Children and Youth Ministry
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Matthew 19:14 NRSV
At St. Paul’s, we love kids! We love their enthusiasm when praising God, their earnest prayer requests, their hunger to explore Bible stories, their desire to help the less fortunate, and their wide smiles when having fun!
Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry
Children’s Ministry takes place Sunday mornings during the 9:30 am worship service. Every Sunday, children start in worship with their families. On the 1st Sunday of the month, when we hold Feast & Celebration Sundays, kids and youth stay in worship and help as acolytes, lectors, communion assistants and ushers. On other Sundays, after the Children’s Message, kids are invited to class to further explore the Bible Story for the week.
We’ll also often gather in the Fellowship Hall for special activities: GR8 ADVENTure, Secret Pals, Journey Through Holy Week & Easter, Earth Day, God’s Work/Our Hands Day, filling Halloween bags for our community outreach and filling College Care boxes!
Sunday Morning Youth Group
Once a month during the school year, middle and high school youth are invited to take part in Sunday Morning Youth Group during worship. Together, we explore God’s Word, ask questions, and build meaningful connections with one another as we grow in faith.
Check the bulletin or church calendar for upcoming dates.
Family Fun Nights
A seasonal fellowship gathering for young families! Held on a few Saturday nights during the school year. Our evenings include fun large group games, music, dinner and dessert, free time for kids and youth in the Youth Room, and faith conversations for parents with Pastor Bill.
Check the bulletin or church calendar for upcoming dates.
Milestone Events
Let’s be honest…faith beings at home: dinner and bedtime prayers, reading the Bible together, commitment to church activities, serving together and shaping young moral values. It all starts at home! But we are aware that many parents need help with this! The goal of our Children’s Ministry program is to not only provide faith developing activities for kids, but also for parents! We think it’s just as important to empower parents in their job as primary faith educators as it is to provide programs for kids!
WELCOME TO CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
& MY FIRST BIBLE
Held at the beginning of the school year, this open house event welcomes our newest preschool friends and their parents. Each child is given their own Spark Storybible to take home!
Each Fall, St. Paul’s presents a gift Spark NRSV Bible to 3rd graders. Prior to receiving their Bibles, our 3rd graders and their parents spend time with our Director of Children and Youth exploring all the cool features of the Bible, learning about its history and how to look up Bible verses.
3RD GRADE BIBLE EXPLORERS
FIRST COMMUNION
Offered during Lent each year, this milestone event is for 3rd graders or older children who have not previously attended the class. Children learn about the first Passover and its relationship to the Last Supper that Jesus celebrates with his disciples before his death.
St. Paul’s Confirmation Program
St. Paul’s confirmation program is a two-year journey of faith formation that explores the basic teachings of the Christian faith. For most students, confirmation begins in 7th grade and concludes with the rite of confirmation near the end of the second year. In the Lutheran tradition, confirmation is understood as a young person’s affirmation of the promises God made in holy baptism.
During the school year, students learn alongside youth from several local Lutheran churches through classes led by the pastor using a Lutheran confirmation curriculum. Through discussion, activities, worship, and service, students explore both the joys and challenges of living the Christian life.
Confirmation students are also encouraged to actively participate in congregational life by serving as lectors, greeters, acolytes, and helpers in children’s ministry.
Our goal is to help youth grow in faith, discover God’s purpose for their lives, and build meaningful connections within the church community.
God’s Work, Our Hands
Throughout the year, children and youth of St. Paul’s participate in many different types of service projects, learning to do “God’s Work with Our Hands”.
Service Projects
Seasonal service projects have provided Christmas presents for boys and girls living at Silver Springs School, collecting soup for our annual Souper Bowl Day of Caring, bringing in nonperishable items for our Blessing Box, filling care packages for our college students and filling goodies bags for our Halloween Night outreach event.
Mini Summer Work Camps
Each summer we hold a 3-day work camp for 4th – 12th graders. These campers spend their days volunteering with Emmanuel Lutheran’s E-Meal program, Grace’s Closet, Generations of Indian Valley, Zion Mennonite’s Table of Plenty, Keystone Opportunity Center and The Lutheran Community at Telford.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School takes place every summer to the delight of children. We come together for a week-long camp experience that includes upbeat songs, games, crafts, science, Bible storytelling skits and snacks.
This year’s VBS will be held from July 27-30, 2026 at Little Zion Lutheran Church in Telford. If you are interested in getting more information or registering your child, click the link below to be taken to the registration page.