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Shalom

We believe that God is calling us to invite people into a deeper relationship with Christ, that all may discover true peace and be prepared to follow Him in compassionate service.

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Lutheran Church 800 County Road 44 NW . Alexandria . MN . 320-762-8641

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Children's Education

Sunday School: Sunday school is for ages preschool-9th grade. It is held every Sunday between our morning worship times, beginning around 9:40 a.m. We all gather together in the sanctuary for a time of worship with music and the highlighted Bible story for the day, then each class is dismissed to their individual classes. Shalom uses “FaithWeaver” curriculum which is a three-year program broken up into four quarters per year. To help students understand the Old Testament as a whole, learners explore it chronologically during the summer and fall quarters. Then winter and spring quarter FaithWeaver lessons focus on the New Testament. Sunday school runs from September-May. Rally Sunday 2011 is scheduled for Sunday, September 11th!

Bible Presentation: Shalom gifts those in 1st and 5th grades with a Bible on Reformation Sunday. Currently, those in 1st grade are gifted “The Kid’s Study Bible” and 5th graders receive “The Teen Study Bible”.

First Communion Retreat: A First Communion Retreat is offered for those in 3rd grade or higher. This is held the Saturday before Palm Sunday for a First Communion celebration on Maundy Thursday. Topics include; God Cares for Us, Jesus Gave Us a Special Meal, Jesus Is with Us in Communion, and Jesus Offers Enough for All.

GO! (Loving God, Loving Others) Children’s Ministry: GO! is open to all children in grades 1-6. We meet each Wednesday, 3:45-5:00 p.m. Using the curriculum book, “Even the Sound Waves Obey Him”, we begin with snack, hear a Bible story, do a science experiment, and play a game/do a craft.

Children’s/Youth Choirs: We have two choirs in place to help lead and enhance our worship. Both choirs practice on Wednesdays. The Children’s choir meets from 5:00-5:30 and the Youth choir meets from 5:30-6:00 p.m.

Vacation Bible School: Shalom hosts a week long bible school experience in early August. VBS is open to preschool-6th grades. We spend a week focusing on bible stories, games, music, crafts, and various service opportunities/heroes in our own community. This year, Shalom had VBS on July 31st-August 4th, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Our theme was “Kickin’ It Old School” hosted by Go Fish!

Youth Education

Youth Ministry Now! Click here to get up-to-date news on programs, dates and time!

Jr. High LIVE: Grades 7-9 are invited to gather on Sunday morning in the movie room for fellowship and a faith talk. The LIVE curriculum overview says, “Students will bond with their peers and leaders through engaging questions, hands-on experiences, and friendships that will guide them in the journey toward lives built around the love, truth, and mission of Jesus. And they’ll be reminded that in the midst of two of the most transitional years of life, they’re not alone!”

Cross-Training/Jr. High Youth Ministry (Grades 7-9): Cross-Training meets the first Sunday of the month, 6:00-7:30 p.m. We begin with a time of fellowship and food (pizza). Actual topics vary. We have done short Bible talks, watched videos, played games, and have written letters to children suffering with cancer/terminal diseases, are just a few examples.

Go Deep/Sr. High Youth Ministry (Grades 10-12): Go Deep meets each Wednesday evening from 8:00-9:00 p.m. This is a time of fellowship and talking about real world events that affect our daily lives.

Confirmation/YADA (Young Adult Discipleship Apprentices): Confirmation at Shalom is a 3 year program. While we do not have age limits on our program, it is likely that most youth begin in their 7th grade year and continue through their 9th grade year. We meet weekly on Wednesdays, beginning at 6:30-7:30 p.m. Those in the 1st and 2nd years, meet with Pastor Grant and discuss the Old/New Testament and the Catechism. Those in the 3rd year (YADA), meet with Shannon in the youth room and we talk about various topics of how we live our Christian faith out in our world. We focus on the six marks of discipleship (prayer, worship, spiritual friendships, generosity, reading scripture, and service) as well as other pressures the world throws at us.

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning and the one who undertands obtain guidance," Proverbs 1:5

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