Youth and Family Ministries
Faith grows best when it’s planted early and surrounded by people who know your name. Here’s the path kids walk at Our Savior’s — from the baptismal font to a graduation quilt.
How do my kids connect at Our Savior’s?
Young Children
All children begin their journey of faith with Holy Baptism, which should be sought out as early as possible. God claims these children as his very own and gives them the gift of saving faith through the Holy Spirit.
At age three, parents present their children with an age-appropriate Bible provided by Our Savior’s. When kids are ready for preschool, they can begin to attend the Lighthouse Children’s Ministry on Wednesday nights. Third graders are again presented with a Bible as they move into more mature learning of the Scriptures. In fifth grade, students are taught what they need to know in preparation for receiving First Communion.
We also hold Vacation Bible School each summer and a no-rehearsal, just-add-kids Christmas pageant in December. All children are invited to participate.
Middle School
When students enter sixth grade, they begin a three-year Confirmation program that prepares them to affirm their baptisms in October of their Freshman year of high school. Starting at sixth grade, students are also expected to serve as acolytes and participate in other ways in serving at worship. At sixth grade they can also begin to attend Sunday night youth group, lockins, and other youth ministry opportunities.
High School
After confirmation, students are encouraged to be full adult members of the congregation. Youth group continues through the end of high school. Graduating seniors are presented with a personalized quilt as a token of our love for them as they step out into the world.
Lighthouse Children’s Ministry
Wednesday nights feel like a small holiday around here during the school year — the Fellowship Hall fills up with kids from three congregations singing, crafting, and hearing Bible stories.
Lighthouse is a collaboration between Our Savior’s and Salem and Belmont Lutheran Churches on Wednesday nights during the school year.
6:00pm Lighthouse is a 60-minute children’s program for grades PreK through Fifth Grade.
For more information, call or text Pastor Ted Carnahan at (507) 832-0099.
Lighthouse has its own Facebook page with photos and announcements.
First Communion
There’s a seat saved for your fifth grader at the Lord’s table. First Communion classes meet on Wednesday afternoons after school during the season of Lent, and students typically take their first communion on Maundy Thursday — a meal they’ll never outgrow.
For more information, call or text Pastor Ted Carnahan at (507) 832-0099.
Confirmation Ministry
Three years of asking real questions, digging into Scripture, and learning what it means to trust God’s promises in Christ — that’s Confirmation. Classes are offered for students in Sixth through Eighth Grade on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday evenings during the school year.
Pastor’s Office Hours: Wed @ 2:45pm / Sun @ 5:45pm — lets students do their recitation work and ask questions.
Confirmation Class: Wed @ 3:00pm / Sun @ 6:00pm — is a 60-minute class with a short devotional time, review of assigned Bible readings, and study of Luther’s Small Catechism.
2025-2026 Confirmation Handbook
For more information, call or text Pastor Ted Carnahan at (507) 832-0099.
Access Confirmation Curriculum
Youth Group
Middle and high schoolers need a place that isn’t school and isn’t home — somewhere they belong just by showing up. That’s Youth Group: students in grades Six through Twelve, Wednesday nights.
6:30pm — Our youth are encouraged to work alongside younger students as they do service projects.
7:00pm Youth Group — includes worship and Bible study.
For more information, call or text Pastor Ted Carnahan at (507) 832-0099.
