Director of Family & Youth Ministries
April showers bring May flowers?
What does snow bring? As I write this the forecast is for
more snow! I hope by the time you are reading this spring
has really arrived! I am soooo ready!
Some annual events kick off in May such as Youth Sunday and our Spring Play – “The Mystery of Montley’s Manor.” I hope you have your tickets for this event; again, it is one you will not want to miss!!!
Check your schedules and make plans for our Greater Grace Golf tournament in June at Hickory Hills. You will want to sign up for that event. The Men of Grace will be cooking our banquet meal this year. Also make plans to invite someone and join us for our Wednesday Night Worship and Praise service that will begin on June 18.
May Schedule
| May 7 & 14 |
Confirmation, the 14th is our last night! |
| May 7, 14, 15, & 16 |
Play practice from 8-9 in the parlors |
| May 13 |
Youth Board meeting |
| May 17 & 18 |
Mystery of Montley's Manor, Youth Dinner theater production. Saturday night at 6:30 pm & Sunday night at 5 pm. |
| May 18 |
Cake & refreshments between services. Senior recognition during the 11:00 worship hour. |
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Sunday night youth night, 7 pm
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Visit our Family & Youth activities page too!
Mission Statement: To create an exciting Christian environment which will provide a firm foundation inspiring youth and their families to build a future filled with faith and love of Jesus Christ!
Family and Youth Calendar for 2007-08
January
- Set-up & sign-up for Summer trips
- Set-up & sign-up for Spring drama
- Set-up fundraising schedule
February
- Singing Valentines fundraiser
- Mardi Gras (every other year)
- Drama/musical practice begins
March
- Drama/musical practice continues
- First middle school re-charge
- Fundraiser's continue
April
- Easter Activities
- Watch the Lamb
- Easter egg hunt
- Easter breakfast
- Balloon service
- Youth Sunday
- Spring Musical
- Middle school Youth Gathering
May
- Fifth & Sixth Grade Lock-in
- Mother's Day flowers
- Greater Grace Golf Open
- Senior Day (High School) Recognition (quilts)
June
- Church family service project
- Mission trip(s)
- Valley Fair Trip
- Eighth Grade Bible Camp
- Wednesday Night Worship begins, summer months
July
- July 4th Family camp
- Leadership retreat (second trip)
- Youth Gatherings (every three years)
- Lifest
August
- Fairfax Family Swim
- VBS
- Taste of Grace
- Fall Planning
September
- High school Sunday school begins (September 9)
- Confirmation begins (September 12)
- Crop Walk
- After-school program begins September 25, every Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Ninth grade retreat- September 28-30
- Packer/Viking Tailgate family fun- September 30
October
- Mall of America field trip
- Haunted House dance and costume party October 21
November
- Godstock (Synod event)
- Second Middle school re-charge
December
Youth are also encouraged to participate in one of the many Grace Lutheran choirs, including handbell's and the youth music group, Sincerus
After-School Program
Begins this year on September 25 and runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Families are responsible for transportation to and from the church, although there are several arranged pick-ups; see me about this if you need a ride! The After-school program is available for all school age children! This is not a baby sitting service kids should have school work with them.
Mission Trips
Next summer (08) there will be two summer trips planned One will be a mission trip the second will be a return trip to Lifest. Look for Information meeting(s) that will be scheduled in January with more detailed info concerning Dates, places, as well as scheduled fundraisers
Worship Services
Young people are involved in several church Services throughout the year. Including a Youth Week-end, in the spring. They also are very active in the Summer Wednesday night worship and praise services as well as Openings for Confirmation.
Service Opportunities
Most of the service opportunities are done through the confirmation program, although they are not limited to them; some examples would be Crop walk, Alzheimer’s walk, serving at Beacon House as well as the Community Table. Through out the year several opportunities are arranged for singing/visiting local nursing homes. We also encourage the whole church family’s involvement in a big service project ( this year we did some landscaping and clean up at Edgewood) held usually in the spring
Youth Dramas
Come January look for announcements as we will begin putting together our annual Musical, this has been a great event in the past and I hope many of you are looking forward to this years production. Last year we did a repeat performance of “Flash Back” and it was as great as ever. This year’s play is still being picked out, but I know it will be meaningful and great.
Lifest
A summer youth gathering held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This year almost 50 people attended from Grace Lutheran, camping out on site.
Visit the web site
Fellowship/Field Trips
These events are scheduled throughout the year! It is important to keep checking announcements and the web site for up dated info. The next scheduled events are a ninth grade retreat on Sept.28-30. As well as a Tailgate party for the Packer/ Viking game on Sept 30th. This will include food, fun, game on a big screen TV, as well as some great good natured ribbing, and Bragging rights! In October mark your calendars for a great Costume – Halloween dance which will be on Sunday night Oct.21 from 6:30 – 9:30. I am also working on a field trip to either Mall of America or a fun night at Action city. (Unfortunately this will replace our annual Paintball activity.
Tom Pichette