Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
This fall promises to be filled with opportunities for children and youth to grow in their faith, serve others, and have a whole lot of FUN through our Church of the Pines’ Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. Opportunities include Wednesday Church School, CYF (Children, Youth, and Family Potlucks), Pancake Breakfast Mission Fundraiser, and School Bag Packing Mission Project.
Wednesday Church School begins September 11th, 2024, and meets from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. in the church's lower level. It is for kids in first through eighth grades. A rotating group of dedicated teachers teaches a combined class for first through fifth graders. The kids will hear stories from the New and Old Testaments, learning about God and people like us.
Grades sixth through eighth meet with Pastor Mark as they learn to take their faith to a new level. This year, they will learn about the Bible, how to properly use it, and the fundamental tenets and history of the Christian faith. Through this class, the middle school youth will learn how to affirm their baptismal vows and become eligible for church membership.
Register your child online by September 4th by filling out and submitting the Registration Form using the button below.
Grades sixth through eighth meet with Pastor Mark as they learn to take their faith to a new level. This year, they will learn about the Bible, how to properly use it, and the fundamental tenets and history of the Christian faith. Through this class, the middle school youth will learn how to affirm their baptismal vows and become eligible for church membership.
Register your child online by September 4th by filling out and submitting the Registration Form using the button below.
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The first CYF Potluck will take place on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. as part of our Understanding Hunger class on Wednesdays in September. Everyone is welcome to come. Bring a dish to share.
The first CYF Potluck will take place on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. as part of our Understanding Hunger class on Wednesdays in September. Everyone is welcome to come. Bring a dish to share.
The children and youth will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, September 29, 2024, following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. We will have a guest missionary to talk about food security in Africa. Donations for breakfast will go to support this ministry. Watch for more information in the Weekly Updates during September.
On Wednesday afternoon, October 9, 2025, as part of the Church School activities, the youth of the church will be busy in the Ministry Center stuffing school supplies into school bags as a mission project for Midwest Mission Distribution Center.
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Vacation Bible School 2024
VBS (Vacation Bible School), a collaborative program between Church of the Pines and Ascension Lutheran Church, met this week at Ascension Lutheran Church. The five-day session ends tonight after a week filled with games, crafts, songs, and Bible studies with the theme "Created to Be!" |
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Youth Package Rice Meals
On Wednesday, March 6th, 2024, the church youth gathered in the Ministry Center to assemble rice meal packets. They assembled 240 packets. Each packet is enough to feed six people, so because of the kids' efforts, over 1,400 meals will be provided to people who need food. The rice meal packets will be taken to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Pawnee, Illinois (located near Springfield). They will then be distributed throughout the United States and worldwide, wherever there is a need for food. Thanks, kids, for participating in this important mission project. And, thanks also to Venus Hilgart, Sue Loeffler, Rosalie Widstrand, Sue Henning, Pastor Mark, and parents for supporting our youth in their mission efforts! |
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Children's Christmas Program - December 10, 2023
The children of Church of the Pines performed "Jesus Comes to Earth" during the Sunday morning worship service. Under the direction of Venus Hilgart, Lay Leader, the following youth participated in the play: Adeline Bodmer, Micah Gilbert, Norah Gilbert, Alexis Kroening, Alicia Kroening, Jacob Kroening, Corbin Lottig, Meyer Lottig, Raelynn Rausch, Rikelle Rausch, Ruby Rausch. Thank you, Maria Caroselli, for singing O Holy Night. |
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Christmas Gift Bag Mission Project.
Be sure to turn on the sound and wait until the end of the video for a message from the youth of Church of the Pines. The youth of the church are busy again with another Mission Project. They spent Wednesday afternoon on November 15th decorating Christmas Gift Bags that will be sold at the United Women in Faith's Cookie Walk & Craft Sale on Saturday, December 9th, from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m. The proceeds from donations received for the bags will benefit the mission projects of United Women in Faith that help people in need here in our community, throughout our nation, and around the world. The kids did a fantastic job and had a great time creating the Christmas Gift Bags. The Gift Bags are on display in the Ministry Center. Listen for the special greeting from the kids at the end of the video! |
Wednesday Church School is for K through 8th-grade kids. The time will be 3:30 to 5:30 pm.
Once again, this year, we will not be having a meal, and Wednesday Church School is free.
Once again, this year, we will not be having a meal, and Wednesday Church School is free.
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The schedule for Wednesday church school is below:
Church School for pre-k-8th grades. Wednesdays 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm 3:30-4:00 pm Snacks and recreation gathering time 4:00 pm – 4:40 music/drama/arts and crafts/community service 4:45 – 5:30 pm – Bible class time K-2nd Grade -Holy Moly 3rd-5th Grade – Holy Moly 6th -8th Grade with Pastor Mark Fall Session: September 14, 2022, and run through December 14, 2022 No Class on November 23, 2022, or December 21, 2022 The Christmas program will be held on December 11, 2022 The Christmas party is on December 14, 2022 Spring Session: January 11/ 2023 – April 26, 2023 No Class on March 15, 2023 – spring break No Class on April 5, 2023 – Holy Week Wednesday Church School is open to the whole community |