“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:12
Our youth are not the future of the church – They are the church!
At First Lutheran we provide many opportunities for youth to come together not only with each other but also with others in our church community. Faith grows through relationships with others. Our hope is that all the activities that we do build relationships with the faithful and help youth grow in to healthy adults.
Tillamook Mission – Trip August 11-18
Open to all youth entering 7th grade & up (going into 7th – leaving 12th). Every year we take a group of youth to Tillamook, Oregon, to help Habitat for Humanity. We do various service work for Habitat, the church, and other local service organizations. This is an excellent opportunity for youth to live out their faith in service. We spend the week not only serving but talking about why we serve and what God teaches us about service. This trip is open to friends as well.
Cost $325
School Year Schedule for Middle School and High School:
Sunday Mornings
Confirmation 7th-9th Grade meet 11:00 am Sundays. To learn more contact Terry Baird ([email protected]).
High School Sunday School- Sunday Mornings 11:00 am.
Confirmation/ Middle School (7th-9th)
What is Confirmation?
Confirmation is a man-made practice or “rite” in which a person publicly admits (or “professes”) his/her faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Confirmation at FLRB is a 3 year program usually starting in 7th grade with youth being confirmed in June of their 9th grade year. Confirmation focuses on the learning of important Bible stories, aspects of the Christian faith such as prayer, service and learning about what makes us unique as Lutherans including the small Catechism. The confirmation program is a time where youth learn about and explore their faith so that they can stand in front of the congregation and proclaim their faith. At the end of confirmation they are considered full members of the church.
Confirmation as Part of Faith Formation
Discipleship – Discipleship is the practice of digging into the Scripture and spiritual practices that Jesus taught us.
Confirmation Expectation:
Confirmation instruction – Youth should not miss more than ¼ of classes in a regular year that is about 8 classes a year. Class will be Sundays at 11:00 am for fall of 2022.
Fellowship – God created us to be in relationship, a key part of our faith are the friendships that we have with others.
Confirmation Expectation:
Youth Group – The friendships and bonds that are created in youth group are just as important in faith development. So much of the things that we learn that stick are ones that are tied to experiences. Youth Group is a time where youth experience God’s love and grace. Youth group will be at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays.
Worship – Worship is a verb it is part of what we do. It is an active part of our faith.
Confirmation Expectation:
Worship notes – Worship is a verb it is part of what we do. It is an active part of our faith. Worship notes are designed to help students are expected to attend Church Services. Students should strive to be in worship each week to that end, students are expected to turn in worship notes for each year. Notes must be fully filled out. Worship note will be filled out on google forms.
Service – God loves us and therefore we love others. We show our love for God through our love for others.
Confirmation Expectation:
Outreach Projects / Service hours – Youth will be expected to complete service hours each year. Service hours cannot be fundraisers. Service hours can be done with the youth group or outside of church. Service hours include: Hospitality teams, vbs, mission trips, service events and more. Youth will need to fill out a form in order to keep track of the service hours.
7th Grade – 5 Service Hours
8th Grade– 10 Service Hours
9th Grade– 15 Service Hours
Total: 30 Service Hours
Other Confirmation Expectations:
- Personal Creed Statement of faith – Every year of confirmation students will write a faith statement. This statement will be based on their experiences and knowledge of faith and God. The last year of confirmation they will read all or a portion of this during the service.
- Retreats – Most years there is both a fall and spring retreat. Youth should plan on attending both. However this year there may not be any. We may try to find an alternative. The spring retreat is where we put a lot of time into faith statements and planning the confirmation service.
- Confirmation Worship Service – Each year the youth in confirmation are expected to help plan and lead this service.
- Mission Trips – There is so much faith development that happens organically on mission trips that just can not be replicated in anyway. Every youth should strive to attend at least one mission trip. We offer a trip to Tillamook OR to work with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations.
Youth Group
Youth group consists of games, service projects, worship, and small group bible study. Activities that we have done in the past include, Fear factor night, Family Feud, bowling, ice skating, Pump it up, photo scavenger hunts, making blankets for Children’s hospital, and much more. This is a great time for youth to continue to have a place in the congregation that is theirs.
Mission trips / Youth events
Each summer, both the middle school and the high school youth have opportunities to participate in a mission trip. The middle school youth serve somewhere in our region. The high school youth alternate between a mission trip within the USA and one out of the country.
Throughout the year, all the youth have opportunities to participate in youth events. These events range from retreats and a “lock-in” sponsored by our church, to events put on by other organizations. These events offer opportunities for the youth to bond with each other, with the adult sponsors, and with other Christian youth.