Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

Dear friends of Our Redeemer,
 
With our Lord Jesus, His mercies and love toward us never change with the passing years. In our rapidly changing world, I am grateful that the love and grace of God never changes with the latest fad, or shift of our culture. Our task, as a church, is to bring the changeless Christ to an ever changing world. For the benefit of the children of the parish, we are addressing the needs of the present day with a new Sunday School program. We have noticed over the years changes in the attendance patterns of students: They are more hit and miss, and with the advent of middle school sports, regular attendance is far more rare today. A new lesson each week is leaving gaps in understanding the basis stories of the Bible on which Lutheran Faith is based. As students enter confirmation in the 6th and 7th grades for many students Bible and church basics are not understood. We were faced with a dilemma either we simply complain about "how kids are today." Or, we examine ourselves and use our educational resources more effectively. We have chosen the latter. We trust this will be a blessing our our parish, and the children and families we touch through Sunday School..
 
Firelight is the new program we will unveil this September. Based on Gardener's Seven Intelligences, we will have a variety of the "Learning Centers" which will approach a common theme for the month from different angles.  We have known for sometime that some are "book" learners, and others are "hands on in learning.." We all had class mates that were exceptional in art, or music, or natural cooks or athletes. Gardener put together these different abilities and called me "Seven Intelligences." People learn best in one of their strengths of intelligences. Our new Sunday School program takes advantages of this. Some are visual learner, there will be a center for that. Others learn best through music and reinforced by art projects. We will have a center for that. On a typical weekend students will rotate with their group through three different learning centers. Groups will have "shepherds" led them for the hour, and rotate with the students to the different learning communities. In the Shepherd groups we hope significant relationships with develop with students, older student guides, and adults. In each learning center or station a teacher will teach an aspect of the truth of the day to about three groups that are in session that day.. Firelight builds on our strengths of our congregation---small enough to create personal relationships, and large enough to utilize gifts of adults in learning.
 
If you know of potential students for Sunday School, please inform the church office, or better offer them a personal invitation, and perhaps offer them a ride to church.
 
We need help and cooperation from the parish in this endeavor. Our Redeemer needs your prayers and support to have a successful Sunday School program. Please offer your time and service when asked to help, or give the church a call, and asked for Joan Wallin and she will get back to you 835-5239.