CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Our ministries across the first decades of life are uniquely designed for the time we live in, both helping to strengthen all forms of family as well as the importance of younger voices in the life of the church. Our goal is for our children and youth to continue to grow and participate in their vocation and in their relationship with God, others, themselves and their world.
WE BELIEVE
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Parents are the most important adults in their child’s faith life. (See the National Study on Youth and Religion for more detail).
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God is active in every part of your family life, from changing a diaper to going off to college.
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Each age has a unique way of connecting to God and living out their faith.
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Being in community is a gift from God and is an important part of our faith lives.
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Baptismal promises shape our life together.
SUMMER 2024
Scuba Vacation Bible School
Who?
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Campers: 3 year olds (must be toilet trained) to entering 5th grade
What?
We're going to dive below the surface to keep growing our faith with SCUBA Vacation Bible School (we like to abbreviate it to VBS)! We will deep dive into an amazing undersea adventure where we will be immersed in the Word and discover what living water is really all about!
When & How Much? (Both options include a t-shirt, daily snack and lunch on Thursday!)
Monday, June 10 through Thursday, June 13
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Option 1: $60.00- 9:00am to 12:00pm
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Option 2: $70.00- 9:00am to 1:00pm-Join us for Lunch Hour! Bring your own lunch, Monday through Wednesday, and get picked up at 1:00pm!
Camp Wapo
This Summer at Camp Wapo: SEEDS Summer Camp for Grades 1-3, Wapo Youth Camp for Grades 4-9, and Family Get-Away for ALL! More information in the CYF Glossary below and register, HERE!
Camp Westwood
Who?
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Campers: Entering 1st grade to entering 5th grade
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Volunteers: Entering 6th grade and up! Please fill in the volunteer interest form below.
What?
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This inaugural year of Camp Westwood is going to be one to remember, as it is the start of something new! We are taking the paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown! However, with good courage, we are developing the most spectacular four days of FUN!
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Campers will participate in theme days, service learning opportunities, arts and crafts, games, and MORE! We have a few surprises in the works (an offsite field trip and some type of inflatable) and we hope your campers will join us!
When & How Much?
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Monday, August 26 through Thursday, August 29. 9:00am to 3:00pm, $125.00
THE MESSAGE
Sundays at 9a & 11a Worship
Kid-Style Faith-Talk
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Preschool (3, 4, 5 yr): Families start in worship, and kids are invited to leave after the children's sermon.
Children leave with their group leaders after the gospel storytelling. Parents are welcome to join their child at the Message. Preschoolers sing and dance, experience faith rituals, and participate in games and activities that connect to the day's bible story. 
Grades K-2: Families start in worship, and kids are invited to leave after the children's sermon.
The Message offers families time to worship together and time for kids to dig into faith-talk, music, games, and activities with their friends during the sermon. All elementary kids return to worship after the prayers of the people to participate in the rest of the service! 
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Grades 3-5: Families start in worship, and kids are invited to leave after the children's sermon.
The Message offers families time to worship together and time for kids to dig into faith-talk, music, games, and activities with their friends during the sermon. All elementary kids return to worship after the prayers of the people to participate in the rest of the service! 
Register your child(ren) today for our activities. We welcome all, and scholarships are available.
FAMILY FAITH FORMATION
Wednesday evenings begin with:
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Community Meal
5-6:30 PM in Good Shepherd Hall
Dinner is served! Start your Wednesday evening's off with a Community Meal. Goodwill donations help this outreach ministry serve our neighbors. We're always looking for volunteers to help out with several tasks throughout the evening. For more information on volunteering as well as the menu, click the buttons below.
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Faithful Families
5:45-6:05 PM in the Fireside Room
Come as a family to enjoy activities and service projects that spark God-talk. We gather together to grow faithful families through bible stories, interactive prayers, and rituals. Pastors serve open communion once a month and all are welcome to join in God's meal of grace.
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Register your child(ren) today for our activities.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
6-8th Grade Wednesday Night Faith Activities & Groups
At Westwood Lutheran Church we look to continue to connect youth in their faith journey in meaningful study, through relationships and friendships. We are committed to programming that includes fellowship, worship, study, service, and fun!
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6th Grade Pre-Confirmation
Wednesdays (October-May) 6:15-7:15 PM
​6th grade Pre-Confirmation works with big questions such as: Who wrote the Bible, God or humans? Is God male? Is it ok to be angry at God?
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Grades 7, 8, 9 Parent Student Learning
Wednesdays (October-May)
In Parent Student Learning each age group has a time of learning with the Pastors. Parents attend the class alongside their students.
6:30 Worship
7:15​ Parent Student Learning
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9th - 1st Wed of the month
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8th - 2nd Wed of the month
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7th - 3rd Wed of the month​​
Register your child(ren) today for our activities. We welcome all, and scholarships are available.
CONFIRMATION AND BEYOND
7-9th Grade Confirmation & Inter-generational Learning
Confirmation starts with Westwood U—offering people of all ages the opportunity to gather for education, faith development, and growth.
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Kids, parents, grandparents, friends... Everyone is invited!
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The purpose of doing confirmation in this way is to move beyond education towards transformation. Westwood U is a way to create an ecosystem of lifelong faith formation at Westwood. We believe that our hearts and hands must accompany our heads in our journeys of faith. This model creates opportunities for faith exploration by tapping into the life experiences of multiple generations with the understanding that the content of faith has no traction outside of faith-based relationships.
Westwood U offers flexibility and choice of study topics and class times as well as intergenerational learning and growing.
Click below to see the catalog and register.
HIGH SCHOOL
9-12th Grade Wednesday Night Faith Activities & Groups
At Westwood Lutheran Church we look to connect young people through relationships by including faith into everyday life. Our philosophy of youth ministry is to engage young people as well as adults in ways that include depth and perspective on how we live as Christians in this world. We are committed to programming that includes fellowship, worship, study, service and fun!
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YOUTHERANS (aka Senior High Youth Group)
​Join us weekly to engage in meaningful relationships, conversations, study and fun! (Wednesdays, October-May)
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For more information about High School ministries & events contact
Alison Broman, Children, Youth and Family Coordinator
Register your child(ren) today for our activities. We welcome all, and scholarships are available.