MEDICAL RELEASE AND PERMISSION FORM

Name of Participant (please print) __________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number _______________________________________________________________________

I give __________,_____my permission to attend the__________________________________________

Teen’s Physician Name ________________________________________________________________

Teen is allergic to:

Please list any restrictions on exercise:

Does your child have any special needs or problems? If so, please list:

Is your child on regular medication? If so, please list the drugs, dosages and any instructions:

Please note that no drugs are to be brought to youth events other than those listed above.

RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS

In consideration of being accepted by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, North Wales for participation in youth ministry events,

I (we) do for myself (ourselves) and on behalf of my child/participant do hereby release, forever discharge, and agree

to forever hold harmless St. Peter’s Lutheran Church employees, and agents thereof, from any and all liability, claims and

demands for personal injury, sickness and death, as well as property damage and expenses of any nature whatsoever which

may be incurred by me or my child/participant resulting from said child’s participation in events sponsored by St. Peter’s

Lutheran Church, including travel, recreation and all associated activities.

Further, I (we) (and on behalf of our child/participant under 18 years of age) hereby assume all risk of said personal

injury, sickness, death, damage and expenses as a result of participation as above set forth. I also understand that staff and

volunteers are not responsible for the administration of prescribed medication and I (we) have made private arrangements for

any medication taken on a daily schedule by my child/participant.

I (we) am (are) the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of this participant, and herby grant my (our) permission for him/her

to participate fully in said youth events, and herby give my (our) permission to take said participant to a doctor or hospital

and hereby authorize medical treatment, including, but not limited to emergency surgery or medical treatment, and assume

responsibility of all medical bills incurred by my child.

I (we) give permission for my child to receive over the counter medication such as Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol and the

like.

Mother’s signature:___________________________________ Phone:__________________ Date: __________

Father’s signature:___________________________________ Phone:__________________ Date: __________

Guardian’s signature: _________________________________Phone:__________________ Date:__________

Emergency contact: __________________________________Phone: _________________ Date: __________

Name and address of insurance company ______________________________________________________________

Member # _________________________________ Group # ___________________________________________

St. Peter’s Ministries 2013-2014

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church ♦♦♦♦ 211 South Main Street ♦♦♦♦ North Wales, PA

215-699-4604 ♦♦♦♦ www.stpetersnorthwales.org

Pastor’s Message

Who’s Who in Youth & Family Ministry

Family Ministries

(Includes upcoming events, Spark, Nursery and Summer Camps)

Teen Ministries

(Includes SNAC, Confirmation and St. Peter’s Rocks Youth Group

Adult Ministries

(Includes Adult Forum, B.A.S.I.C., Stephen Ministry and Social Ministries)

Music Ministry

Forms

(SPARK Registration, Youth Group Permission Slip)

Table of Contents

St Peter’s Lutheran Church 2013-2014 SPARK Registration

Student’s Name:___________________________________________

Birth date:_____________________________ Age:________ Current Grade: _____________

Allergies or Medical Concerns:

____________________________________________________

Parent(s)/Guardians: ___________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

Home Phone: _____________________________ Cell Phone: _________________________

Emergency Contact: _____________________________ Phone: ________________________

Siblings:_____________________________________________________________________

Please check all of the following that apply.

I would be willing to…

___Substitute for a teacher ___Help with Christmas Eve play

___Help plan and coordinate events ___Lead a children’s sermon ____Take pictures

E-mail address: ___________________________________________

_______ I would like to go green by receiving the SCS newsletter by e-mail.

Women’s Ensemble: All women from the adult choir and any other women from the

congregation that would like to join us. This group meets periodically and performs three to

four times throughout the year.

Our Bell Choirs include:

Rainbow Ringers: For grades four through seven. This group meets Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.

God’s Misfits: For grades eight through adult. This group meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

St. Peter's Belles: An advanced choir of adult women. This group meets Wednesdays at 6:15

p.m.

A downloadable St. Peter’s Belles brochure is available on the church website

(www.stpetersnorthwales.org).

…But wait, there’s more!!

Faithful Noise: The Contemporary Band meets on Tuesday nights This group performs at

our Contemporary Worship service which is held once a month at the late service. We are

always looking for additional players for guitar, drums and piano and additional vocalists of

all ages.

Liturgical Dancers: The newest group to be added to St. Peter's Music Ministry is our

liturgical dancers. This is a group of girls between the ages of 9 and 16 who perform during

the service three to four times a year. Rehearsals are usually held Tuesday afternoons at 5:30

p.m. for the five weeks prior to their performance.

For additional information please contact Liz Allen, Music Director at St. Peter’s Lutheran

Church 215-699-4604 or at home at 215-699-5648.

Dear friends, parishioners and people of our community!

This is the third annual edition of our Ministry Calendar. We know that many

families have tight schedules and multiple commitments throughout the school year.

As a father of three school age children, I know from our own experience. We hope

this helps you in your planning and structuring of weekly activities. May it also

entice you to explore something new, one of the many opportunities that our church

provides for you to grow in faith.

Again, there are a number of exciting changes on the horizon as we begin this new

season at St. Peter’s. This year, 2013, we have added Stephen Ministry to our

portfolio. We look forward to serving and supporting people who are going through a prolonged time of

hardship, lending them a listening ear and walking the difficult road with them in the spirit of Christ. Several

Stephen Ministers have been in training through the summer and will be ready by fall to enter active ministry.

Our Sunday children’s program has received a SPARK. It will look a little bit more like a weekly VBS.

Children will explore a biblical theme for one full month and do so through various media and creative

teaching approaches, including drama, arts and crafts, computers and more. The program will again be

offered during the later church service, at 10:00 a.m.

Our teen nights, "SNAC," will be offered every third Sunday night, led by a team of passionate teen leaders.

This fall we will host a big North Wales Youth Night, hopefully with the young people of St. Rose of Lima,

Sanctuary Methodist and the Episcopal Church of the Messiah.

Adult Education will take place both at church and in people's homes. The home series "B.A.S.I.C." offers

again a variety of interesting themes on Thursday or Friday nights. They are held once a month in someone's

living room. Adult Forums are scheduled on Sunday mornings at church parallel to the 10:00 a.m. service in

the parlor. They are not held every Sunday, so please follow the schedule.

Finally, we would like to increase our ability to strengthen and equip Christian families. We are in the

process of opening up a new part time staff position for Family Faith Formation. We believe that it is

necessary, now more than ever before, to help bring the gospel back into people's homes and lives, to reach

out to family starters with little Christian background, helping them with resources, ideas and encouragement

to form a Christian life style. This is about serving Christ in our age; it is also about the strength and future of

the church. May this booklet be a blessing and resource to you!

Pastor Andreas Wagner

Who is who in Youth and Family Ministry at St. Peter’s

(You will find there are many others, but these are some of the movers and shakers of youth and family

ministry at St. Peter’s)

Robin Alderfer, Youth Group activities

In her professional life a registered nurse, in her private life a wife and mother of two grown

daughters, Robin has been involved in the Youth and Teen Ministry at St. Peter’s for well over

ten years. She is also one of the most active youth lay leaders in our synod. As a veteran youth

worker, Robin has survived countless lock-ins, retreats and service trips, and the amazing thing

is: she still loves it! She has gone with our kids to events in Florida, South Dakota, New

Orleans, San Antonio and elsewhere. Once a month is youth group time with Robin after the

10:00 a.m. service.

Brian Brenfleck, Youth and Family Ministry

Brian has been the leading force in the formation of our Youth and Family Team. Brian has a

real passion for the church, for Christ and for ministry among youth and families. He and his

wife Sharon have two teenage children themselves. Brian also serves as church council

president; he is a deacon and has been a core leader of Vacation Bible School.

Liz Allen, Music Director

Our Music Director Liz Allen loves working with children and keeps them involved in the

music ministries and worship life of the church. She also has a special knack for kid-oriented

parties and events (Halloween, etc.), works with the Liturgical Dancers and is a big part of

Vacation Bible School.

Joy Jacobson, Director of Christian Education, Nursery through 6th grade

Joy is the director of our SPARK (St. Peter’s Kids) program and directs the annual Vacation

Bible School. Having grown up with a strong Lutheran family heritage, Joy loves the church

and has a deep commitment to Christian Education. She works with all the children from

cradle to 6th grade on a weekly basis. Joy has a B.A. in Psychology from Gettysburg College

and a Masters degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in math from Temple

University.

Penny Gerace, Teen Ministry

“As a life long Lutheran I have had (and still have) times where the help and

support of others in my congregation has helped me through some challenging

concerns and questions. As a homeschooling mom of two teens, I get to enjoy

the energy, enthusiasm, and fascinating perspectives that my children bring

into my life. I look forward to being part of SNAC where I will have the

opportunity to combine being part of a supportive learning environment as

well as to enjoy the energy, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives that this great

mix of age groups is sure to bring.”

Social Ministry

Thrift Shop and Social Ministry

St. Peter’s Thrift Shop has been in existence since 1991. It was started by the women of St. Peter’s as

a financial and in-kind support for Nehemiah’s Way, a ministry that helps women and children in

abusive situations. Today, the St. Peter’s Thrift Store supports Nehemiah's Way, Silver Springs Martin

Luther School and Home, Ken-Crest Development Centers, Laurel House and Manna on Main Street

as well as other local women's and children's charities.

The Thrift Shop is located on Main (Sumneytown Pike) and Church Streets. The entrance is at the

basement rear of the Education Building off of 2nd Street. There is plenty of free parking in the

church lot. Contact Colleen or Amy at Tel: 215-699-4604 extension 20;

Email: Thriftshop@stpetersnorthwales.org

OPEN - Wednesdays 9:30 - 4:30 and Saturdays 9 - 1, starting September 11

Donations of women and children’s clothing, household items and toys are accepted during shop

hours and Mondays at 10 - Noon.

St. Peter's organizes many other events to support people in our community, such as: year-round

Food Drive for Manna on Main Street, Pie Days for Silver Springs Martin Luther School, service

trips to the Philabundance Food Bank, Habitat projects, etc. Stay tuned through our website!

Music at St Peter’s

St. Peter's Music Ministry is a very active and vibrant part of our church family. The various musical

ensembles participate in Sunday morning services in a rotating schedule to enrich and enliven our

meaningful worship. All groups meet for rehearsal on a weekly basis September through the middle

of June. During the summer, we have special instrumentalists, vocalists and ensembles participate in

the service. Our annual jazz service, led by Rev. Ed Neiderhiser, is one of our special highlights.

Wednesday rehearsals will begin September 4, 2013. Tuesday rehearsals will begin September 10,

2013.

Our Vocal Choirs include:

Cherubs: Children in kindergarten, first, second and third grades. This group meets Tuesdays from

5:00-5:30 p.m.

Girls Ensemble: Girls in fourth through twelfth grades. This group meets Tuesdays at 6:15p.m.

St. Peter's Adult Choir: Adults of every age. This group meets Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m.

solutions that Mead writes about in his books.

Friday, March 14 "The Most Difficult Commandment" Gross residence What is the most difficult commandment? Probably, we all have different perspectives and opinions about

that, but there will be one particular commandment that we will talk about on this night. All right, we will lift

the suspense here: "Do not fear!"Few statements are as consistently emphasized throughout the Bible, from

the Book of Genesis through the Revelation of St. John. Of course, we still fear and live in a fearful age. On

this B.A.S.I.C. Night, you will hopefully be inspired to acknowledge and overcome fears. But this will not

be a therapy session!

Thursday, April 10 "A Night With the Rabbi" Location TBD We have invited Rabbi Joshua Kalev from Tiberet Beth Israel (TBI) in Blue Bell as our special guest for this

night. TBI is a conservative synagogue and Rabbi has a number of scholarly interests. On this night he will

share with us some of his favorite passages in the Jewish Talmud and their meaning for Jewish life and

spirituality. The Talmud is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and contains the voices and views of

thousands of rabbis on a number of subjects. At St. Peter's, we encourage people to learn about and from

other religions. This will be a night dedicated to broadening our horizon.

Friday, May 9 "Opening Scripture with Pastor Ed Neiderhiser" Allen residence It is always interesting, entertaining and enlightening to hear Pastor Ed speak about the Bible, especially the

Old Testament. He has an amazing knowledge of Scripture and way to explain it in terms people can

understand. Don't miss this night!

The Stephen Ministry

The mission of our Stephen Ministry is to equip, send and support lay people in carrying

Christ’s healing love to those who are experiencing life’s challenges.

Stephen Ministers are lay people—Christian men and women—trained to provide one-to-one

care to people experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or

terminal illness, relocation, or separation due to military deployment.

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life. Their commonality? A passion for bringing

Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.

Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 11,000 congregations and other

organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers.

A Stephen Minister begins a caring relationship when he or she is matched with a person

experiencing a life crisis. The Stephen Minister then meets with that person on a weekly basis

to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. The caring

relationship lasts as long as the person is in need of care. If you or someone you care about

would like a Stephen Minister, or if you would like to explore the opportunity to become a

Stephen Minister yourself, please contact St. Peter’s church or one of our Stephen Ministry

leaders:

Laurie Kane at (215) 368-4259 BLKANE979@VERIZON.NET or

Rebecca Ledder at (610) 766-1903 REBLED13@GMAIL.COM

Additional information about and testimonials can be found at www.stephenministries.org

Jackie Botto, Teen Ministry

"I enjoy working with kids and teens mostly because it feels like I

was one myself not too long ago! I think I can relate to current

challenges growing up as a Christian, and I hope to share my own

experiences and insights to help along the way."

Andy Baker, Teen Ministry

“I am looking forward to working with SNAC this year so much! I know that my

time in Lutheran churches (and St. Peter's in particular) have been so important

to becoming who I am today, and I hope it can be a place where everyone can

feel like they can be themselves. I love the chance to talk to people, especially

youth who can have such amazing insights and be so funny! Life moves

exceedingly fast today, and conversation with each other is a chance to slow that

down and "consider the lilies."

Pastor Andreas Wagner

The Pastor is very involved with the youth, as he runs confirmation classes and often engages teenagers in

creative plays at church to deepen their understanding and help visualize biblical stories, bringing them to life

in a contemporary context. He also teaches First Holy Communion Classes to the 4th graders and enjoys being

in touch with the young people at church. The Pastor is a big proponent of youth retreats and intergenerational

service events.

Upcoming Events

September 8: Rally Day—Lots of activities on Rally Day, see website and church

announcements.

September 15: Dedication of the historic vault of the Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk in the cemetery,

6:00 p.m.

October 5: October 5 is the date for our annual Oktoberfest, which will take place in the

context of North Wales Community Day. Lots of food, drink and music will be available at our

site, ecumenical worship and children’s activities in Weingartner Park. Food and drinks will be

available from 12:00 noon—7:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s. Come and join us!

October 6, November 3rd and December 1: Family Service at 10:00 a.m.

October 19: Concert by Jeff Bance and friends, benefiting St. Peter’s, 7:00 p.m.

November 3: North Wales Youth Night, 5:00 p.m.

November 10: Consecration Sunday

November 23: Afternoon for our Seniors, 3:00 p.m.

December 8: Children’s Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors. Time TBD

December 15: Annual Christmas Caroling Event

December 24: Christmas Eve Services at 6, 8 and 10 p.m.

January 26: Annual Congregational Meeting

January 31: Family Bowling Night Hit the lanes with your St Peter’s friends!

Season of Lent: Secret Pal Program Secret Pal is a wonderful intergenerational activity that

just celebrated its 21st year. Small Pals in grades 1-6 get to know everything about their Big

Pal (this could be you!) through weekly letter writing. The program culminates with a big

party and a big “reveal.”

More updates

For more updates and information of events, please pay attention to Pastor’s weekly email

messages. If you are not receiving them yet, please contact Ted Riesz at

Support@stpetersnorthwalesorg.

For our young families: Sunday Nursery Care at St. Peters

It is often challenging for parents with young children to attend worship, let alone experience

some peace. We encourage our young parents to take advantage of our Nursery Service during

the 10:00 a.m. service.

Nursery Care is available for young children up to the age of first grade. From September

through June our nursery, located in the Christian Education Building, is staffed by volunteers

during the 10:00 a.m. service. All volunteers, age 18 and above, have appropriate clearances.

We will happily assist anyone wishing to volunteer in obtaining these clearances. In addition,

our Nursery Staff is assisted by “helpers” (teens who are not yet 18). During the summer our

parlor doubles as the nursery on an “as-needed” basis. A nursery committee meets 2-3 times a

year to help keep the program running smoothly. For additional information or to add your

name to our list of volunteers, contact Joy Jacobson at St. Peter’s Church at

DCE@stpetersnorthwales.org

Also, Busy Bags are available for use during all services. These bags contain activities for

young children who are too old for the nursery but need a little something to help pass the

time. Simply return them to their original location after use.

Nov 17: Life you’ve always wanted, Ortberg Series II (Laurie Kane)

Dec 1: Life you’ve always wanted, Ortberg Series III (Laurie Kane)

Dec 8: Ruth and Naomi (Jamie Nouri)

B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers & Sisters In Christ)

BASIC offers an informal setting for conversations about God and the Bible. Hosted in

various homes of our church members, B.A.S.I.C. meetings are meant to bring people

together around our Book of Faith in a setting that is conducive to fellowship and sharing.

There will be refreshments offered by the hosts. Each study will be led by one or two

leaders.

Friday, September 20: "Walk the Line" Nguyen residence It is not always easy in life to "Walk the Line" or live according to God's will. What is the will of God for my

life anyway? On this opening night of B.A.S.IC., we will talk about the various things that tend to throw us

out of balance. The Johnny Cash movie "Walk the Line" will be our theme movie and serve up occasional

illustrations.

Friday, October 25: "The Virtues of Failing" Quici residence There is tons of motivational literature out there about the virtues of failing. It seems like every successful

person had to fail first in so many ways. Therefore, this session could also be called, "The virtues of

persistence." Do we learn from our mistakes? Do we get discouraged? The ability to come back and try again

is anchored in our spiritual identity and the belief that we are meant to do something meaningful and succeed

at it.

Friday, Nov 22: "Talk Between the Generations" Simons residence They are called the baby boomers, Generation X, Millennials, etc. They all have slightly different

perceptions of life, the world, God and church. On this night we are inviting representatives from different

generations (including you!) to engage in a conversation about a variety of topics. Needless to say, this

session is meant to stimulate dialogue and understanding between the generations. Church is a great place to

do that!

Friday, January 10: "The Feminine Side of God" Bance residence The “Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown made the often uneasy relationship between the Christian Faith and the

feminine side of God a popular topic. Technically, theologically speaking, Christians do not assign gender to

God. Yet our God terminology is traditionally male dominated, just think of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” If

God created us into his image (Genesis 1) and if God created us male and female, surely there must be a

feminine side to God as well. Ironically, (this is your pastor speaking!), I believe that the Christian church

has emphasized the “female” qualities of God much more than the more aggressive male qualities in recent

times. Interesting stuff!!!

Thursday, Feb 6: "The Once and Future Church" Tex Mex Connection In 1991, "The Once and Future Church" by Alban Institute founder Loren B. Mead created an instant

sensation in congregational circles with its prophetic insights into the mission of the church in a post-

Christendom era. Still often quoted and in demand, the book is nevertheless not very well known among

most church members. On this B.A.S.I.C. night we will present some of the themes, challenges and

Some St. Peter’s Rocks Dates for 2013/2014

September 8 Youth Group

October 11 Junior High Gathering

October 13 Youth Group

October 18 Dorney Park Haunting Night

October 20 Laurel House 5 k

November 10 Youth Group

November 22 Catching Fire Movie Night lock in

December 1 Advent Bake Sale

December 8 Advent Bake Sale/Youth Group

December 15 Advent Bake Sale

December 22 Advent Bake Sale/ Christmas Party

February 22-24 Senior High Youth Gathering

April 26 Helping Hands Day

Adult Education and Ministries

(There is something for everyone!)

There are two main options for Christian Adult Education at St. Peter’s. On many Sundays,

there is an Adult Forum in the parlor during the 10:00 a.m. service (see schedule for the fall

below). The themes are diverse and relevant to contemporary issues. Also once a month, a

BASIC home gathering is provided at one of our parishioner’s homes where Christian topics

are discussed in a comfortable and homey setting that also encourages fellowship.

Contact: Pastor Wagner Pastor@stpetersnorthwales.org

Adult Forums on Sunday mornings at church

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Sept 22: Immigration in the Bible (With Linda and Bill Hubler)

Oct 6: Immigration in politics and church statements (Linda and Bill Hubler)

Oct 20: Immigration as people experience it. (Linda and Bill Hubler)

Nov 3: Life you’ve always wanted, Ortberg Series I (Laurie Kane)

The Wild Days of Summer 2014

Not all the camp dates are fully confirmed yet, so please pay attention to our website or other

church announcements. VBS is an evening program, the other camps are day camps. Here is

the most likely camp schedule for the summer of 2014:

Vacation Bible School 2014: July 20 - 24

Art Camp 1 (K-2nd grade): July 28 - Aug 1

Art Camp 2 (3rd—6th grade): Aug 4 - Aug 8

Drama Camp (7th - 12th grade): Aug 11 - Aug 15

Vacation Bible School (VBS)

VBS is held each summer during the third or fourth week of July, Sunday through Thursday

evenings. At St. Peters, it is a week full of fun and creative touches for children in Preschool

through 6th grade. A family meal is served at the beginning of each evening that is followed by

lessons, crafts, skits, videos, music, and lots more.

Likely date for 2014: July 20-24 (To be confirmed)

Contact: Joy Jacobson at DCE@stpetersnorthwales.org

SPARK - St. Peter’s Kids

SPARK is our new Sunday children’s program held at 10:00 am. Using the Augsburg Fortress

SPARK Activate Faith multi-sensory teaching curriculum, children study a different theme

each month as they rotate through centers including art, computer, cooking, creative drama,

Bible skills and games, music, science, and video. The pre-k class rotates through centers

within its self-contained room.

Every first Sunday of the month there will be a family service and no SPARK. The rest of the

Sundays in the month the children will be dismissed from the 10:00 am service after the

children’s blessing for SPARK.

Please contact Joy Jacobson at DCE@stpetersnorthwales.org for more information or to

volunteer!

Teen Ministries

SNAC(K) (7th through 12

th grade)

Snac(k) Teen Nights combine hanging out together with some snacks of real food (say:

dinner), education and spiritual elements. Snac(k) Nights are every third Sunday from 5-7

p.m. It stands for Sunday Night At Church.

Teen Nights in 2013/2014:

September 22, October 13, November 11, December 2, January 13, February 3, February 24,

March 17, April 7, April 28, May 19

September 22: "Biblical archeology with Dr. Indiana Jones"

Faith Practice: Study and discover

In charge: Jackie Botto, Penny Gerace

Description: On this opening night we will compare some biblical stories with archeological

findings. The Bible is an old book, and in order to get it you may have to dig deeper... daaa!

To make it fun, we will take a page or two from Dr. Indiana Jones. But please leave your guns

at home!

October 13: Preparing North Wales Youth Night

Faith Practice: Invite, Worship

In charge: Andy Baker, Robin Alderfer, Jessica and Isabelle

Description: We are trying to get together youth groups from all major churches in North

Wales, mainly St. Peter's, St. Rose of Lima, the Church of the Messiah and Sanctuary. This

event will be hosted at St. Peter’s on November 3 and will start with joint worship and a

mixed youth band. Lots more food, icebreakers and things to enjoy together.

November 3: North Wales Youth Night (see description above)

November 24: Rock Climbing Event

Faith Practice: Encourage

In charge: Jackie Botto, Pastor

Description: Hey, we wanted to do this last year and then came the Super Bowl... So we are

climbing way before February this time. We will go to a rock climbing place and encourage

one another to test our agility and strength. You don't have to be a monkey to participate.

May 6: World Religions: Islam I

May 13: World Religions: Islam II

At some point in May we will do a field trip to a Mosque. These arrangements have not been

made yet and may affect confirmation time.

May 20: Connections between Islam and the Christian faith

May 27: TBD

St Peters Rocks

Youth Group is the “event and activities” oriented arm of our Teen Ministry. Together

with the Teen Nights, these gatherings help our young people find their special place in the

church, build strong relationships and develop values that shape their lives.

St. Peter’s Rocks describes their mission in the following way: “Our goal is to help people that

are in need in our community, our country, and our world while having fun and spreading the

word of God.” The Rocks meet once every month after the 10:00 a.m. service with their senior

leader Robin Alderfer to report on recent events and plan new ones. The age requirement for

youth group is 7th grade and older usually ending at 12th grade but college students are

welcome to be a part of youth group as well.

The Rocks do service activities throughout the year that range from cleaning out garages

to painting walls to even repairing houses. Their calendar of activities includes events like Box

City to raise awareness for homeless people and simulate a homeless lifestyle, service projects

with our Synod, a 2 week out-of-state summer project, and a local day project. They also do

small projects like collecting money for children living in poverty in India or collecting socks

for the homeless. In addition to service projects, the Rocks also host movie nights, lock-ins,

retreats, and boys/girls nights out.

Describing their activities, one of the Rocks says: “We go every year to SHYG and

JHYG where senior high and junior high kids meet up with other Lutheran churches in the

area, and every few years to a nationwide Lutheran youth gathering in exciting places like New

Orleans or San Antonio. This trip is only for the members 15 and up and we do a small service

project while there. On our service project trips we work together and help people, families,

and communities that are in need. We spread the word of God through our good actions. The

most rewarding part of this service work is meeting the people who you are helping and seeing

how truly thankful they are plus nothing compares to the feeling of helping others.”

Christmas Break

January 7: Parent/Student Night

January 14: Exercises in Prayer, Meditation and Study

January 17-19: Confirmation Winter Retreat

January 21: The Church, the Body of Christ and how it works

January 28: Night with a special guest

February 4: Stories of Conflict and Reconciliation. What does reconciliation mean?

February 11: Creating a short clip video about reconciliation

February 18: Celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther and his life

February 25: Creating a short clip video about reconciliation

March 4: We prepare for the season of Lent

Throughout the six weeks of Lent, the confirmation class meets on Wednesday nights and

participates in activities offered at church. There will be no Tuesday night classes during that

time.

Wednesday in Lent: March 12

Wednesday in Lent: March 19

Wednesday in Lent: March 26

Wednesday in Lent: April 2

Wednesday in Lent: April 9

Maundy Thursday: April 17

Good Friday: April 18

Easter: April 20

Easter Break

December 15: Hot button Issue

Faith Practice: Study (Discussing Christian Values)

In charge: Andy Baker, Penny Gerace

Description: The world never runs out of issues that need debating and youth usually has its

own take on things. For this night Penny and Andy will come up with a hot button issue and

select a format of how we can shed light on this and discuss it from different angles.

St. Peter’s Confirmation Program

Introduction:

Please look at Confirmation Class as a free educational resource that teaches the Christian

faith to teenagers in a contemporary format. It’s not your grandfather’s confirmation class

with endless repetitions and memorizing. The age-appropriate program offers a variety of

learning experiences. Some of the activities are aimed at their spiritual development

(meditation, writing of prayers, etc.); other sessions are designed to increase knowledge

of the Bible, church history and other faith traditions. There will be experiential activities,

such as service projects and trips, as well as opportunities to discuss faith-based ethics

and morals in various situations. Dissenting opinions are not discouraged for this age

group, as they just start to come into their own and need to find their own faith journey.

We would like to be their guides in that process.

The Five Columns of Confirmation Class:

• Develop Spirituality and Prayer

• Teach the Bible and the main tenets of the Christian Faith

• Raise awareness about church history and the beliefs of others

• Discuss and explain morals and ethics that evolve from our faith

• Experiential learning through service projects and group or retreat experience.

Age Group and Time parameters

Confirmation Class is for incoming 7th and 8th graders, and is an in-depth faith education

designed for the duration of close to two years. It begins in September and ends two years later

in the spring (For example, September 2011 – April 2013). Confirmation is typically celebrated

around Easter time. Every other year a new group is formed. Sometimes, older teens that

haven’t been confirmed yet may join the group as well.

Expectations of students and parents

Worship is an integral part of the confirmation learning experience. We expect students to

participate in worship at a minimum of every other week. They will also be asked occasionally

to assist in worship, as they are able and after being trained, either as acolytes, lectors, worship

assistants, cupbearers or actors/actresses for plays.

Class Participation: We expect that the students and their family treat the participation in

confirmation class as a firm commitment and be there every week. Absences should be

communicated prior to class via email or phone.

The students are expected to gain at least six service credits over this two year span. Many

service options are offered through our youth program on an ongoing basis, including service

days (a few hours) at the Thrift Store, the church cemetery, etc. If they go on a week-long

service trip, it will count as three credits.

Knowing how busy students are these days I generally do not give them homework or texts to

memorize. There are three texts, however that they must absolutely have memorized and know

by heart before they can be confirmed: the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed and the Ten

Commandments.

The students will also engage in one project in preparation for confirmation. This may include

some research.

There will be one or two confirmation retreats when we go away for some time of intensified

study and fellowship. The time and theme of the retreat are to be determined. The retreat is

mandatory and is a very important part of the confirmation journey.

We need the help of parents occasionally for meal preparation, class assistance or as retreat

chaperones. We ask you to help as you are able.

Confirmation Calendar 2013-2014

Confirmation Classes are Tuesday nights, 7:00—8:30 p.m.

September 17: Jesus movie and intro to the life and teachings of Christ

In the first three sessions students will get a thorough introduction into the life of Jesus.

We will watch a movie and study the most important stories of the gospels.

September 24: Jesus movie and intro to the life and teachings of Christ

October 1: Jesus movie and intro to the life and teachings of Christ

October 8: Worship Assistance Training with Mrs. McConnell and team / We prepare

invitations for the senior afternoon.

October 15: The story of Peter

We explore the life of the Apostle that our church is named after and draw life and faith lessons

from that.

October 22: The story of Paul

We explore the life of the great Apostle and Missionary of the 1st Century. Most of the letters

in the New Testament were written by Paul.

October 29: “The Banquet” We work on a (contemporary) play that we want to show about

the parable of the Banquet for the Family Service on Nov 3.

November 5: The story of Martin Luther/ Preparing a senior appreciation afternoon.

November 12: Lutheran Youth Opportunities with a member of the Lutheran Youth

Organization / Preparing senior afternoon

November 19: Final Preparation of our senior afternoon

Saturday, November 23: Afternoon for our seniors

November 26: No confirmation class

December 3: Exercises in Prayer and Meditation

December 10: A visitor from our AA group with talk about the 12 step program.

AA groups meet almost every day here for the tough work of recovery. Their twelve step

program is based on Christian principles we should all know about.

December 17: TBD