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The church is responsible for the following steps at each developmental stage:

1. Raising an Infant: At this stage, the bond, or focus, between parent and child is singing.  Parents are encouraged to bless their babies every night in every home.  A part of this phase is the child's baptism. The baptism includes the child being blessed by the laying of the hands. Gifting from Lutheran Memorial Church includes a faith chest, a baptismal candle and a blanket to wrap the child in LMC's love.

2. Raising a Toddler: Evening prayers are the key focus at this stage. Once a year, each August, a class will be offered to to those parents with toddlers three years of age. The class will focus on child development -emotional, physical and spiritual-, and faith building.  Parents are encouraged to pray with young children every night in every home. One goal will be to provide support for the parents.

We conclude with the Blessing of the 3 year olds at a Worship service, as they enter our Parish Education Program. This service includes the laying of the hands. Gifting from Lutheran Memorial Church includes a prayer pillow with a prayer pocket to hold the prayers from their educational weekly classes and a "God is Watching" CD so that children may learn Bible verses set to music. 

3. "Beginning Bible" Learners- 1st Graders:  Our focus is now family devotions. Three classes will be held on the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of their children at this stage. Parents are encouraged to share Highs & Lows with their 1st graders every night in every home. One of the classes includes a "read-in" in the Sanctuary sharing the wonderful stories together.  As part of these classes, parents are encouraged to record a message in this Beginner Bible for their child as part of sharing the faith story process. These "Beginning Bible" learners will be blessed as part of a worship service. Gifting from Lutheran Memorial Church is a "Beginner Bible" and bookmark. 

4. "My Bible" - Third Graders:  We will expand the student/parent bible classes.   Three classes will be held on the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of children at this stage. Children and parents will meet together with the pastor during the three class cycle and highlight key Bible verses.  Parents are encouraged to read a "verse a night" from the Bible. As part of these classes, parents are encouraged to record a message in this  Bible for their child as part of sharing the faith story process. The Blessing will include the parents' laying of the hands as a part of this step at a worship service. Gifting from Lutheran Memorial is the Bible that will be used in their classes through 5th grade.  

5. First Communion : Family forgiveness becomes the key at this stage. Again, three classes will be held on the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of children at this stage. Parents are encouraged to teach them an "I'm Sorry" ritual (confession/absolution) to use every night in every home. Their first communion shall be held as part of LMC's Seder Fest.  These families will be recognized at a worship service which will include the laying of the hands.  Gifting from Lutheran Memorial Church will be a hand carved chalice from Jerusalem. 

6. Entering Confirmation: Bonding become the focus at this stage. Again, three classes will be held on the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of children at this stage.  During the 1st class parents  are encouraged to record a message on the back of a locker mirror specifically for their child to continue sharing the faith story. Parents are encouraged to teach them the art of theological reflections each night, relating the Bible verse of the day to their Highs & Lows, asking "What is God saying to us?" and bringing one another's concern to God in prayer.  Students will be blessed in a worship service preceding entry into Confirmation/Middle School which will include the laying of the hands. Gifting from Lutheran Memorial Church will be a locker mirror with a label stating "I see the Spirit of God through you from Lutheran Memorial Church". 

7. Confirmation: Parents focus on being allies with their teens. Parents are encouraged to call youth to a specific ministry in their small group beyond confirmation day. At some point within each three year confirmation cycle, parents and teens are trained in separation. A class, for example, with the title Growing Apart Without Tearing Apart can prepare all involved for what is to come. The pastor and a parenting specialist would be involved at this stage. At the confirmation service, children take responsibility for their own faith and become independent. The parents bless them with the laying of the hands.

8. Graduation: The focus can now turn to the child blessing the parents after the long journey through each stage. A class should be offered to parents in marriage care. The highest percentage of marriage break ups occur when all the children have left the home. People involved include a marriage care specialist and the pastor. The senior recognition service will be expanded to include the final laying of the hands.

As you see, the program provides a consistent support unit to the family atmosphere and supplies a Christian focus to the household. As each stage matures, the children are again reminded of their parents' blessing through the laying of the hands. Throughout the steps, sharing one's own faith story strengthens the bond and builds the faith in the family.

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For ages three years old through grade five, study of the Bible takes place during the school year on Sunday morning  or Wednesday afternoons/evenings. Sunday classes are for children ages 3 years old - 5th grade from 9:35 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.  Wednesday classes are  from 4:00 - 5:15 p.m. for Club 35 (students in grades 3, 4 & 5) and Wednesday evening from 5:45  - 6:45 p.m. (Supervised study and game time is held on Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 - 4:00 for those students waiting for Club 35 classes.)

Children can join a host of others from their own age groups as they learn about the characters and stories of the Bible through song and small group lessons. Children will regularly be providing call to worship at  Sunday, 10:45 p.m. worship services as well as Wednesday 6:00 p.m. worship services. 

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Grades six, seven, eight, nine, and first semester tenth are taking part in an exciting confirmation ministry called small group confirmation. For centuries confirmation has been a time of focused study for young adults as they prepare to "confirm" or affirm the promises made to them in their baptisms. As we at Lutheran Memorial try to walk through a sometimes stressful time of life with these young people, we are using a confirmation structure that allows relationships to be built between teenagers and adults as well as allowing young people to think about their faith. Each confirmation student will become part of a group of six to eight students under the leadership of an adult "guide." Confirmation "guides" will lead studies in the Bible and Luther's small catechism as well as become a trusted person to whom questions can be asked. Confirmation is held each Wednesday during the school year from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. (Students  begin class in the 6:00 worship setting.)

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WELCA Circles
(WELCA stands for Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America)

Eight different women's Bible study groups (called circles) are offered through Lutheran Memorial. Choose from a group that meets once per month or once per week for small group Bible study based on the theme of the year. Choose from morning or evening meeting times --

Once per week:
Afternoon: Each Tuesday afternoon at noon at the church.

Once per month:
Morning: Second Wednesday of each month at 9:30 in members' homes.
Afternoon: Second Wednesday of each month at 1:30 in members' homes.
Evening: Second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 in members' homes.
Third Monday at 7:00 in members' homes.

Men's Morning
Each Wednesday morning from 6:30 to 7:30 men meet to discuss the texts for the coming Sunday. Over breakfast, one of the pastors will lead the group through several Bible texts. This group meets at Chickadily's Restaurant.

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