Director of Family & Youth Ministries
Tom is now publishing a youth newsletter. To get on his mailing list, please contact the church, 832.9713. Tom's Youth Notes now appears in the Acts of Grace. Download a copy from our Links page.
Visit our Family & Youth activities page too!
Mission Statement: To create an exciting Christian environment which will provide a firm foundation inspiring youth and their families to build a future filled with faith and love of Jesus Christ!
Family and Youth Calendar for 2009-2010
January
- Set-up & sign-up for Summer trips
- Set-up & sign-up for Spring drama
- Set-up fundraising schedule
February
- Singing Valentines fundraiser
- Mardi Gras (every other year)
- Drama/musical practice begins
March
- Drama/musical practice continues
- First middle school re-charge
- Fundraiser's continue
April
- Easter Activities
- Watch the Lamb
- Easter egg hunt
- Easter breakfast
- Balloon service
- Youth Sunday
- Spring Musical
- Middle school Youth Gathering
May
- Fifth & Sixth Grade Lock-in
- Mother's Day flowers
- Greater Grace Golf Open
- Senior Day (High School) Recognition (quilts)
June
- Church family service project
- Mission trip(s)
- Valley Fair Trip
- Eighth Grade Bible Camp
- Wednesday Night Worship begins, summer months
July
- July 4th Family camp
- Leadership retreat (second trip)
- Youth Gatherings (every three years)
- Lifest
August
- Fairfax Family Swim
- VBS
- Taste of Grace
- Fall Planning
September
- High school Sunday school begins (September 9)
- Confirmation begins (September 12)
- Crop Walk
- After-school program begins September 25, every Tues. & Thurs. 3:30-5:30 p.m.
- Ninth grade retreat- September 28-30
- Packer/Viking Tailgate family fun- September 30
October
- Mall of America field trip
- Haunted House dance and costume party October 21
November
- Godstock (Synod event)
- Second Middle school re-charge
December
Youth are also encouraged to participate in one of the many Grace Lutheran choirs, including handbell's and the youth music group, Sincerus
Youth Band
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Youth Band this May. We will schedule another performance date for this fall so watch for updates.
Mission Trips
Check with Tom regarding next summers mission trips.
Worship Services
Young people are involved in several church Services throughout the year. Including a Youth Week-end, in the spring. They also are very active in the Summer Wednesday night worship and praise services as well as Openings for Confirmation.
Service Opportunities
Most of the service opportunities are done through the confirmation program, although they are not limited to them; some examples would be Crop walk, Alzheimer’s walk, serving at Beacon House as well as the Community Table. Through out the year several opportunities are arranged for singing/visiting local nursing homes. We also encourage the whole church family’s involvement in a big service project ( this year we did some landscaping and clean up at Edgewood) held usually in the spring
National Youth Gathering
We are just back from a fantastic adventure at "Jesus, Justice, and Jazz" the National Youth Gathering held this year in New Orleans. We will have a lot to share! Check out the youth newsletter for more information.
Youth Dramas
Come January look for announcements as we will begin putting together our annual Musical, this has been a great event in the past and I hope many of you are looking forward to this years production. Last year we did a repeat performance of “Flash Back” and it was as great as ever. This year’s play is still being picked out, but I know it will be meaningful and great.
Lifest
A summer youth gathering held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This year almost 50 people attended from Grace Lutheran, camping out on site.
Visit the web site
Fellowship/Field Trips
These events are scheduled throughout the year! It is important to keep checking announcements and the web site for up dated info. As well as a Tailgate party for the Packer/ Viking game on Sept 8. This will include food, fun, game on a big screen TV, as well as some great good natured ribbing, and Bragging rights. The next scheduled events are a Luther Recharge for grades 3 through 5 on October 3 & 4. In October mark your calendars for a great Costume – Halloween dance which will be on Sunday night Oct. 25 from 6:30 – 9:30.
Tom Pichette