Sunday, May 23rd marked the end of the 2009-2010 Sunday School year. This date was also the same date as the festival of Pentecost, so students ages 2 – 6th grade celebrated the day by hosting a birthday party for the Church. Students actively participated in the telling of the Pentecost story, made tongues of fire birthday party hats and iced cupcakes with red frosting. This celebration not only marks an important date in the church year, but celebrates a year of faith learning for the students of Good Shepherd.

The Preschool and Kindergarten students spent the Easter season learning about Jesus’ resurrection and how Jesus’ friends show love to others from the book of Acts. One such story that the little ones learned about was how Peter healed the lame man outside of the temple. THANK YOU again to all of our Little Lambs leaders this year – RON & KRISTINA ENMAN, KATHY PETERSON, VICKI SCHAPP and MARY NAYLOR. Our youngest students eagerly look forward to your visits each week!

Rotation students finished their year of “Living Our Faith” by studying the Bible – how the bible came to be, how it is structured and how to look up verses. A special “THANK YOU” goes out to CATHY WILCH for leading the weekly Assembly program for the Rotation classes. Cathy brought much energy and creativity, including puppets and music, to this weekly student gathering.

Our Tween students spent the month of May learning about salvation, such as the story of Zacchaeus for example. THANK YOU to REBECCA HANSEN for taking a lead role in our new Tween Closing program this year. The 6th grade students finished a special milestone ministry class on the Life and Times of Martin Luther, taught by JUDI STOKER. Students received a Luther mug and certificate for their 6-weeks of study, as well as received a copy of the Lutheran catechism in preparation for entering the Confirmation program next year.

The Confirmation students completed their end-of-the-year test on the New Testament and then visited with the Senior High class, where they were introduced to many of the students with whom they’ll be actively involved in the next year or two. Please encourage confirmed 8th graders to attend one or more of our Senior High events this summer.

Senior High students completed a bible study on significant numbers in the Bible and learned about an upcoming student-led prayer experience focused on building awareness about modern-day slavery, particularly around issues of human trafficking.

Thanks again to all teachers, shepherds, substitute teachers, special events people and those who worked behind the scenes to keep the Sunday School program thriving. As I have shared with parents, “Our Sunday School program is finished for the year, but God is not finished with us!” Please use the summer to worship God as a family here at Good Shepherd, or if you are on vacation, visit a church wherever you may be. Vacation Bible School is also an excellent Christian education opportunity for your child to learn more about Jesus and it’s fun to invite friends to attend, too!