15600 OLD ROCKFORD RD., PLYMOUTH, MN 55446MAPE-MAIL • CHURCH: (763) 553-1239 • SBCA: (763) 553-3083

Age 3 to Grade 2, Saturdays 10:00 - 11:15 am


Kids rule at Good Shepherd School! They take over the entire building, and groups rotate through stations of music, art, story and movement (games and drama). Having Christian education on Saturday enables our children to keep worship as the central focus of Sundays.

Lessons are lectionary-based - which means that the activities are drawn from the Bible lessons read that weekend in worship.

Each age group has a shepherd who is there every week to guide the children through their stations, giving the children a familiar face when they arrive each Saturday. Many adult leaders rotate leadership of art, story and movement, giving the children the benefit of having many adults sharing their talents.

Good Shepherd School children sing during the worship services at Christmas, Easter and Mothers' Day.

This is the 15th year St. Barnabas has offered Good Shepherd School. In addition to making it easier for families to worship together on Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings, many families have found the program provides an unexpected benefit: Parents can drop their kids off at church on Saturday, then go out for breakfast together or run a quick errand.

"Welcome Weekend" September 12-13


FIRST COMMUNION

After studying First Communion practices a decade ago, St. Barnabas decided to follow the practice of several congregations in our synod and adopt the practice of communion of the baptized. This means that children as young as 3 or 4 are welcome to the sacrament if:
  1. The parents feel the child has expressed sufficient interest in sharing the meal.
  2. The parents and child attend instruction classes together.
A First Communion class for children and their parents will be offered on Sunday, September 20, starting 4:30 and ending by 6:30. Supper will be provided. Siblings are welcome to come. The children will then have their First Communion on Sunday, Sept. 27 (or whatever date works best for each family).

Sign up by sending an email to Rose Umland.






  1. Sit in the front so children can see, and so youth and adults can fully participate, rather than spectate.

  2. Prepare an outline of the worship service for your children - or show them an outline - and point out where you are at each point. Teach them the meaning of the various parts of worship.

  3. Teach your children how to use a hymnal, bulletin and Bible. Before worship begins, help them find the scripture lessons in the bible (page numbers are listed in the bulletin), and encourage them to follow along as the lector reads the lessons.

  4. Sing the hymns with your children. teach them faith songs, hymns and prayers at home.

  5. Use the ride home to talk about what was experienced at worship.

This article appeared in the September, 1998 edition of the Metro Lutheran newspaper.