Sunday School takes place on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:15 a.m., September through May. The curriculum for Sunday school is varied by age group and emphasizes Bible lessons, Christian values, and study of Luther’s Small Catechism.
Vacation Bible School is held every June for ages Kindergarten through 6th grade. Sunday School students support missions such as The Heifer Project.
Confirmation students meet every Wednesday at 6:00 pm and Sundays at 9:15 am. The program has its own page containing announcement, schedules and upcoming events. Click here to access.
In recent decades Confirmation has been the culmination of a Sunday school program focused on teaching proper doctrine. Unfortunately, this model has lost relevance over time as our society has grown increasingly secular. Instead of Confirmation being that moment when a young person makes a decision to accept the Lordship of Christ in their lives and follow as an active disciple, it has instead become the equivalent of a graduation ceremony with no intention of following in the faith.
At St. John's we have come to the conclusion we are not being faithful leaders if we continue to confirm young people before they have decided they want to know Jesus as Lord and follow Him in faith. What we are doing will seem for many counter intuitive, but so is grace. We are reclaiming the tradition of confirmation as a genuine statement of faith. Each person will participate as an individual and not as part of a class. We will provide opportunities for them to grow in Christian fellowship and understanding, but, in the end, curriculum goals are not the criteria by which a young person will be confirmed.
Confirmation Goals:
- Introduce our young people to the Jesus who laughs
- Small group conversations on meaningful faith topics for young people
- Build meaningful relationships with faith mentors
- Encourage our young people to discover the love of God and a desire to be a faithful follower of Christ
We want our young people to want to participate. They will have the opportunity to experience several servant and fellowship events including Youthquake, the Be Like Jesus servant event, Journey to the Cross, Confirmation Camp, and day trips to various events including Power of One. Small group mentors will participate in classes and activities and assist in the students' learning and growth. We believe the support of a mentor whose faith is important will encourage your child to recognize God's daily presence in their lives.
The ultimate goal is for each young person to experience and recognize the gift of faith in God, not as a parental expectation, but as their own faith ready to grow through a lifetime walk with God. These processes will most likely take longer than 7th and 8th grade, but when it does they will be active in worship and other Christian opportunities because they want to and not because they are required.
St John’s high school students have many opportunities to mature in their faith and service to God by participating in various missions. High school students are invited to lead groups for our annual Be Like Jesus event, build homes for Habitat for Humanity, and travel to help with missions in the U.S. and around the world. There are also social opportunities, such as YouthZones, Lifest, and Power of One. High school youth also have a regular Bible study group that meets Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m., September through May.
St. John’s Be Like Jesus servant event is held every spring. This is a 24-hour servant event and lock-in for youth age 5th through 8th grade. Music, fun and fellowship are followed by a full day of servant events in the greater Oregon community. Students assist the Oregon Food Pantry, Project Linus, The Road Home, Madison Mutts Rescue, Plant a Tree, Elderly Assistance, Card Ministry, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Social Services Refugee Resettlement, Luke House and many more wonderful organizations.
St. John’s youth have been to Biloxi, Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina relief; Marquette, Michigan for Habitat for Humanity, and even Guatemala with missionary and musician, Shawn Smith.
During late July, 2011, we went back to Marquette, Michigan for more Habitat work for those in need.
We also had a large group travel to Guatemala in 2011.
St. John’s provides opportunities for families to be in fellowship together. In the past, these events have included trips to Christian music concerts, area fall festivals and special events like Bethlehem Marketplace and Journey to the Cross. We also host an annual family Seder Meal. Sign ups are available prior to most events and there may be individual costs depending on the activity.
