God’s purpose for us, the way to true happiness 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
relationships. From the calling of the twelve and friendships with
Mary, Martha and Lazarus to meals with societal outcasts; Jesus
cultivated relationships, 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 programming for children and families that create meaningful
community with age-appropriate class sizes and spaces, and well-
trained volunteer leaders.
Our Staff
Marissa Letscher, Director of Children and Family Ministries
Marisa Inzerello, Children and Family Ministries Assistant
Devon Ashby, Nursery Coordinator
Children and Family Ministries Team:
Jana Grimm, Michelle Kline, Jen Koester, Lindsey Scheibe,
Beth Morrissey, Julie Wegmann, Tonya Trudo, Katie Cervantes,
Marcy Pease, Andrea Anderson
Contact Us:
www.firstlutherancr.org 319-365-1494
marissal@firstlutherancr.org minzerello@firstlutherancr.org
devona@firstlutherancr.org
Babies and Toddlers 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. 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 about once per month. 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; you’ll have the opportunity to hear about the many resources we send you home with as you begin to raise your child in faith, and you’ll also choose a quilt for your child’s Baptism basket. Following baptism, we are here to support you! One of the ways we aim to better connect with you and equip you is through a program called Frolic! The Frolic faith program has three areas of connection: Faith Classes, which are parent-child classes based on Bible stories and child development themes which or listed on the next page; Enewsletters, which are monthly newsletters
Babies and Toddlers
emailed at the beginning of each month that support your child’s
development and faith formation at home; and a nursery piece we
will be layering in whenever your child is checked into the Nursery
on Sunday mornings. See below for Frolic class information.
For more information on 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.
Frolic Faith Classes
Parents, caregivers and children from birth through age 2 are
invited to join us in the nursery during the Sunday Morning
Learning hour (10:15-11:05 a.m.) just once each month
(September through May) for Frolic Faith Classes.
These classes aim to bring little ones and their grown-ups together
for some social time, and a short class time based on Bible stories
and child development themes.
Frolic Faith Classes Schedule
9/16/18: Jesus Is Born 1/20/19: Jesus Blesses Children
10/21/18: Young Jesus in the 2/17/18: Jesus Teaches and Heals
Temple
3/17/19: Jesus Feeds a Crowd
11/18/18: Jesus Is Baptized
4/7/19: Jesus the Good Shepherd
12/16/18: Jesus Calls Disciples
Babies and Toddlers 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 Sunday morning services. Before your visit to the nursery, we ask that you review our technology and health policies, as well as our emergency procedures, which can be found on the next three pages. Nursery Coordinator: Devon Ashby
Babies and Toddlers Nursery Technology Policy 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 all children in our care. You can help us provide a safe and caring environment for all children by: Keeping technological devices in your care while your children are with us. Please allow children to come into our care without the burden of expensive technological devices. This includes, but is not limited to: cell phones, iPads, tablets, handheld gaming devices, etc. We understand that all parents have different views on the impact of technology in their families. Therefore, we want to allow parents the right to set their own boundaries and rules about what is appropriate for their own children. Our nursery staff members are trained to engage children in our care in imaginative play, arts/crafts, music, etc. There really won’t be time for gaming in here! Thank you for your understanding!
Health Policies & Procedures
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),
Pinworms, Rash, Scabies, Strep Throat, Chicken Pox or
Tuberculosis.
• 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.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 east
side of the PCI building (Parking Lot B) 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
regularly scheduled dismissal time and pick up your child/ren
from their classroom following proper sign-in/out
procedures.Preschool—5th Grade
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)
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 classroomsPreschool—5th Grade Offering The generosity of First Lutheran’s children is amazing. Over the last several 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.
For Just About Everybody
Milestones endeavors to
uphold our faith traditions,
values and practices by
educating and equipping
the entire family.
Milestones starts by
teaching children the who's, what's, whys and how's of our faith,
and equips parents to be the primary developers of faith in their
children. It then continues through the teenage years as youth
make that faith their own through Confirmation and Affirmation of
Baptism. Finally, Milestones comes full circle as students graduate
High School and move out into the world as adults themselves to
pass on their faith to future generations.
For children in preschool through 5th grades, Milestones is a series
of three classes every year. All Milestones classes will take place in
your child’s Sunday school/KidZone classroom. Children must be
accompanied by an adult to Milestones sessions.
Session 1 Session 2 Session 3
3s: 9/8/18, 9-10AM, Open 3s-1st: 2/3/19, 10:15am 4s-1st: 3/31/19, 10:15am
House
2nd-5th: 2/10/19, 2nd-4th: 4/7/19, 10:15am
3s-1st: 10/7/18, 10:15am 10:15am
5th: 5/5/19 @ 10:15am, &
2nd-5th: 10/14/18, 5/6/19 @ 6pm
10:15am
We will celebrate Milestones Sundays at multiple times, as well as
adding a few other special Milestones related events. Please use
the calendar listed on the following page, to plan ahead for these
special celebrations!For Just About Everybody
Special Milestone Events Schedule:
September 16, 2018, 9 or 11:15AM: 3 year-old and 3rd grade Bible
presentation.
February 10, 2018: 1st Graders paint First Communion plates at
Potter’s Obsession
February 17 , 2019 : 5th Graders presented with Small Catechism and
lead Apostle’s Creed all morning services.
March 9, 2019: 9-10:30AM, 1st Grade Communion Activity Day
April 6, 2019: 9-10:30AM, Kindergarten Lord’s Prayer Activity day
(make prayer mats, memorize the Lord’s Prayer).
April 7, 2019: Kindergarten lead Lord’s Prayer on prayer mats in
worship at all morning services.
April 14, 2019: Communion Milestone Celebration 9:30 & 11AM.
Worship… Our Faith Family 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.
There are lots of ways to help children connect to worship, too. Together
At Worship books and markers, and Worship Buddies can be picked up in
the Narthex as you enter the nave, and 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!Communion Milestone
A word about the Communion Milestone…
In May of 2015, Presiding Bishop Eaton and the church-wide
Worship staff invited all congregations of the ELCA into a
conversation about the Communion table—as there is a wide
variety of practice in the church. One thing is certain, however,
and that is that anyone who is baptized is welcome to receive
Communion. Anyone.
It has been the experience of many (myself included), that proper
instruction must precede one’s participation in Communion—
hence the tradition of ‘First Communion.’ However, more and
more families are allowing their very young children to participate
in Communion—an experience very different even from their own.
Because we all approach this sacrament from very different
experiences, we thought we ought to take this space to clarify the
pattern of instruction at First Lutheran. But before we outline that
pattern, please know that when you, the grown-up, decide when
your child is ready for Communion, they are welcome at the table.
That’s right, you decide.
From the moment they are baptized they are welcome, because:
1) Communion is a means of grace where God is present—
God meets people in communion.
2) It’s not our table—it’s God’s table, and we don't question
Jesus’ guest list.
3) There is no ‘kiddie table’ - if we consider people to be full
members of the body of Christ and part of this family, why
would we exclude them from this meal?
4) No one really fully understands what’s going on at this
table— I certainly don’t, do you? We’re in this to experience
it together, to learn together.Communion Milestone
5) Though they may understand, per our measure, very little of
what’s going on, they do have a clear understanding of what
it means to be left out—we never want children to feel that
God’s table is not for them.
With all of that being said, we do believe instruction about
Communion is important. It’s important to hear the stories from
Scripture that we point to when the pastor says the Words of
Institution. It’s important to know what the bread and wine
represent. It’s important. So we take three years to learn about
Communion—starting at 4 years old. Here is the progression of
our Communion instruction:
4 Years Old: In Communion, God Loves Us
Kindergarten: In Communion, God Cares for Us
1st Grade: Communion Connects Us With God’s Saving Love
The instruction for Communion that the church provides happens
in Milestones classes—which are three times each year—Fall,
Winter and Spring. But you
are your child’s best teacher.
Talk with your child about
your communion
experiences. What does
Communion mean to you?
How do you feel when you
come to the table for
Communion? When you
pause for a quiet moment
after you’ve taken the bread and wine, what are you doing? What
are you thinking? These are the things that will shape your child’s
faith, and increase their knowledge of God’s action in
Communion. You are your child’s best teacher—and we will do
whatever we can to support you!At-Home Connections
One of the most significant things you can do to foster faith
development in your child is to talk to them about their faith, what
they hear/learn/discuss/experience on Sunday mornings, and any
other time they’re engaged in education at First Lutheran. In an effort
to equip you for these conversations, we are happy to provide many
FREE resources that you can pick up any time you are in the building!
Spark Family Magazine
Spark Family Magazines arrive at FLC
quarterly, and can be found at the stairwell kiosks.
With 48 pages of activities, each issue is a great
resource to keep in the car, carry along as you run
errands, or leave on the kitchen table for
conversation starters during dinner! The magazine
features:
• Cut-out prayers: playful ways to
encourage family members to pray together
• Faith activities that fit into busy schedules
• Bible trivia to help build biblical literacy for all ages
Spark Family Take-Home Pages
At the beginning of each month,
check the back of your child’s
coloring or activity page for this
awesome take-home resource.
With great questions, activities,
vocabulary and more, these Spark
Family Pages are a great weekly
connection to the story we’re
reading each month!At-Home Connections
With crazy-busy schedules of work, school, sports, music and more, families
are in a constant state of motion. In order to keep you best-informed of
what’s happening in Children and Family Ministries, we offer six different
ways to keep you connected and informed. From the Church’s website, news-
letter, Spotlight, Bulletin Announcements and Luminary, to the CFM Blog and
Facebook group, you can have all the latest information right at your finger-
tips!
The Children and Family
Ministries page of the website
has all the most current
information about programs,
events, and more. From details
about Sunday morning programs
and special events, to a ‘Stuff We
Like’ page where we outline a list
of great
at-home resources and gifts, the
CFM page on the website is your
go-to for everything you’d need
to know!
The CFM Blog is the best tool
you’re not using! Here we update
the schedule of events each
month, post each month’s
blessing so you have it at home,
and more! You can subscribe to
this blog and have updates
delivered right to your email
inbox!Calendar
September 2018
8: 3 Year-Old Open House, 9-10AM, Room 111
9: First Day of Sunday Morning Learning, 10:15-11:05AM
Open House for grown-ups, in the Choir Room
16: 3YO and 3rd Grade Bible Presentation, 9 and 11:15AM services
Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
October 2018
7: P3-1st Grade Milestones
14: 2nd—5th Grade Milestones
21: Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
28: Hayrack Ride and Bonfire at Nietert’s Farm
November 2018
18: Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
25: No Sunday Morning Learning
December 2018
15: Advent program rehearsal (required), 9-10:30AM in the Nave
16: Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
Advent program, 3:30PM in the Nave
23: No Sunday Morning Learning, Christmas Eve
30: No Sunday Morning LearningCalendar
January 2019
20: Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
February 2019
3: P3-1st Grade Milestones
9: 1st Grade paint at Potter’s Obsession, all day
10: 2nd—5th Grade Milestones
17: 5th Grade lead Apostle’s Creed, 9 and 11:15AM services
Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
March 2019
9: 1st Grade Communion Activity Day
17: Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the Nursery
31: P4-1st Grade Milestones
April 2019
6: Kindergarten Lord’s Prayer Activity Day, 9-10:30AM
7: 2nd—4th Grade Milestones
Kindergarten lead Lord’s Prayer at 9 and
11:15AM services; Frolic First Faith class, 10:15AM in the
Nursery
14: Palm Sunday; No Sunday Morning Learning
Communion Milestone Celebration at 8, 9:30 and
11:15am services
19: Family Good Friday Worship, 5:30PM, Nave
20: Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast, 10AM, LFC
21: Easter Sunday; No Sunday Morning Learning
** DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, Sunday Morning Learning is
FINISHED after EASTER SUNDAY **Calendar May 2019 June 2019 Watch The Light newsletter and your email for details about VBS 2019!
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 Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups
Apple slices Kellogg’s Fruit Loops
Grapes Kellogg’s Apple Jacks
Strawberries Ritz crackers
Old Dutch or Rold Gold brand Pretzels Keebler Fudge Stripes—original
Oreo brand sandwich cookies Lorna Doone Shortbread cookies
Mandarin orange cups Nabisco Wheat Thins
Bananas Nabisco Teddy Grahams
Applesauce Nabisco brand Barnum’s Animal
crackers
Yogurt
Keebler Scooby-Doo Graham Cracker
Honey Maid brand graham crackers
sticks
String cheese
Old Dutch Premium Gourmet popcorn
Goldfish brand crackers
Welches Fruit Snacks
Cheez-It crackers
Starburst candies
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
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.Children and Family Ministries First Lutheran Church 1000 3rd Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
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