Youth Ministry
The youth group has a history of service within the church, the
community and outside of Long Beach. The unwritten motto of the group
is: Serve to lead and lead to serve. The group has gone on many
wonderful youth trips. For the past several years the group has taken
an annual winter youth retreat to Wrightwood to enjoy the snow and
serenity of the surrounding mountains. In July of 2003, a group of
senior high youth attended the National ELCA Youth Convention which was
held that year in Atlanta, Georgia. The group has also been to Joshua
Tree National Park several times, most recently on a hiking and rock
climbing adventure in December 2004. Also in 2004 the group began what
may be an annual camping trip to Catalina Island. The youth group has been able to participate in
various regional and national youth gatherings and take many wonderful
excursions thanks to fundraisers and generous donations from the
members of OSL Church. The annual Shrove Pancake breakfast, served by
the youth, has been a congregation favorite. The group has an on-going
recycling campaign which serves to clean the neighborhood, raise
awareness of recycling as well as bring in money for future youth
events. The youth group has performed several Christmas plays and a
live Prairie Home Companion-like radio show and sung in church services
on numerous occasions.
While many of OSLC
Church?s youth group functions have been geared for youth 13 and older,
there are also activities for younger youth. Every summer OSL Church
holds Vacation Bible School or Kids Camp. This year the theme for Kids
Camp was ?F.R.O.G.S.? which stands for forgiveness, respect, obey, give
thanks and service. The Kids Camp week included crafts, games, Bible
stories, lots of singing, snacks and friendship. The youth and teachers
of Kids Camp closed the week by serving the residents of Lutheran
Towers, a senior living facility, and singing all of the songs they had
learned that week. During the school year (September through June),
Sunday School is held every Sunday morning at 9:00am. Sunday School is
geared for children 3 to 12. Older kids often participate in the church
services as acolytes (cross bearers, candle lighters, etc.), as readers
and as singers and musicians. There is also a children?s chat during
the church services. |
