We can’t wait to have everyone back in the regular routine that the school year brings. We look forward to seeing our Sunday School families on September 8th for the first day of Kids Camp. Kids Camp is new to Salem this year and will run through the end of September. With opportunities for active learning (outdoors when weather permits) focusing on Invitation: Joining God at Work in the World through art, team building games, and storytelling. Kids Camp will begin with the children in worship at 8:30 until 10:45am. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please contact Marsha for ways you may be able to help.
On September 8th, during 8:30 worship, we will also be offering a Blessing of the Backpacks. Learners of all ages are welcome to bring their backpacks to worship for a blessing and recognition that each year (each moment, actually) we have an opportunity to begin again with a clean slate. Thanks be to God for this amazing gift! We hope to see you there. J
All are invited to stay for refreshments following worship on September 8th and spend some time catching up and enjoying being together again. Please plan to join us!
Children grades 3-6 are welcome to stay after Sunday School on the 2nd Sunday of the month to join us for JR Youth Fellowship. We typically meet from 10:45 until noon. Our first meeting will be held on Sept 8th. We usually share highs and lows; the kids take turns choosing a devotion; we pray together; have a snack (kids gotta eat J); we work on projects that are important to us; have some fun playing games (we take our kickball games VERY seriously; enjoy activities (like our Hugs N Cookies project, going to the movies or having a fun day at Blue Harbor); or just hanging out in the youth room. It’s a great time and we LOVE having new friends join us.
During Sunday School on October 6th children in grades 3-6 will be participating in an acolyte workshop to learn how to acolyte and why it’s such an important part of worship. Parents are welcome to join us to observe or to ask questions. Following the workshop, 3rd-6th grade students will bring home a schedule of when they expect to serve as an acolyte for the next 52 weeks. If your child us unable to acolyte on their scheduled day(s), please try to switch with another child (contact information is included on the schedule, and a reminder of the month’s upcoming acolyte schedule is always included in the Chapel Chimes). Thanks for helping your child recognize what an important responsibility they are being entrusted with.
On October 13th all students in 4k and 3rd grade students will receive Bibles that people from our church have donated so that every child in our Sunday School has a Bible that is their very own and is appropriate for their age level. It’s a great testament to how important children are to our faith community at Salem. We also want to make sure children who have joined our Sunday School program for the first time in the past year also have a Bible specifically for them. Please contact Marsha if your child(ren) are in need of a Bible to be sure that we have one just for them on the 13th.
Also on October 13th, Children’s Sabbath will be observed in worship. That is the first opportunity that the children will have to sing in worship and be a very important part of leading worship (they REALLY LOVE leading worship). Please mark your calendars, and plan to be a part of the experience!
We are still in need of volunteers to join our 4k&5k and 1st&2nd grade teaching teams. ‘Regular Sunday School’ will begin on October 6th and we will need to have volunteers in place before then. Please pray about how you can contribute to this vital ministry of the church. Feel free to contact Marsha or Mary Mullen for more details.
Finally, as we begin another year in ministry together, let us be mindful of our call to be the church. In the faith formation ministries at Salem our goal is to help learners of all ages figure out how these ancient stories of our faith relate to what is happening today…. in all of our lives. It’s OK to have questions. It’s OK to not have answers. We are committed to being in community with one another just as we are.
-Marsha
8/25 Ethan Feldner
9/1 Josiah Gundersen
9/8 Haylen Odekirk
9/15 Magnus Blad
9/22 Aubrey Fischer
9/29 Sam Meyer
Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early for worship and see the head usher for assistance if you need help.
If you are unable to acolyte on the day you are on the schedule, please contact someone to switch and notify the office of any changes to the schedule as your name appears in the bulletin
Students entering 7th grade or beyond, who are interested in learning more about the Confirmation process at Salem, are invited to contact the church office for enrollment information.
Classes begin on September 4th at 6:15pm. Please be sure to bring your Bible, a notebook, your signed permission slip for the Lakeland U Confirmation Event, your Confirmation workbook and pen/pencil.
Please be sure to bring your signed permission slip for the Lakeland University Confirmation Event (held on September 25th) with you to class on September 4th. AND note that we will be returning to church at 9pm.
Parents, faith mentors, and friends, know that you are WELCOME to join us at any event or class.
What’s coming up in Confirmation?
Sept 4 Class (6:15-7:30pm
Sept 11 Class (6:15-7:30pm)
Sept 18 Class (6:15-7:30pm)
Sept 25 Lakeland University Confirmation (6:15-9pm)
Oct 2 Workshop (5:30-7:30pm)
Oct 9 Year 3 Mentor Meal (5:30-6:15pm)
Class (6:15-7:30pm)
Oct 16 Class (6:15-7:30pm)
Oct 23 Class (6:15-7:30pm)
Oct 30 Class (6:15-7:30pm)
September 8th in worship
Learners of all ages are welcome to bring their backpacks to worship on September 8th for a blessing and recognition that each year (each moment, actually) we have to opportunity to begin again with a clean slate. Thanks be to God for this amazing gift! We hope to see you there. J
The faith formation ministry at Salem wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers that share their gifts with our children & youth. As we begin another school year, please keep all of our teachers and volunteers in your prayers. And if you have the chance, thank them personally for their ministry to our kids.
Mary Mullen, Jennifer Velier & Hannah Velier, Terry Debbink, Lorena McKerrow, Kay Scheible, Ron Schoenfeld, Anne Hernandez, Rev Hoppert, and Marsha Meyer
There are several vacancies on our Sunday School teaching teams. Please contact Marsha if you think you can be a part of this important teaching ministry.
Salem is gathering a team of volunteers to serve at the mobile food pack at St Paul’s Lutheran church in Falls on October 12 from 11:00-1pm.
All ages are welcome to come and serve.
Please sign up in the Gathering Area to reserve your spot
Our team is limited to 15 for this event; please sign up and commit as soon as possible we’d love to have you on our team!
Sticky Faith, our intergenerational, midweek faith formation ministry dates for the 2019-2020 school year are: October 2 and Jan 22
We will gather at church for a meal and faith formation focus and fellowship from
5:30-7:30pm.
ALL
AGES are welcome! Come alone or with your family, there is something for
everyone. (Children 2nd grade and younger need to be accompanied by
a parent)
Weekend of October 12 & 13
Plan to join us for spirit-filled, youth led worship
Bible Sponsorship
Putting age appropriate Bibles into the hands of our children gives them the opportunity to read and learn the stories of our faith. Children entering Sunday School are given a Family Story Bible. Students entering 3rd grade receive an NRSV study Bible.
Bibles can be sponsored for $20 each.
To contribute to the Bible sponsorship fund, please use the tear off section below, attach it to your contribution and place it in the offering plate. Thank you for your generosity
—————————————————————————
Children’s Bible Donation
□ In Memory of: ________________________
□ In Honor of: ________________________
□ General Contribution
Name: ___________________ Envelope Number: _______
