11/30/08

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church offers many educational opportunities through the year for people of all ages – children, youth and adults.  We hope you will join us, as you are able, at any or all of these activities.

Mission Statement

To know Christ and make Him known

through reaching and teaching

our Christian community young and old.

We strive to provide a lifelong habit

of Bible and theological study.

Christian Education for children:

Holy Trinity Church is a place of welcome for the whole family of God.  We especially welcome young people.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come unto me.”  We seek to nurture our children so that they develop a personal relationship with our loving and gracious God, becoming people of faith and disciples of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

          Baptism

          In accordance with the teachings of the Evangelical Church in

America, Holy Trinity Church welcomes all of God’s people to

receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism.  The ELCA practices

infant and adult baptism.  We believe in the waters of baptism

we are reborn as children of God and made inheritors of God’s

kingdom through the redemption of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

If you are interested in the sacrament of Holy Baptism for

yourself or for your child, please speak with Pastor Laustsen.

Cradle Roll

When a child is baptized at Holy Trinity Church their name is

entered into our Cradle Roll.  We maintain contact with all babies

(and their families) baptized at Holy Trinity Church until they

reach age 3.  We want the child and his/her family to remember

how much God loves them and we do too.  At age 3, children are

invited to enroll in our Sunday Church School.

Sunday Church School

Sunday Church School is offered to all children, Holy Trinity members

and friends from the community, at no cost to the families, September

through June.  We offer classes for children age 3 through grade 5 in our lower auditorium during the 10:00 Worship service.  Our SCS program consists of Children’s Worship, music, and classroom time.  We rely on Witness of Life Together curriculums.  There are also many special events for the children throughout the year.  Registration is ongoing throughout the year.  For more information or to register your child, come to the Sunday School Superintendent’s Office.

First Communion classes

Realizing the importance of our sacramental life, an educational program is offered for children age 10 to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time.  If you are interested to learning more about the sacrament of Holy Communion, please speak with Pastor Laustsen.

Vacation Bible School

Every summer for one special week, children come together for fun, learning, crafts, music and play at VBS.  Registration is held during the month of May.  There are opportunities for fun here for adults and youth too.

Confirmation Ministry

Holy Trinity Church offers a three year program of study culminating in the rite of Confirmation - the affirmation of Baptism.  The earliest time youth may enroll in the Confirmation Program is at grade 6.  They may enroll at any time after that. 

          Level 1 meets six times during the school year and outlines Christian

living in both narrow and broad aspects.  Family project’s are part of

this year’s activities.

Level 2 and Level 3 meet weekly from September through May.

Level 2 studies the Holy Scriptures, The Bible, and Level 3 examines  our faith using Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.

Highlights for all Levels are Acolyte service, the Lenten Dinner Series and a specially planned Retreat for each level.

          For more information on Holy Trinity’s Confirmation Program, please call the

church office.

Christian Education for adults:

Our faith journey does not end with childhood – at Holy Trinity Church we realize it is a lifelong journey.

          Inquirers’ Classes are taught by Pastor twice each year and are open to all

people, those interested in membership at Holy Trinity Church and those

members and friends who are curious about our Lutheran faith.

Adult Study. Bible Study and Adult Forums, examining various topics of

interest, meet throughout the year.  Watch the Carillon for announcements of dates and topics.

Library. Our free, lending library is stocked with books and videos for your pleasure reading and reference.  Materials are easy to find and easy to sign-out.  The Parish Library is located in the Baptismal Wing, just outside of the Chapel.

Special Congregation Events are hosted throughout the year by the Christian Education Committee.  Watch the Carillon for announcements.

Anyone interested in assisting with any of Holy Trinity Church’s Christian Education activities or if you have ideas for additional activities, the Christian Education Committee welcomes your participation.

NEWS FROM OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL

5^TH Grade Highlights

The 5^th grade class has been learning the importance of Christian Service. According to Matthew 22:37-39, when asked, what is the great commandment in the Law, Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind.” The second great commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Here are the things the class has been doing:

• In September, the class hosted a coffee hour in support of “Operation Christmas Child”. (The students cooked all of the goodies in the church’s kitchen.) We raised $76 for the charity. This money will be used for the $7 shipping cost required for each box. We plan to complete 12 boxes. We have been wrapping and filling boxes during our classes.
• Jocelyn D’Antonio has been a guest speaker and talked about the importance of the Hunger Committee’s ministry. She has invited us to join the committee in cooking for the Inn. In the next few weeks, the class will be cooking a chili and cornbread meal for the INN.
• The class also has a Food Pantry Box. Each child has been bringing an item for the food pantry each week.

We invite anyone who is involved in any type of Christian service, to share your story with our class. Please contact Marianne Seitz @ 887-5204 or email @ mseitz@msn.com.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS

‘Twas the night before Jesus when all through the earth,

every creature was stirring for a new Baby’s birth.

The people were looking straight up and then down,

to the left and the right, both in country and town.

Some faces were watching far out in the sky

believing God’s Son would soon be coming by.

In Bethlehem children were snug in their beds,

with dreams of olives and figs in their heads.

Sheep had just baaed their last sleepy bleat

and shepherds were tired, weary and beat.

When up in the air there arose such a clatter,

the shepherds saw angles and asked, “What’s the matter?”

They jumped to their feet and stood straight and tall,

and saw thousands of angels, and heard angels call.

It sounded like glory, looked bright as can be;

it was hard to believe, it was so hard to see.

When what to their wondering eyes did appear

but a glory around them so loud and so near.

It happened so sudden, it happened so quick.

Was it real?  Was it  true?  Or was it a trick?

 More rapid than eagles the shepherds then came,

Found Mary and Joseph, and whispered His name.

“It is Jesus, Jehovah, Messiah, the Son.

Emmanuel, the Lord.  He is all and each one.”

They fell to their knees way down to the ground;

How good to receive Him, the One they had found.

The shepherds saw Jesus, they almost did cry,

For Jesus their Savior had surely come by.

So straight up the hillside their running feet flew,

 With their eyes full of Jesus, their hearts now like new.

Far away, wise men stood on a roof,

searching the skies for Biblical proof.

Night after night they hunted with care

for a sign of God’s love in some stars up there.

“There!” each one shouted, “Out in the east!”

And they mounted with haste their two-humped beasts.

One wise man with gold had a round little tummy.

The frankincense Wise man smelled yummy, yum, yummy.

The gift of rare myrrh had been packed in a can,

For Jesus would need it when He was a man.

For they were soon filled with questions, from head down to toe.

They asked, “Where’s the new king?  We must truly know?

They traveled so long and traveled so far,

andfollowed their hearts and came to the star.

Each face of the Wise Men was grim for a while,

then slowly each cheek returned to a smile.

They saw that God gave His Son to the earth.

They took up God’s gift, putting theirs to the earth.

There was no more to do; there was no more to say.

This was God’s world, and this was God’s day.

As the Baby blinked slowly, while turning his head;

the Wise Men knew than they had nothing to dread.

They spoke not a word as they headed for home;

they were thankful to God that Christ Jesus had come.

Christ was on earth, and old was like new.

Now people could see what God could do.

When children hurt and old men whistle,

where there are fir trees and old prickly thistle,

It’s the night before Jesus, from ground to the sky,

and Jesus, the Brother will surely come by.

So we know and you know that God is in sight.

Good morning to all and to all a good night.

Anonymous

MAY THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS BE WITH YOU

AND YOUR LOVED ONES.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN!

from the Christian Education Committee,

Pastor Laustsen, Deacon Wunsch, Denise Tucker,

Fran Jones and Nancy Chiaffitelli