The Proverb says,

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6)

The education and nurturing of God’s children in the Christian faith is meant to be life-long. At Good Shepherd, we intend to provide the congregation's children with a strong formation in the Christian faith that extends beyond their years of First Communion and Confirmation instruction.

To do this, we intend to walk alongside parents in equipping children with the foundations of the faith, teaching them to receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully, and confessing their faith throughout their lives.

For this reason, in addition to weekly Sunday School, our children begin to serve in the church as acolytes (young men) and junior altar guild (young ladies) in 2nd grade. First Communion classes are offered to all 3rd graders who attend regularly and can recite the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed, and The Lord’s Prayer to the pastor.

In the 4th grade, children will focus on the Ten Commandments; in the 5th grade, they will focus on the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. As formal Confirmation Classes near their completion, students will dive into the joys of Holy Baptism, Confession, and Absolution in 6th grade before a review of the Lord’s Supper and the Divine Service in 7th grade.

While Confirmation will occur in 7th grade, the church's children are expected to attend the Divine Service regularly to receive the gifts of God’s forgiveness in Word and Sacrament.

Why? Because this is how the Church is to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6)