Mission to Mexico Itinerary

ITINERARY, MEXICO SERVICE TRIP
July 31st - Aug. 9th, 2008

Remember our Mission to Mexico travelers in your prayers as they represent Wooddale Lutheran Church in this important ministry.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Ron Berry – 612-272-7144 (cell)
Kristina Fruge – 651-373-0561 (cell)

THURSDAY, JULY 31
Northwest Airlines flight NW0454 leaves at 10:25am from Lindbergh Terminal
Arrive San Antonio at 3:43pm (after layover in Memphis), pick up vans. Drive to Laredo, TX LALM Headquarters.
Lodging: Stay at LALM Mission House
3519 Salinas Ave.
Laredo, TX 78041
Phone: 956-722-4047

This will be a busy and long travel day!! Get a good night sleep on Wednesday! Once we arrive in San Antonio and get the vans we will have dinner in Laredo. We will need to purchase some supplies for Mexico and go to the border to get our visas.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st- WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6th
In Huachichil, Mexico.
Return to Laredo on Wed. Aug. 6
Lodging in Mexico: Host homes or at God With Us Lutheran Church
Phone: LALM will forward any emergency messages: 956-722-4047.

Our hosts in Huachichil, Pastor Marco Antonio Rodriguez, along with the LALM staff will lead us through this week of service and fellowship. Some projects we have been told this community is in need of are: enclosing a lot on the back of the parish property and repairing a bathroom. We will also plan and lead 3 days of VBS for the children in the community. We will also be expected to share some music in worship.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6TH
Depart in afternoon for Laredo, TX.
Lodging: LALM Mission house in Laredo.
Phone: (956) 722-4047

Time to say our goodbyes and head back to Laredo before returning home.

THURSDAY AUGUST 7TH
Leave for Corpus Christi, TX
Lodging: Padre Island National Seashore Malaquite Beach Campground
Phone: Visitor Center - 361-949-8068

Set up camp on the beach, unwind from a busy week, time to reflect on all we’ve seen, heard and experienced.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8th
Fun day in Corpus Christi!
Lodging: Padre Island National Seashore Malaquite Beach Campground
Phone: Visitor Center - 361-949-8068

Some options for the day include: horseback riding, dolphin watching, beach combing, watching a sea turtle release (maybe?), shopping in town, a nice dinner in Corpus Christi, and beach time of course. J

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH
Return vans; board planes. Northwest Airlines flight NW1634 departs San Antonio (SAT) at 5:30PM and arrives in MSP at 8:21PM. Direct flight!

We have a later flight so plenty of time to pack and clean up in the morning (and look for missing van keys if need be!) We’ll grab lunch on the road on our way to San Antonio.

Your family and friends will be so excited to see you!!

Step over here...see what's happening!

Welcome to Wooddale's Children, Youth and Family Ministry!



"declare [God's] power to the next generation, [God's] might to all who are to come."


~Psalm 71:18

"STEP Deeper into the Story"

Wooddale's theme for its Children, Youth and Family Ministries (CYFM) is "STEP Deeper into the Story". It means that our mission is to invite our young folks to explore, participate and experience God's amazing story and to support them throughout the many steps of faith they take as they discover how they are part of God's story, how He is part of theirs and how He is calling them to live their faith.

This is a story about a loving and just God and His unbreakable relationship with humanity (us!) that spans time, continents and cultures. It is story that we love to tell as we look to Jesus Christ to help us most deeply understand the love God has for all of us, the love he calls us to share.

Following is a general overview of programs available in our Children Youth & Family Ministry.

For more information on any of these programs contact:

Jean Olson, Children and Family Ministry Director at wooddalelutheran.jeano@gmail.com or

Kristina Fruge, Youth and Family Ministry Director at wooddalelutheran.kristinaf@gmail.com

Also, check out the "Wooddale Youth" group page in Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) to get connected and find out what's happening each month!


Wooddale Sunday School (after 9:30 service, from 10:45 - 11:45)
Our Sunday school program is designed for ages 3 through 15 and is broken into 4 programs that engage the kids in different ways appropriate to their age group.

Preschool Program (ages 3 and 4)
Our preschoolers Step Deeper into the Story through Godly Play. This program provides a structured format The Godly Plan format is very deliberate and intentional to give all kids the assurance of being in a relaxed, calm, respectful space. The consistency of the format allows kids the reassurance of knowing what comes next and promotes success for each child in their own minds. This format encourages the kids to become aware of their own ideas and make decisions without being constantly directed by adults. The program begins with snack/group time, followed by story-time and opportunity to discuss and wonder about the story. The kids then choose how they want to respond to the story with a variety of play options: blocks, art, toys, games, puzzles, clay . . The morning ends with preschool music.

Kindergarten through 4th Grade
Our elementary age group continues to Step Deeper into the Story with a rotational Sunday School program. This program utilizes 5 week units which explore a theme or story from the Bible. Each class has a leader or “shepherd” who is with their kids each week. The shepherd spends the first 2 weeks of each unit sharing the stories through a variety of different activities. Over the next 3 weeks, each class has the opportunity to experience the Story in different labs. Lab leaders direct the action during these weeks and engage kids in a variety of different learning styles. The labs include art, science, games/music/drama, cooking and service.

5th/6th Grade – The ‘Tweens”
Did you know this age group has their own name? They are fondly referred to as the “Tweens”, and anyone who works with this group can understand the name. These kids are caught in between. One minute seemingly ready to jump ahead and celebrate their emerging maturity, and the next minute clinging to and celebrating their “kiddy” days. The “Live It” program is developed especially for this age group . The program utilizes 5 & 6 week work-shops that explore different issues in these kids lives and gives them the chance to explore how faith fits into all aspects of their life. Examples of topics include "Dealing with Anger" "Being Christian at School", "Living Positively in a Media Age".

Confirmation – grades 7, 8 & 9
Our confirmation students will join Curtis and Andy in the youth room each Sunday to discuss their role as Christians in their world. These kids understand the Story, but now they get the chance to talk about the specific issues that they encounter, the difficulties of
staying true to their faith, and ways to support each other in their faith journey.


Outreach
All of our Sunday school programs are participating in our outreach program. We are working with STEP (St. Louis Park Emergency Program) this year. Our goal is to give our kids an awareness of the needs right here in our community and the power we have to make positive changes in our world by helping STEP.


Confirmation


The process of confirmation is a significant time for our youth, and certainly a time when we are encouraging our young people to step even deeper into God’s story. During our students’ 7th, 8th and 9th grade years, there are 3 main components to their confirmation experience – Wednesday Night Classes and Events, the Credit System and the Mentor Program. Together, these various experiences are designed with three important goals in mind...


1. Becoming a disciple – exploring God’s story, my story and my neighbors’ story
2. We are the church – participating in the body of Christ
3. Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses – experiencing positive and supportive relationships with Wooddale peers and adults


Wooddale’s confirmation program culminates during the fall of students’ 10th grade year. During a retreat the confirming class works together to develop their own statements of faith as they prepare their very own confirmation service. Each unique group of confirmands celebrates with the congregation the affirmation of their baptism during the worship service they plan and lead.

Milestone Ministry
Our kids take so many important steps on their journey to adulthood, and as a community we recognize and celebrate these milestones within the context of our faith. Our Milestone Ministry helps our kids keep a sense of faith in the midst of their often hectic lives. Example of milestones include: Blessing of the Backpacks, Blessing of the Keychains, Confirmation, First Communion, Presentation of Blankets to Seniors, Presentation of 3rd Grade Bibles, Presentation of Study Bibles to New Confirmation Students.

Chapel Choir (3rd through 6th Grade)
Chapel Choir meets most Sundays after Sunday School from 11:45 - 12:15. The choir sings special music during a number of worship services during the year.

Wooddale Winners (youth program for 4th-6th grade)
Each month our 4th-6th graders plan a special activity to just have fun together. Activities have included roller skating, games in the church, attending a basketball game, celebratine "everyones' birthday party . . .


Special Events
Our junior high/senior high youth have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of events: winter ski retreats, Salvation Army bell ringing, lock-ins, bowling, service project such as Feed My Starving Children and the 40 Hour Famine just to name a few.


Summer Opportunities

Our summer camp opportunities include:
Camp Wapogasset Bible Camp in Amery Wisconsin
2nd/3rd grade weekend
4th-6th grade week
High school Teens in Ministry Training week

Klein Ranch in South Dakota
7th -9th grade

Mexico Mission Trip
senior high/college

Job Opportunity: Youth Music Ministry Leader

(Immediate Opening - Please pass the word!)

Part-time position leading music activities for youth, preschool through grade 6. Activities include a Chapel Choir (grades 3-6) and Sunday School, as well as Vacation Bible School and seasonal music. There will also be an opportunity to work with other children's programs if desired.

Send resumes to:
Wooddale Lutheran Church
4003 Wooddale Ave. S.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-926-7603

or email to:
kristinaf@wooddalelutheran.org

Silent Auction: May 20

May 20th is the date for the Silent Auction. It will start after church and continue until 12:30 pm (so all the parents and teachers can bid after Sunday School ends).

We are looking for donations for the auction. Some ideas are:

• Sports Tickets or memorabilia
• Art or Craft Projects
• Dinners
• Services ( i.e. snow plowing, hair cuts, cleaning, or....)
• Gift baskets
• Vacation homes or timeshare
• Homemade food (i.e. cakes, gourmet items)
• Gift certificates
• Jewelry
• And don't forget that your very own PARKING SPACE will also be available to bid on.

If you have items for the Auction please contact the church office at 952-926-7603.
All Donations are tax deductible.