St. James strives to be a
congregation that nurtures faith in families! It is our
desire that what is learned here is shared at home: at the
dinner table, at bedtime or while driving in the car. We
offer Sunday morning education (September – May), Day Camp
and other opportunities throughout the year for families.
Read on to find out how you can be involved! If you have any
questions, don’t hesitate to contact Shayna Anderson,
Director of Family Ministry.
Noah's Ark
Nursery
Sometimes the
littlest ones need a place to hang out during worship. We are
committed to providing loving and appropriate care for each
child's physical, emotional and social needs. Nursery care is
for children who are 4 and younger on Sunday mornings and
church-wide special events (if there is a need).
Our nursery
operates on a "well-baby" policy. Please do not bring your child
if any of these symptoms are present: fever, cough, diarrhea,
impetigo, questionable rash, active chicken pox, pink eye,
measles, colored nasal drainage, on antibiotics for less than 24
hours, or any other infectious disease.
Please bring your
child in a clean diaper. Extra diapers and wipes are located
under the sink in the nursery, and changing tables are available
in the adjacent men's and women's restrooms.
9:57 is about
FOLLOWING JESUS!
“I will follow you wherever
you go” – Luke 9:57
(Ages 3 – Middle School)
Sunday mornings from 9:57am until
10:45am (September through May)
Come, follow Jesus with us!
9:57 is more than “Sunday school”: each Sunday is a special
event! At large group, children and youth (parents are
always welcome) learn the week’s theme verse through song,
sign language, skits and art. In small groups with an adult
leader, they go deeper into the theme through arts and
crafts, song, or discussions. Each week is different and
each week is exciting!
Click here for more info
and to download a registration form:
Parent/Guardian Letter
(updated December 2011)
Registration Form
Camping
Ministry
Luther Park: Our
congregation is a member of this beautiful camp located in
Danbury, WI. We have committed to working together with
Luther Park to encourage all to be faithful followers of
Christ. Check out all of the opportunities Luther Park has
to offer on their
website.
Camp Sunday is
coming to St. James on February 12, 2012. Joel Legred,
Luther Park’s director, will be here to talk with you and
answer any questions.
Children and/or families who
register for camp before the end of March 2012 will receive
an early bird discount from St. James! Camp dates and
information are posted here:
http://lutherpark.com/summercamp.htm, AND on the
Children’s ministry bulletin board outside the church office
(January 2012).
Day
Camp 2012
June 25-28
9:00
a.m.-3:00
p.m.
each day, site TBD
St. James, House of
Hope and First Lutheran will once again be
partnering to bring Day Camp to our children and
children in the community at a local park.
Counselors from Luther Park will lead all of the
games, songs, crafts and Bible activities! Age 5
through 5th grade are welcome to join us.
Day camp is offered at no charge to families. Space
is limited so mark your calendar and stay tuned for
registration forms coming in March.
Little Lambs (0-2s and
parents)
We are currently in the
process of re-launching this ministry for the youngest +
parents at St. James. Our first meeting will be Sunday,
March 25 at 9:57 a.m.
in the nursery. We will get to know one another, let the
children play, and explore how we can nurture faith in
our children. Our goal is to meet once a month,
exploring different topics as time allows, and mostly
just connecting with one another! Please RSVP to Amanda
Burns at
aburns@stjamesincrystal.org.
Faith
Milestones
As children grow,
there are many milestones that mark their life: when they learn
to roll, crawl, stand, walk and talk… and get on the school bus
for the first time. Listed below are just a few of the "faith
milestones" we celebrate to mark a child's faith journey.
Child in Our
Hands: Baptism is a special time of
celebration and recognizing all that God has done for us through
his magnificent grace. Parents are recognized as the primary
faith teachers of their children, and Godparents are given a
special role of assisting in passing faith along to the child.
St. James also matches families with Congregational Sponsors, to
encourage an ongoing connection with our faith community. If you
would like more information on baptism, please call the office
at 763-537-3653.
First
Communion: Classes are offered to all ages
during Lent each year. Families explore the Old Testament, New
Testament, and how each of these parts of the Bible relate to
Communion in today's church. Families will celebrate First
Communion together at the Maundy Thursday evening service, just
prior to Easter. For more information contact Pastor Jill
Bergman.
Third Grade
Bibles: Part of the baptismal promise parents
make is that they "will place in their child's hands the Holy
Scriptures." What a wonderfully visible way of passing along
faith! Each year, third grade students receive a brand new
Bible, and then learn about the different parts and books of it
right along side their families.
Other
exciting Milestones events are being planned for 2011-2012. If
you would like to be a part of this planning team, please
contact
Shayna Anderson.
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Looking for ways to nurture faith at home?
It’s
easy to let church do a lot of the work in raising
children of faith. But children spend a lot more
time in the home, making parents and other faithful
adults the primary faith-givers. You need not have a
degree in ministry to pass along faith, just a
faithful heart. Here are some resources that can
help you nurture faith at home:
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