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Capture a child’s heart and their mind will follow. 

As children enter our doors, our primary focus is LOVE.  Experiencing the love that God provides, while feeling connected, helps each child grow spiritually. Once that spirit is captured it becomes easy to see their place in God’s world while beginning to spread their own special kind of love to others.

Vacation Bible School 2023

Be Strong and Courageous for God is with You!

SpotifyApple Music

Listen to all the songs from VBS this year!

Upcoming Events for Children & Families

Sunday School at Southwood

photo: Sunday School student

What does Sunday School look like?

We offer Sunday School at the 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 AM worship hours for children ages 3 years old through 5th Grade. Children first gather in age-appropriate classrooms at the beginning of each hour then join other classes for our Large Group experience. In Large Group we sing songs and tell the Bible story in an engaging style. Back in the classroom we focus on connecting the Bible point of the day with interactive crafts, games and lively discussion.

Sunday School Details

Sunday School Outreach

photo: students at Uswaa English Medium Academy in Tanzania

Sunday School Winter Mission Project

Let's Build a School in Tanzania, Africa!

Our sister church in Tanzania is building a new school for their Uswaa English Medium Academy.  They are currently housing over 300 students ages 3 through 3rd Grade inside the church and a small building nearby.  They are literally holding classes in the choir loft and have run out of room.  The hope is to expand the school so that they can grow up to Grade 6.

Let’s help them build that space so more children can be given the gift of education! Our mission team will be visiting in June and we would love to send them with a generous donation.

Goal: $2,500 
Donate below by selecting the "Miscellaneous Payments" Fund. In the note, please write "Sunday School Outreach".

Donate


Family Serving Opportunities

Bring your family and join the crew to plant the Southwood garden that grows thousands of pounds of produce for the Food Bank of Lincoln on Sunday, April 23, at 12PM. The garden is located on the east side of the church, beyond the parking lot. Bring your gardening gloves and favorite planting tools.

Register Here!

Faith Milestones

Birth

To celebrate these precious gifts from the Lord a pewter crib cross is provided to new parents with a special blessing. We also announce new babies and adopted children in our Sunday bulletin.

1st Birthdays are so special!

Parents will receive a birthday card in the mail around their child's first birthday, congratulating them on this milestone. Parents can bring this card to Education Station to pick up a faith-filled board book to celebrate being a part of God’s family!

2nd Birthday

Parents can mark this milestone by giving their 2-year-old their first Bible. This is a beautiful Storybook Bible that is used in our Sunday School so that children will already be familiar with the stories when they start at age 3.

It’s Sunday School time!

To create an easy and fun transition, 3-year-old’s and their parents are invited on a very special scavenger hunt to learn about the church and the Education area prior to fall Sunday School kick off!

Preschool through Kindergarten First Communion Workshop

We welcome all to Holy Communion and recognize that children of all ages can grow in their relationship with Jesus by communing with their family. By providing a First Communion class created specifically for young children and their parents, a family can make the decision as to when their child is ready to begin communing. Classes are held biannually.

Elementary First Communion Workshop

The conversation continues to introduce young children to Holy Communion with its welcoming message: there's a place for you! Created specifically for Elementary-aged children, this class explores the holy meal by actually making the communion bread, tasting the wine and discovering more about what it means to commune. Classes are held biannually.

3rd Grade Bible Workshop

As children enter the 3rd Grade, a workshop for children and their parents will help them begin to navigate the Bible and all of the beautiful wisdom it inspires. At the completion of the workshop, they are gifted the Colaborate Lutheran Student Bible that we ask they bring with them to Sunday School.

5th Grade Blessing Celebration

On the last day of Sunday School, we will celebrate our graduating Elementary children as they take the next step into Confirmation. Parents are welcome to join us as we will have a special blessing for these children of God!

Faith Milestones

Special Events

photo: students in boat

Vacation Bible School

The best part of the year is the first two full weeks in June - VBS!

VBS Details

photo: advent festival 2022

Advent Festival

Kick off the season of Advent with a festival for kids! 

Advent Festival Details

photo: Summer Children's Message

Summer Children's Message

Although we take a break from Sunday School in the summer, we delight in calling the children up at a special time during Worship. So many things to discuss and delightful children’s thoughts to witness—we all end up learning so much more about our wonderful God!

Latest From Blog

Appreciation for Sunday School Volunteers

September 21, 2022

We are so grateful for all the Sunday school volunteers, but especially those in the special needs Sunday School classroom.  They give our...

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Children & Family Ministry Staff

Deb Raatz

Director of Children & Family Ministry

office: 402-423-5511