Youth and Children

Ministry with Youth & Children 

at Good Shepherd

Research shows that faith is most often 'caught' and not 'taught.' And so at Good Shepherd, we follow a model of faith webbing -- we work to surround those in the first third of life with caring individuals, who 1) love God and 2)  love them. The more people a child or youth has in their life that have those two things? The higher the chance that they will take up a faith of their own as an adult. 

What does faith webbing look like at GSLC? 

• Worship -- as it says in our bulletin weekly -- Small humans are not only welcomed but celebrated at Good Shepherd, and are encouraged to be fully themselves at worship – wiggling, playing, nursing, snacking, dancing, and making their needs known. Acitity bags are provided at the entrance of the sanctuary.  If a place is needed to burn off more steam than the sanctuary permits, a nursery is provided on the northeast side of the building. 

• Sacraments & Milestones  -- The learning is in the doing.  

  • • Communion is given as soon as the child shows interest, or at the discretion of the parents. A special class is offered yearly to help instruct any interested parent in Communion. 

    • Baptism -- is a welcome into community, a sign of a person's fundamental 'enoughness,' and a symbol of an already existing truth: that each child is a child of God. Baptism happens at any age! For parents wishing to baptize their infant or young child, set up a conversation with Pastor Sarah for pre-baptismal counseling. pastor@goodshepherd906.org

    • Giving of Bibles; Blessing of Backpacks; Blessing New Drivers, etc. -- We celebrate milestones with youth and adolesecents as a congregation, bringing them along in their faith journey as a community, blessing them in their daily lives in order to assure them that God is with them always!

• Sunday School -- Younger worshipers sometimes need faith actitities that are geared to them, and parents/guardians need a moment to nurture their faith without attending to their kiddos. During worship, when it's time for the sermon, a Sunday School teacher invites any younger kiddos out of the sanctuary for a time of Bible learning, craft activity, and prayer. 25 minutes later, they re-join the adults in the congregation for commuion and to finish out the service. 

• Confirmation  - When a student is ready, anytime after 6th grade they can sign up for a Confirmation journey, in which they will dive deeper into Christian teachings and practices, and take steps towards a different level of engagement with their faith and the community. 

• High School - As youth turn into young adults, they are invited into more and more leadership and opportunities with the congregation. They might turn around and be a Sunday School teacher themselves, help out in worship by reading or providing music, and participate in more active advocacy opportunties with the congregation. 

  • • • Each summer, there will be a trip opportunity in those going into 9th - 12th grade. This summer of 2024? It's off to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. We are excited to send some of our youth to this meaningful week of faith formation, adventure and service: https://www.elca.church/gathering

• CAMP! Good Shepherd shares a special relationship with Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp in Crystal Falls, MI. We encourage youth of all ages and their families to engage with this inspirational place of grace through retreats and summer week's at camp. 

• Special Events - Throughout the year, special events are offered for and with our youth! Making a spaghetti supper to raise funds for Toys for Tots is a winter tradition, and look for more events such as sledding, and service projects to come.