The youth will Trick or Treat for UNICEF on October 20th. After the church service, they will be standing at both sanctuary entrances to collect money for UNICEF. UNICEF is “a United Nations agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.” The money will be used to provide nutritional needs, clean water, education, health care and sanitation for children in Zambia.
Big thanks to everyone who donated items for the Lutheran World Relief school supplies. Youth from Immanuel and St. John’s helped pack and assemble over 260 school kits. The youth also helped bundle up boxes of additional school supplies for our local Regional Office of Education.
The Quake in Wisconsin Dells is February 14-16. To ensure we have a space saved for the event, the whole group needs to be registered before 10/31. A $20 deposit will be needed for youth who are interested in attending. This fee can also be covered—please speak with pastor privately if you are in financial need. If your household has a youth in grade 6-12 that would like to attend the Quake, please contact Pastor Jacob before Sunday, October 13.
Y’all are most welcome to dress up and enjoy Tri Church Congregation Trunk or Treat opportunities! All are welcome!
St. Paul Lutheran Church (1701 16th Ave., Sterling) will host a Trunk or Treat on October 26 from 2-4 pm with a costume parade at 3 pm.
St. John’s Lutheran Church (703 3rd Ave., Sterling) will host Trunk or Treat on Halloween night from 4:30-7 pm.
The LOMC Fall Retreat for 6-12th graders is November 22-23! Youth from Bethel & Tri Church congregations will also be participating! We will leave from St. John’s at 5:45 pm on November 22 and be back by 5 pm the next day. The link to register for the event has been emailed to all households with youth in grades 6-12. If you did not get the registration link, please contact Pastor Jacob so the link can be resent. Register ASAP if you plan to attend!
Youth and Families—JOIN US for a Tri Church Youth Outing this month! We will gather outdoors at Selmi’s (1206 Dixon Avenue, Rock Falls) on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 4 pm and adventure through the Maze together before enjoying some Cliff’s donuts. All youth are welcome! This event is free! Meet us in front of the ticket booth at 4 pm if you plan to participate (if you are running late please call or text Pastor Jacob at 262-748-6901). We will also dive into God’s Word a bit together and continue to know God, ourselves and each other more! If it is storming, this event will be cancelled. We are hoping for an outstanding early evening of sharing life and God’s love together!
October 6: Lesson-Holy Week
October 13: Popcorn & Music
October 20: Pumpkin Carving
October 27: No Sunday School
Some important dates for grades 6-12:
-November 20 @ 7pm: Community Accompaniment Night (Buddy Bags Packing @ Wesley Methodist)
-November 22-23: LOMC Fall Retreat
-December 22: Christmas Program
-February 14-16: Wisconsin Dells Youth Quake Retreat
-February 26 @ 7pm: Community Accompaniment Night (Buddy Bags Packing @ Wesley Methodist)
-April 13: Palm Sunday Breakfast
-April 30 @ 7pm: Community Accompaniment Night (Buddy Bags Packing @ Wesley Methodist)
-June 1: Confirmation Sunday
For October, the noisy offerings are going to the LSSI Holiday Hope Chest. The monies collected will be used to help buy items on the gift lists for the children the Sunday School is sponsoring this year. Any additional monies will be gifted to LSSI for support of the Holiday Hope Chest program.
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.
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.
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.
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.
