Youth & Family

Youth & Family News

Confirmation Sunday

Confirmation Students and Families: Be sure to mark your calendars for June 2nd—Confirmation Sunday! As we get closer to June, reminders will be sent out about preparing student’s faith statements and selecting their Confirmation Verse (favorite Bible verse), as well as when to pick up a confirmation gown, and information on making a confirmation stole.

March Noisy Offerings

For March, the noisy offerings are going to United Way of Whiteside County’s Community Campaign. Donations help support community impact programs including the 2-1-1 Helpline offering Free Confidential Resources, Born Learning Academy helping parents teach their children, School supplies for local children, Let’s Feed Our Children the free summer lunch program, and the LIFE Imagination Library that provides kids a free book every month.

Buddy Bags Update

Sunday School Youth and Families: Please note that the February 28th Buddy Bags assembly date has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Please be sure to mark your calendars for April 24th as this is the next scheduled Buddy Bags assembly date. On that date we’ll once again gather at 7pm at Wesley United Methodist Church (2200 16th Ave, Sterling, IL 61081) to help assemble Buddy Bags for students in the community.

Palm Sunday Breakfast

Mark your calendars for March 24th—the Youth Palm Sunday Breakfast is coming! This youth-led event is always a highlight for our congregation. The freewill offering collected during breakfast helps support programming for youth events like the Quake and National Youth Gathering. Families: Look for the crew sign-up on March 3rd to indicate if you’d like to help with Set-up, Kitchen Team, Serving, and/or Clean-up Crew.

Sunday School Schedule for March

3/3: Lesson 9-A Storm
3/10: Music & Popcorn
3/17: Lesson 10-The Centurions Servant
3/24: No Sunday School (Palm Sunday breakfast)
3/31: Activity-Easter Egg Hunt

Confirmation Schedule for 2023-24 Year

I am pleased to share that after much conversation with Pastor Bree and Pastor Makayla, Immanuel, St. Paul, and St. John’s will once again be collaborating for shared Confirmation Classes during the 2023 – 2024 Academic Year.

This collaboration will once again allow for youth from all three congregations to gather for Bible Study, conversations and questions about faith and life, service opportunities, worship, retreats, and other activities.

To accommodate the variety of schedules of congregations, students’ schools, and other extracurricular activities, the combined Confirmation Class will meet for monthly Sunday gatherings from 11 am to 2 pm beginning in September with each session including a light lunch.

As Confirmation Classes at each congregation have been and continue to be part of a multi-year faith formation program, this year’s focus is faith life and a deep exploration of Luther’s Small Catechism. Our tentative schedule is as follows:

  • September 10, 2023 – St. Paul – Exploring Baptism
  • October 1, 2023 – St. John’s – Exploring the Apostles Creed
  • November 12, 2023 – Immanuel – Exploring the Apostles Creed
  • December 3, 2023 – St. Paul – Exploring the Apostles Creed
  • January 14, 2024 – St. John’s – Exploring the Lord’s Prayer
  • February 4, 2024 – Immanuel – Exploring the Commandments
  • March 3, 2024 – St. Paul – Exploring the Commandments
  • April 14, 2024 – St. John’s – Exploring the Commandments
  • May 5, 2024 – Immanuel – Exploring Communion

Throughout the course of the year there will also be occasions for mid-week community service nights as well as gatherings for conversation and planning for youth events including the Fall Retreat, the Schaumburg Youth Quake, and the upcoming Youth Gathering.

On Sundays that do not have a scheduled Confirmation Class meeting, seventh and eighth grade Confirmation Students will gather with the sixth grade Sunday School Class as well as assist the lower grade students during the whole Sunday School event days.

While I understand that this is a significant change from the past year’s Sunday School and Confirmation Class programming, I want to assure Sunday School and Confirmation Class students and families that I will be walking with you during these transitions. As always, if you have a question or would like to know more, please feel free to contact me by phone, text message, or email.

God’s peace to each of you—I’m looking forward to the upcoming School Year and the opportunities it will bring.

Sunday School

We host Sunday School classes for all ages from mid-September to mid-May annually. Check the Calendar for exact dates and times of classes.

Confirmation Classes

7th-9th grade students, staff and parent leaders gather each Wednesday evening from September through May with their peers from St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Falls, using the “Co-laborate” Confirmation curriculum. This two-and-a-half-year program involves parent participation, learning, service to others, and safe, fun events led by caring adults.

Junior High & High School Youth Classes

Our junior high and high school students meet regularly throughout the year for classes, service events, fun events and trips. Events are updated and advertised on the Calendar, and on our Branches Youth & Family Ministries Facebook page.

CommUNITY Vacation Bible School

Each summer St. John’s participates in the Sterling-Rock Falls CommUNITY VBS (a collaboration of local congregations providing VBS as a free 1-week event for families in our communities with Pre-K age 4 through fifth grade). Location moves to a new church location each year. VBS Meets in the evening, Sunday through Thursday, with a free dinner each night.

Community vacation bible school logo

Youth & Family Forms & Policies

Adult Volunteer Application

Medical Release & General Permission Form

Youth Safety Policy

Skip to content