Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Youth Activities Page

Youth Programs at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Here at Good Shepherd we have a comprehensive youth ministry program that reaches across all ages and strives to incorporate our children and youth into the broader ministry of the church. For us, youth ministry means ministry for our youth, by our youth, and with our youth. Our goal is to help our youth develop a stronger faith by surrounding them with people and opportunities to learn and experience what it means to be a Christian in the world today, with all its challenges and joys, and to know that they are unconditionally accepted in this family of faith.

Here is a summary of the various youth ministry programs we offer:

Splash! (Infants up to 3 years old)

The focus of this group is on supporting and nurturing the parents of our youngest children. Parents and children enjoy fellowship activities throughout the year, such as Parent’s Night Out and our Summer Splash! Party. The theme of this group is “Walking Wet”, celebrating God’s gift of holy baptism. We incorporate materials from the Splash! Cradle Roll program which pairs each child with a congregational sponsor who encourage new parents with monthly parenting newsletters. We also offer small groups and classes on Christian parenting from time to time. Children 18 months – 3 years have their own Sunday School class. The children “graduate” from the Splash! program when they turn 3 years old, although this is just the beginning of our church’s commitment to supporting the child’s life long faith formation.

Young Family Ministry (Children ages 3 yrs. to 2nd grade)

This group shares many of the same fellowship activities with our Splash! group. In addition they enjoy participating in our Advent Family Night, Easter Celebration, Vacation Church School, and children’s Halloween Carnival. Our three – five year olds participate in our “Lambs” choir with music at the beginning of the Sunday School hour. First and second graders begin singing with our children’s choir. We encourage active parent involvement in our activities with this group as we strive to equip parents with the tools they need to pass on the faith to their children. As with all our programs, our goal is to surround these children with the love and support of the entire congregation.

God's Young Followers (3rd Grade - 6th Grade)

By the time children reach this group, they have begun to take a more active role in discovering and expressing their own faith. These kids are active in Sunday School, sing in our children’s choir, assist with worship leadership on special Sundays, participate in monthly organized activities and outings, and attend a yearly youth conference specifically for kids their same age. This is also the age that most children begin their first communion instruction, and have the option of attending summer camp at Lutheridge or Lutherock. The focus of our program for this age is to help young children explore their faith through Bible study, singing, retreats, lock-ins, service projects and other types of group activities that are both fun and formational. We encourage parents of this group to take turns leading and chaperoning events.

God's Young Followers Advisors: Aubrey McKabe and Steven Donaldson

2009 Events:

March 23 - Event Name
May 18 - Event Name

Junior High Youth (Jr. YOGS) (7th & 8th Grade)

For our Jr. YOGS (Youth of Good Shepherd) this is the age when most of them begin our two year confirmation program. Our confirmands attend a week long confirmation camp at Camp Lutherock in the summer, as well as several day long confirmation related retreats. This age group is very active in community service through regular participation in events such as the Souper Bowl of Caring, CROP Walk, Thanksgiving in September, Operation Inasmuch, and making and delivering holiday baskets to our homebound members. Our seventh graders and above have the opportunity to attend graded Lutheran Church Youth winter retreats as well as the annual Lutheran Church Youth convention at Newberry College. These youth also begin taking a regular leadership role in worship by serving as our acolytes and even lectors. Together with our senior high youth, our junior high youth comprise our youth choir, and also lead our annual youth Sunday worship service. This group meets twice a month on Sunday evenings in addition to any special activities we plan.

Senior High Youth (Sr. Yogs) (9th - 12th Grade)

By the time our youth reach senior high, they have been nurtured by a congregation which has walked beside them on their journey of faith for their entire life. Our senior high youth meet twice a month, most often together with our junior high youth. They do have several unique opportunities available to them, such as the senior high Lutheran Church Youth retreats. Every three years our senior high youth are invited to attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Our current group is active in planning and fundraising as we prepare for this summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, along with 35,000 other Lutheran youth from around the country and other parts of the world. Our senior high youth continue to be very involved in community service, as well as participating in fellowship events with other area youth, such as the annual Lutheran Youth Reformation Party, started right here at Good Shepherd six years ago. Since most of our senior high youth have been confirmed, much of our focus is on helping them to better understand what baptismal living as a Christian young adult is all about, what it means to be active in the life of the church, and how to integrate their faith as they prepare for the next stage of their life.

May our God of love and guidance direct your days and your deeds in peace. May the faithful witness you have received at Good Shepherd ever illumine your faithfulness as you venture forth into the next phase of your journey. Go in peace, serve the Lord!