Youth and Family Ministry Team
Mission Statement
The mission of the Youth and Family Ministry Team of Mount Olive Lutheran Church is to plan and oversee the educational, support, and fellowship programs offered to children, youth, adults, and families of Mount Olive.
The basis of faith formation at Mount Olive is the Faith Stepping Stones program. During each of the following “stepping stone” events, we offer instruction to both the child and parent(s) and raise up the occasion during a worship service.
Our Faith Stepping Stones are:
v Baptism -- at any age, following instruction to parents or baptismal candidate with Pastor.
v Entry into Sunday School -- for 3 and 4 year olds offered in the fall.
v First Bible -- typically for third graders following two 1-hour sessions consisting of teaching a brief overview of how the Bible came into being, how to use the Bible, and modeling a family devotion time.
v First Communion Instruction -- typically for fifth graders following a Saturday morning instructional session with Pastor. This is generally offered on the last Saturday before the season of Lent begins, and first communion itself is given during either worship service on Transfiguration Sunday.
v Confirmation Instruction -- a three-year program which is offered typically to sixth through eighth graders. Generally, classes are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of the months during the school year.
v Affirmation of Baptism -- following the completion of confirmation instruction and upon the desire of the student to affirm their baptismal vows, the student affirms their faith publicly during worship on Reformation Day of their 9th grade year.
v Graduate Recognition -- following completion of their high school and/or college education, graduates are called forward during worship and blessed as they make their way into the world.
By no means does this imply that faith formation ends when one graduates high school or college. As adult people of God, we are called to be faithful to hearing the Word of God in worship, through study of the Word, and by sharing our faith within this community and throughout the world. Our faith journeys continue our entire lives.
As we support the Faith Stepping Stones program, we offer many opportunities for adults, youth, and children to explore the world of faith. The core of our faith formation includes Sunday School (ages 0 [parent and child class] through 8th grade) and 2 Adult Forum options (Sundays, 9:15-10:15 a.m., September through May), Vacation Bible School (9 a.m.-12 noon from June 14-18, 2010), and Confirmation (generally for 6th through 8th grade students, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays during the school year).
How can members of the congregation use their time and talents in helping the Youth and Family Ministry Team? First, realize how important it is to have an active faith life. Take home some of the monthly devotional booklets available in the entryway and read your Bible daily! Read either by yourself or to your children from the Bible, share your faith with others, pray for others, worship God and become involved in a faith formation activity such as Adult Forum, Bible Study, Sunday School or Confirmation.
The following describes other areas of service to the Youth and Family Ministry Team, along with a brief description. If you have any other questions, please contact Cindy Dobberke at 968-9592 or cdobberke@wi.rr.com.
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Adult Forum
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Attend and participate in our Adult Education offerings from 9:15-10:15 a.m. during the school year.
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Lectio Divina
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Group meets on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. It means literally, “Divine Reading,” where the Gospel text for the next Sunday is read aloud to the group, and time is allowed for contemplation and sharing.
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Small Group Bible Study
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Currently, there is a small group which meets monthly and uses the study found in Lutheran Woman Today magazine. The group meets at Mount Olive on the second Thursday of each month at 7 pm. Other groups are encouraged to form as interest allows.
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