FAITH STEPPING STONES

Faith Stepping Stones is child and parent education that goes from the cradle to high school graduation. There are eight steps along the way as we encourage and equip parents to be the primary faith mentors to their kids.

Stones:

St. Andrews runs all eight stepping stones each year. Be sure to watch the church newsletter or bulletin for dates of each class or contact Tracy the Director of Family Ministry.

1)      Raising a Healthy Baby (Parents of infants)

2)      Raising a Healthy Preschooler (Parents of preschoolers)

3)      Entering School (Kindergarten families)

4)      My Bible (2nd & 3rd grade families)

5)      Livin’ Forgiven (5th grade families)

6)      Surviving Adolescence (6th grade families)

7)      Confirmation (8th grade families)

8)      Graduation (Senior high school families)

Going through the stones and participating in the Faith 5 every night in the home will help parents and kids build stronger relationships with each other and with God.
What is the FAITH 5? There is a simple faith practice built into the core of Faith Stepping Stones. It is called the FAITH 5, or Faith Acts In The Home. The FAITH 5 connects church to home, faith to life, and parents to kids in a powerful way. The five steps of the FAITH 5 are:

One: Share highs and lows. Name something good and bad you experienced today. Can't think of a personal one? Check out the headlines from the news and teach empathy and compassion for the broader world.

Two: Read a verse from your Bible. Choose a verse covered in Worship, Sunday school, small group, a devotion, etc.…

Three: Talk about how the verse relates to highs and lows. Unpack the verse a bit. What does it mean in your own words? How might it relate to where you are today in your highs and lows?

Four: Pray for one another's highs and lows, for your family, and for the world. Simply talk to God, thank Jesus for the good, and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in specific problems.

Five: Bless one another. Trace the sign of the cross on one another's forehead or palm as a reminder that you belong to God and to one another.

For more information on Faith Stepping Stones click HERE

Nursery:

The Church Nursery, located in the entryway of the church sanctuary, is open every Sunday morning for all three worship services for children under the age of 3.  We ask that parents sign their child(ren) in and out of the nursery and label any personal belongings. We also have a pager system, which allows parents to be paged back to the nursery if their child needs them.

Worship Bags:

There are worship bags behind the last pew in the church sanctuary for children to use during the service. These bags include coloring pages, crayons, books, and more.  Pick out a bag each Sunday and then return it when the service is over so it can be used again and again.

Sunday School

Kids need a vital and living relationship with Jesus, and need to grow weekly in their faith. Sunday school classes are for children ages 3-fifth grade. Sunday school is highly relational and uses small group and large group settings.  Children start in Worship with their family and are released to Sunday school after the children’s message.

Each week children hear a new Bible story from their teachers and do projects and activities to help remember the message. We continue to collect a special offering each week to help out different groups such as Heifer Project and Habitat for Humanity. Children are encouraged to bring friends to Sunday school each week. And by the way…it's fun for everyone!

Preschool:

Our preschool class is designed for children ages 3-4. Our loving volunteers will provide age-appropriate activities for your children that will help them learn that we love because God loves us.

Elementary:

Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade will participate in small and large group activities, which include a Bible story, singing, crafts, dramas, games, and more. Children will learn who God is, everything we have comes from God, and the Word of God )the Bible) is true.

4th & 5th Graders:

Our 4th & 5th graders have a class all of their own where they cover different topics that kids their age deal with each and everyday. The Bible is the guide as students learn things like how to be a good friend, how to be responsible, how to live for Christ in their daily lives, and so much more.

Registration:

To register your child(ren) for Sunday school please click HERE for the registration form you can complete, then mail, fax 209-957-1887, email, or drop off to the church office. Thanks!

Offering:

This year the Sunday school students are collecting an offering for a program called “Lutheran Malaria Initative.” This is a program to mobilize U.S. Lutherans in the global effort to eliminate malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. The money we raise this year will be used to purchase medicine and bed nets, as well as provide scholarships for students going into the medical profession in Africa. 

We hope to raise over $2400 this year for this program, which will help over 200 families! Will you help us in our effort?

Guests:

Visitors are always welcome at Sunday school. Kids will start out in Worship and then head off to Sunday school following the children’s message. After Worship parents walk over to the education building following the yellow brick hallway down to the classrooms where children can be picked up. Guests and visitors will be asked to fill out a short registration form found in the church entryway or from your child’s Sunday school teacher.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a week long Bible adventure for children ages 3yrs through 8th grade (child care is provided for children 6-36months). VBS is the 3rd full week of July and runs Monday through Friday from 5:30-8:15PM. Dinner is included in each of the five nights. Children have a blast at VBS as they learn about God through songs, stories, crafts, games, dramas, and more.

Don’t forget to join us the Sunday following VBS for a family celebration! Families join us for Worship, a picnic lunch, and fun afternoon of crafts and activities.

Volunteers:

We have fun energetic and loving volunteers that work with all ages and some that even work behind the scenes planning, prepping, cooking, and cleaning. Volunteers have a short training meeting the Sunday prior to the start of VBS each year. If you would like to volunteer to help out with VBS please contact Tracy the Director of Family Ministry.