Youth Ministry

Catechism Memory Program

In an age in which it is a challenge for students to learn the catechism by heart, Good Shepherd (Toledo) is developing a program that helps encourage kids to stick with it.

Pastor Brad Scott explains the program: “First, we divided each of the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism into smaller units, one assignment per week for most weeks of the school year except holidays. Next, we broke each assignment down into four ‘levels.’”

Weekly assignments were also made to correspond with the tracks of “Sing the Faith,” a CD published by CPH that sets the catechism to music – adding one extra tool that parents can use at home to help the children learn.

Children work through the year at a level appropriate to their ability. After completing that level, they will move up to a higher level the next year, repeating and reinforcing what they learned in the previous level, but also expanding on it.

“But we also wanted something to help keep the kid’s eyes on the goal; so we purchased a ‘badge-a-minit’ ® button maker and some appropriate medallions – like Olympic medals. Using various clip-art resources, we developed a series of six pins for each of the first three levels. The pins for the final level are an even nicer quality, purchased from CPH. Now, as students complete a chief part at their level, they are recognized with a new pin to display on their medallion ribbon.”

Approximately every four to six weeks, students are presented with the appropriate pin for the section and level they have completed. They also receive a coupon they can trade in at the church’s small bookstore. After the recognition ceremony, medallion ribbons are kept on display in a large display case.

Just completing the first year, it is too soon to say how effective the program will ultimately be. It is hoped that, after completing all four levels, students will have a good grasp on the words of the catechism, along with a nice collection of attractive pins, displayed on their medallions, as a memento of their accomplishment. For now, the program has definitely sparked some excitement, and helped students break down a great big task into smaller ‘bites’ – bites that hopefully will help feed them spiritually for years to come.

Petal Pushers 2009

From December 27, 2008-January 2, 2009, nine youth and four chaperones from West Portal Lutheran Church and School in San Francisco traveled to Pasadena, CA to participate in the annual “Petal Pushers” event, hosted by Lutheran Hour Ministries. The West Portal Lutheran youth group joined thousands of other Lutherans from across the nation to decorate the Lutheran Hour float and other commercially sponsored floats for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. The Lutheran Hour float theme for 2009 was “Hallelujah,” and the San Francisco youth were blessed to enjoy many hours of service and Christian fellowship as they worked to proclaim the praises of our wonderful Lord to the nation.

Throughout the week-long trip, the West Portal Lutheran youth group focused on their own theme, “Flowers and Faith,” as they gathered together around God’s Word twice a day for morning devotions and evening bible studies. The “Flowers and Faith” theme encouraged the youth to consider their lives in light of its theme verse from 1 Peter 1:23-24: “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER.’” (ESV)

This wonderfully successful event has fueled West Portal’s growing youth program with valuable energy and enthusiasm, and we thank our gracious Lord for blessing the effort with His safekeeping and lasting benefit. As one youth remarked upon her safe return: “We should do this more often; even the bible studies were fun!”

West Portal Lutheran Petal Pushers at their evening Bible Study, “Flowers and Faith.”

Petal Pushers from West Portal Lutheran Church and School.

West Portal Lutheran Petal Pushers cutting up “straw flowers” for the Tournament of Roses Parade floats.

West Portal Lutheran Petal Pushers enjoying some Christian fellowship after a long day of float decorating.

Youth In Missions

The youth of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland, Michigan are active in local, national and international mission work again this summer through the Youth in Missions program. Deacon Christopher Thoma began this program which consists of a variety of local, national and international services opportunities for the youth in his congregation.

Since the summer of 2003, Deacon Thoma and several high school youth from Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland, Michigan have been traveling to the outskirts of Saint Petersburg, Russia to hold Bible camps for children from local orphanages. What a wonderful opportunity this has been for the high school youth to speak the hope that is theirs in the Gospel of Jesus, participate in the Divine Service with brothers and sisters in Christ from Russia, teach the catechism and build relationships with other Russian youth!

This summer from June 21 to July 6 of 2007, a team of participants will be traveling back to Russia to once again serve His lambs in Russia! This project is the international face of the Youth In Missions program. The local events through this program take place regularly throughout the year and involve such opportunities as working at homeless shelters, serving at a soup kitchen and raking leaves for the elderly. The national opportunities involve participating in one of the LCMS sponsored servant events. This year, the youth will be traveling to North Carolina from July 6 until July 18. Thus far, the international project has been working with the orphans in Russia. For more information, please see the Youth In Missions web page at www.oursaviorhartland.org/youth.