Building the future of the church on christ
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Luke 18:16–17
Youth INVOLVEMENT
First Communion
Prior to confirmation, all baptized children who have learned the Six Chief parts of Christian Doctrine from Luther’s Small Catechism and attended the required number of First Communion instruction classes with their parents, will be eligible to meet with the pastor, an elder and their parents for a short examination. After successfully completing the examination they will be eligible to receive the Rite of First Communion as found in the Lutheran Service Book Agenda (p.25).
Sunday School
In Sunday school the kids learn the stories of salvation history as played out through the lives of God’s people in the Old and New Testaments. At the center of this great story is Jesus Christ crucified and risen for your sins.
Youth Group
Youth Group is an opportunity for our high school youth to fellowship together around food, games, and Bible study. The Youth Group meets every Wednesday evening during the school year. Whether you share our Lutheran confession or not, we welcome all highschoolers to join us!
First Communion
Prior to confirmation, all baptized children who have learned the Six Chief parts of Christian Doctrine from Luther’s Small Catechism and attended the required number of First Communion instruction classes with their parents, will be eligible to meet with the pastor, an elder and their parents for a short examination. After successfully completing the examination they will be eligible to receive the Rite of First Communion as found in the Lutheran Service Book Agenda (p.25).
Confirmation
Confirmation is two years of catechetical instruction for youth in grades seven through eight. The focus of the instruction is on the Six Chief parts of Christian Doctrine from Luther’s Small Catechism. LIS students receive instruction on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at LIS. Public school students receive instruction on Sunday mornings from 11:30 to 12:30.
Vacation Bible School
VBS takes place one week during the summer for kids in grades PreK through 8th. The focus of VBS is on learning and growing in our ability to confess who we are as God’s dear children saved by Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead for us. There are fun crafts, music, games, terrific snacks and of course a daily Bible lesson. The week ends with a cookout and potluck open to everyone!
Higher Things
Every summer the youth in grades seven through high school have the opportunity to attend the Higher Things youth gathering. HT takes place in a different location each year. The theme for 2026 was “Dying Church, Rising Hope” which was held at Washington University in St. Louis.
The daily gathering together for worship is the heart and center of the Higher Things youth conference. Everything else that takes place at the conference flows from gathering together three times each day around the Words of Jesus. The worship is historic and liturgical worship from the LSB hymnal. There are also daily breakout sessions and evening fun and games. The opportunity to fellowship and make friends with LCMS Lutherans throughout the country creates life long memories.
Higher Things 2026
Jesus said: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” The daily gathering together for worship was the heart and center of the Higher Things 2026 youth conference. Everything that took place during the four day conference flowed from the 816 voices gathering together around the Words of Jesus. The beautiful chapel didn’t have enough room for all 816 attendees, mostly youth, to find a seat, but those who couldn’t sit, stood, and the singing was heavenly, something you had to experience to appreciate.
I pray that if our youth only took one thing from the conference, it is a new appreciation for the historic, liturgical worship that we have in the LCMS.
Was it easy to sit through three daily prayer services of Matins, Vespers, and Evening Prayer along with an opening and closing Divine Service? Of course not. But true worship demands an intentional focus and discipline of body and mind to listen and let God work with His Word and Spirit. And God was at work shaping and forming the youth with His Word and Spirit in the reading, singing, and preaching and in the forgiving of sins in the bread and wine, the true body and blood of Jesus.
The final night of the conference we prayed Evening Prayer at Concordia Seminary and the conference concluded with the Divine Service back at the Washington University chapel. Jesus was in our midst all week working with His Words and His true body and blood, forgiving, shaping and forming the hearts and minds of our youth, the future of the LCMS. God be praised!
