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The journey from baptism to confirmation calls us to:
Equip families and educators to teach the stories and values of our faith, foster a sense of belonging, and nurture love of God and neighbor,
Engage children and youth through worship and study to explore the Christian faith and inquire about its meaning for them,
Empower our youth to live a life faithful to Jesus Christ through their choice and actions in a world much larger than their own. ~Christian Education Mission Statement
Church School for Children and Youth
in the Peaceable Kingdom
Email Associate Pastor Teresa Larson (teresalarson@immanuelwi.org), for more information
Immanuel Church School
The IMMANUEL CHURCH SCHOOL welcomes your child! It is in session from the second Sunday of September through early June in the Peaceable Kingdom (lower level), accessible from both the northeast and southeast stairways.
Sunday Morning Nursery Care
CHILD CARE for infants and toddlers is provided throughout the year on Sunday mornings from 8:45 a.m. (9:45 a.m. during the summer) until noon in the Nursery, located at the bottom of the northeast stairway. A "cry room" is also available on the second floor for parents who need an alternative space with a child during the worship service.
Children and Youth in Worship
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CHILDREN and YOUTH worship with the church community until just before the sermon and then go to Church School in the "Peaceable Kingdom" in the lower level. Church School meets from roughly 10:30 to noon so that parents can enjoy coffee hour and adult education offerings following worship.
Classes
Children ages 3-5 meet in the Red Room, Grades 1-3 meet in the Purple Room, Grades 4-6 meet in the Green Room, and Grades 7-12 meet in the Gold Room. All classes use the Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living curriculum, which focuses on teaching faith practices such as making peace, praying, forgiving, and generosity. The curriculum is published by the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Teachers
TEACHERS in the Immanuel Church School are members who volunteer their time for one quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring). They attend an orientation and training session, working closely with the ministers and members of the Church School Committee.
Multi-Generational Celebrations
There are four special celebrations in the Church School each year:
The ADVENT WORKSHOP (first Sunday of Advent) is for all members of the church family. Participants celebrate the meanings of the season by making Advent wreaths to mark the weeks of Advent at home, and enjoying other seasonal activities. Click here for photos from past Advent Workshops.
A PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION AND UPPER ROOM MEAL enacts the events of Holy Week and involves children and their parents in a first-century experience of telling stories about Jesus and learning about the origins of the Lord’s Supper. Click here for photos from past Upper Room Meals.
CREATION SUNDAY in the spring celebrates God’s good creation and highlights how children of all ages are called to care for the earth. Click here for photos from past Creation Sundays.
The program year ends with a PENTECOST PARTY, celebrating the “birthday” of the church and the baptism of each child. Click here for photos from past Pentecost Parties.
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Vacation Bible School
Each summer all children from preschool through the elementary grades are invited to participate in a multigenerational VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL program, with activities, stories, songs, crafts, and games for the children, and conversation for the parents and grandparents. The program generally takes place from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m.; supper is provided and all are invited to participate. Vacation Bible School will take place August 6, 7, and 8, 2024. Click here for VBS photos.
Special Youth Events
STUDENTS in middle school and high school enjoy special programs, outings, and service projects throughout the year. A favorite outing is an annual trip to Crivitz, Wisconsin for the “Great Christmas Tree Hunt,” where the youth select and cut trees to adorn the Sanctuary, Parlor, Upper Room, and Parish House for the Advent and Christmas seasons.
YOUTH in Grades 7 - 12 will meet this year on Sunday mornings from 10:30 - 12:00 in the Gold Room.
Mission Experiences
The youth regularly participate in summer mission programs, where they learn first hand about the realities of urban life and volunteer with various agencies and programs in cities that have included Lexington, Kentucky; Cleveland, Ohio; Minneapolis, MN; Chicago, Illinois; and right here in Milwaukee.
The youth also join adult members of the congregation in other outreach activities, including serving meals at Tippecanoe Presbyterian's homeless ministry and volunteering at the Cathedral Center Shelter for Women and Families.
Confirmation
High school students who are ready to begin an exploration in faith leading to confirmation engage in a special year-long program of worship, study, and service with the ministers. Immanuel’s confirmation program is geared toward older youth and focuses on issues of belief, values, vocation, and identity. The next confirmation class will be offered beginning in September 2025.
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