children, Youth & Family
SUNDAY SCHOOL
We are exploring the Bible with all our senses! There is a great positive energy
humming in the rooms during Sunday School. Thank you to your children and to
you for being part of all the Sunday School vitality.
November Service Project: Baking and decorating Christmas cookies to
distribute to the congregation. These cookies will allow us to share the joy of
Christmas, especially to those who may not have had the opportunity to bake or
share treats at home during the holidays. Preparing something with the intention
of sharing it with another person fosters the idea of gift-giving, the Christmas
tradition rooted in the gift of Christ through His birth as a gift to humanity.
ECHO
Each week, the Parish News insert will include ideas to spark conversations
and connections with children based on what they learned and created during
Echo. We hope you'll explore this unique option for families at the Minnetonka
Campus. Tell us what you think!
Christmas Programs
"Baa, Baa, Moo" 2 years-kindergarten
Sunday, December 9, during
9:15/10:30 am Sunday School
Rehearsals: during Sunday School
Nov. 6-Dec. 4
"Grant us Peace" 1st-6th grade
Sunday, December 9, 3:00 pm
Prelude musicians begin at 2:15 pm –
sign up online to play
5th & 6th grade ONLY rehearsal –
Saturday, Dec. 8, 9:30–noon. Register
online for parts.
Family Sunday School
When the weather turns cold, the youth head to the
kitchen to warm up. We flipped lefse. We roll gooey
cinnamon roll dough. We refill bowls of herring and
coleslaw at the Lutefisk Dinner. Our kitchen events
are a lot of work, but we love them. 1st grade Communion Instruction
November 4 & 11 during Sun. School
Families will gather in the Cinema
during their Sunday School hour and
learn about receiving Communion.
November 18 will be the first graders
First Communion in Worship.
We love the stories that come out while working alongside each other. We love
getting a little messy and sweaty with folks from different generations while
learning about the history and heritage of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. We love
being a part of feeding food to folks in a way that brings rich conversation and
joyful communion. Communion Instruction for all ages:
February 3 & 10, First Communion in
Worship on February 17
Cinnamon Rolls, Lefse making and the annual Lutefisk Dinner are all traditions
that help us feel part of something bigger, different iterations of Bethlehem Youth
Ministry from our past. We are also so appreciative that the proceeds from these
events help keep the cost down for our summer experiences like a service trip to
Chicago, a canoe trip to the Apostle Islands and an immigration immersion to the
San Diego/Tijuana border. Whether it is by rolling out Lefse dough, attending the
Lutefisk Dinner or enjoying a cinnamon roll, we deeply appreciate your support
this holiday season.
Important dates to remember:
November 1 - Down Payment Due for San Diego/Tijuana Trip
November 4 - Cinnamon Rolls
November 14 - Speaker Series- Kevin Lally on the History of Whiteness
November 17 - Lutefisk Dinner
November 18 - Leftover Sales
November 21 - No Confirmation
November 21 - Pie Fest and 3rd floor college reunion
November 25 - Communion Bread Baking (MTKA): 9:30-10:30 am
Soren will meet youth in the kitchen to bake delicious Communion bread for the
month. Come, bring a friend and let’s bake!
December 16, 23, 30 - No Breakfast Club
December 19, 26 and January 2 - No Confirmation
If you would like to get more involved in our youth program, please let us know
at [email protected]! We are always looking for volunteers, chaperones
and mentors! Thank you for your continued prayers and support of our youth
ministry!
Sunday School "Noisy" Offering
We Smash! Bang! Clink! with our
pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters
to crash in the
offering pot in each
classroom. We
also enjoy “quiet”
offering of bills
and checks. Each
month, in response
to what God has given us, we return to
some of what has been entrusted to us.
We give out of gratitude to God.
November: We will donate food and
our coins with our neighborhood food
shelf, Simpson Food Shelf.
December: We sponsor 4 students
through LPGM, providing funds for
shelter, food, clothing, medical care
and school supplies. Children come
from families in India who value
education but cannot provide the kind
of opportunities they would like for
their children.
7