Children, Youth & Family (CYF) Ministries

E-Newsletter

May 2025

April Highlights

We had a blast when Color Me Mine came to visit after a great Subway lunch and a time of get-to-know-you questions! After many requests, you can expect to see a repeat of this event! Keep an eye out!

Thank you to all who participanted, volunteeered and attended the Palm Sunday Brunch to support our youth going on the 2025 Youth Mission Trip to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in June!

Color Me Mine
Palm Sunday

CYF Ministries - All Ages

CYF Volunteer Leadership Team


The team will be meeting once a month for planning, support and leadership opportunities. We are always open to more adults joining us! 

Contact Leisha Tays, Director of CYF Ministries at ltays@oursaviourslc.org, for more information.

Please mark your calendars for upcoming dates for meetings. All meetings are Sundays following the 10:15am worship service in the Youth Room.

June 15

July 13

August 17

September 21

October 12

November 23

December 14

CYF Exploring Creation at Como Zoo

Picnic & Scavenger Hunt


Sunday, May 18th, 1pm-5pm

ALL are welcome!

Pack a lunch or grab a lunch on your way and join together at Como Park (West Picnic Lot) for a picnic together at 1pm. You can pick up a map from the CYF Board in the rotunda at OSLC or find it here: 

Como Zoo Map

During our picnic, we’ll talk about creation and be curious together.

Following our time together in the Park, we’ll split into groups and take part in a Scavenger Hunt in Como Zoo. Yes, there will be prizes!

Those age 12 years and younger must have a parent/guardian/adult attend with them.

Those age 13-17 attending without a parent/guardian must have a Quick Slip filled out specifically for this event: 

Quick Slip

Cost: your own lunch + Voluntary (cash) donation for admission to Como (Suggested: $4/adult, $2/child – goes to help care for the plants and animals at Como)

Sign up on the CYF Board in the Rotunda at OSLC or by emailing Leisha, Director of CYF Ministries, at ltays@oursaviourslc.org

The Giving Tree - CYF Scholarship Fund Replenishing


Our CYF Scholarship account is now near empty – that is certainly something to celebrate since so many young people are participating in the ministries at Our Saviour’s! That also means that we are needing to replenish that account.

If you find yourself in a position to be able to contribute, please visit the Giving Tree in front of the CYF Board in the rotunda and pick an apple. There’s further instructions there on how to make the donation.

If you’d rather give a direct donation of an amount of your choosing you can do so in a few ways:

-Online using the button below.

-Cash or check (made out to "OSLC" with "CYF Scholarship" in the memo) dropped off at OSLC in the “Children-Youth-Family” box on the wall behind the reception desk or mailed to:

OSLC, Attn: CYF

19001 Jackson St NE

East Bethel, MN 55011

Donate Online to the CYF Scholarship Fund

Sign Up Now for Camp Wapo 2025!


SEEDS: 2024-25 1st - 3rd Graders - Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22

Youth: 2024-25 4th-9th Graders - Sunday, June 22 – Friday, June 27

Youth Fishing: 2024-25 4th-9th Graders - Sunday, June 22 – Friday, June 27

Roots: 2024-25 10th-12th Graders - Sunday, June 22 – Friday, June 27


Check-in Friday 3:00 - 4:30pm

Closing worship on Sunday at 12pm

Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend closing worship. Campers should be picked up by 12:45pm.

For Seeds (1st-3rd Grade) Camp Info Click Here
For Youth (4th-9th Grade) Camp Info Click Here
For Youth Fishing (4th-9th Grade) Camp Info Click Here
For Roots (9th-12th Grade) Camp Info Click Here
Camp Registration NOW Open
Scholarships Available Up to 50%

For additional scholarships, up to the remaining 50%, from Camp Wapo, please email Rachael Pearson, CYF Administrative Specialist, rpearson@oursaviourslc.org

Calling All CYF Ministries Participants - Birth to 12th Graders!


Please send us your birthdate!


We would love to send you a birthday card on your special day to celebrate you!



Click here to fill in your name, current address, and birthdate!

Children's Ministries - Birth-5th Grade

VBS 2025 - "God's Wonder Lab"

Monday, August 4th - Thursday, August 7th

Registration NOW OPEN!

Scholarships are available for VBS should there be a need.

Please fill out the scholarship application below if that pertains to you:

Register Now!
Scholarship Application

VBS Volunteers Needed!

We are in need of volunteers to fill the following roles:

  • Crew Leaders
  • Station Leaders (Games, Crafts, Science, Story)

Adult volunteers must be 18+ and have a background check completed.

Junior volunteers (completed 6th grade and up) are encouraged to participate as well.

Mandatory Volunteer Training Meeting

Sunday, July 27, 11:30am-12:30pm at Our Saviour’s in Room 122 for all (adult and junior volunteers) who will be volunteering onsite during VBS sessions.

 

Setup – Takedown

Setup:

For setup, please bring your own sack lunch if you are coming straight from worship. 

Sunday, July 27, 12:30am – 2:30pm

Sunday, August 3, 11:30am – 2:30pm

Takedown:

Thursday, August 7, 3:30pm-Done

Sign Up to Volunteer!

Littlest Ones Play Dates

We are excited to welcome children aged birth to 4 years old and a trusted caregiver to the (FREE) "Littlest Ones Play Dates". We will meet select Thursdays 9:30 am-11:00 am October-May.



Littlest Ones is a time for the littlest amongst us to have a great play date and a time for parents and caregivers to connect with one another. Join together for 10 minutes of circle time – story, song and more led by Leisha Tays, Director of CYF Ministries – followed by play time. Parent/Guardian or other caring adult required to stay and be responsible for watching over the little ones as they play with age-appropriate toys, activities, and other fun!

Our Final Littlest Ones Play Dates of the Program Year Will Be:



May 8




Please reach out to Leisha, Director of CYF Ministries, with any questions.

registration

Fall Registration Now Open

Before spring sports and summer busyness gets ahold of you, get registered for the fall! School-year Kids' Ministries registration now open for 2025-2026.


PreK: Faith Circle
K-1st Grade: Godly Play
2nd-3rd Grade: Bible Live
4th-5th Grade: Young Samaritans

Confirmation Registration Now Open!

Take some time to get registered for confirmation for the fall. We're looking forward to welcoming you all to our confirmation ministries!

$50 per student per year. Scholarships available upon request.

Register for Confirmation
Request Scholarship
Pay for Confirmation

Confirmation Ministries - 6th-8th Grade

Fall Registration Now Open!

Before the busyness of the Easter holiday, spring sports and summer, get registered for the fall! Registration for Confirmation 2025-26 now open!


Who: 6-8th Grade

When: September-Holy Week

Cost: $50/year

Register for Confirmation
Apply for Scholarship
Pay for Confirmation

Current 8th Graders - Register for Lighthouse Ministries 2025-2026!


Fall Registration for Lighthouse Ministries is now open! Use the link below to register. By registering, you will be added to all senior high communications.

9th-12th Grade in 2025-26: Lighthouse Ministries

Youth Mission Trip 2025

  • Important meeting: Sunday, May 4th, 11:30am-12:30pm in the Youth Room.
  • Hospitality moved from May 4th to Sunday, May 11th. Please plan to attend unless you have a prior commitment.


Lighthouse Ministries - 9th-12th Grade

Endowment Scholarship Funds for Pursuit of Undergraduate Degree

Our Saviour’s Endowment Committee will award scholarships in June to candidates pursuing a post-secondary education. Completed application forms must be returned by Sat., May 10th. Application forms are available in the church office, or online:

Scholarship Form

Youth Mission Trip 2025

  • Important meeting: Sunday, May 4th, 11:30am-12:30pm in the Youth Room.
  • Hospitality moved from May 4th to Sunday, May 11th. Please plan to attend unless you have a prior commitment.

No need to sign up, just show up! Friends are more than welcome!

Lighthouse Ministries Youth Group


CURRENT PARTICIPANTS WANT TO MEET THROUGH THE SUMMER... so meet through the sumer we will!

All those who are in grades 8-12 for 2024-25 are encouraged to come for this weekly opportunity. Come when you can!


Who: Current 9th-12th Graders

What: Weekly gathering for fellowship, Bible study and worship

Where: OSLC Youth Room

When: Sundays, 9am-11:15am

Why: To grow in our faith, relationships with one another and continue down our journey together

Bible Study: "Confident Christian" where we'll explore different world religions and religious groups and view them side by side with our own ELCA beliefs. Learning and exploring why we believe what we do.

Bring: Bible

Provided: Breakfast treat (donuts, muffins, juice, etc)

2025 Graduate Recognition Sunday - June 15th

8:30am and 10:15am (Graduates pick one)


Join us for a time of blessing, prayer and a gift of a handmade quilt and a book for high school graduates and special gift for post-high school graduates.



Graduates will be honored in both the 8:30am traditional and the 10:15am contemporary worship services at Our Saviour’s. 

In addition to in-worship blessing and gifts, we will be honoring our graduates with a Senior Spotlight on Our Saviour’s Facebook page leading up to graduation and also in a slideshow during worship. 


Please RSVP by filling out the form online with the link below.

Graduate Recognition RSVP

If you have any questions, please contact Leisha Tays, Director of CYF Ministries, ltays@oursaviourslc.org

Registration now open for 2025-2026!

Fall Registration for Lighthouse Ministries is now open! Use the link below to register. By registering, you will be added to all senior high communications.


9th-12th Grade in 2025-26: Lighthouse Ministries

Resources - Safe Places for All

Our Saviour's CYF (Children, Youth & Family) Ministries is a safe place for all!


If you or someone you know is in need of support, the CYF staff is here for you.

You are never alone and you are loved just as you are!

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. We are here at Our Saviour's to listen and support.

This Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a great resource to have saved in your phone. Please take a moment to do so and share and use as you need.


You can text or call 988

or chat online: https://988lifeline.org/chat/

Communication

Text Message Reminders

Want to receive text message updates/reminders about confirmation and youth ministries at OSLC? Here's how you can sign up for text messages on the different ministries:


Children's (PreK-5th Grade):

text @oslckidmin to the number 81010


Confirmation (6th-8th Grade):

text @oslcconfir to the number 81010


Middle School (6th-8th Grade):

text @oslcmiddle to the number 81010



Senior High (9th-12th Grade):

text @oslcsenior to the number 81010

[763-434-6117]  [www.oursaviourslc.org]


Leisha Tays, Director of CYF Ministries,

ltays@oursaviourslc.org


Rachael Pearson, CYF Administrative Specialist,

rpearson@oursaviourslc.org


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