Bethany Lutheran Church - Austin, TX: Children's Ministry

Children’s Ministry

Bethany Lutheran Church has many wonderful opportunities for children and youth. The primary goal of the children is to bring each child to a closer relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through worship, Bible study, service, and mission trips. We also strive to help the youth form Christian relationships that will last into high school and adulthood. While doing this, we hope to help all children know that they are an important part of Bethany’s family and a vital role to the community and world. For more information, you can contact Kim Lauer, Minister of Children and Middle School Youth.

Volunteers Needed

Sunday School Workers - We need Sunday School workers for Growing in Christ (serving as teachers) and for children’s church. Teachers guide children through activities and take an active role in leading these children in their walk with Christ. Fun, engaging, unique activities and dramas each week!

Children’s church leaders are needed. This ministry takes place during the 11:00AM service for children 4 years old – second grade. Please consider signing up to help fill the schedule.

Puppeteer Ministry

puppet Our puppeteers serve once a month for about 20 minutes during the 11:00 worship service. Skits are provided ahead of time for the puppeteers. On a Sunday morning they choose a puppet and take part in a 10 minute skit behind the puppet stage. The kids love to see the puppets come out and tell a story and always get excited when they pop out. It is a fun and “easy” way to serve in Children’s Ministry. See Kim Lauer to get involved.

Camp Bethany
Where God's Children Have Fun in the Son
Check out the camp events for this year

Each week of camp meets from 9:00AM until 3:00 PM Monday-Friday except VBS week. The campers will participate in group building, games, bible study, snacks, crafts, and much more. The age of campers eligible are children entering 1^st-6^th grades. All youth entering 7^th-9^th grades are eligible for our Counselor in Training Program (CIT). Youth 10^th grade and older can apply to be counselors. If you have any questions or would like to be a counselor, please contact Kim Lauer.


Home > Children's Ministry

Power Hour - Lord's Payer Sunday School Mornings During the month of May the children’s education hour from 9:30-10:30 will be focusing on prayer. Jesus taught us to pray with the words to the Lord’s Prayer, and he helps us to pray to the Father each day. Children will learn more about what the Lord’s Prayer means, and will participate in activities such as praying in color (a creative way to pray with paper and markers), eating prayer pretzels, performing skits, and exploring creation with a prayer walk. We would love your child to join us. There is no need to preregister. Parents and friends are always welcome. Please see Children’s Minister Kim Lauer with any questions. Bethany Ed Planning Group (Focus Group Parents Of Pre-K Through 5th Grade) On Sunday, May 19 we invite the parents of elementary school-aged children to join us in a focus group setting to provide input on Bethany's Sunday School and childhood educational programs. There are two opportunities to join the conversation on May 19: 9:30 a.m. (during Sunday school) and 3:00 p.m. (during JAM) in the Sunday school area of the CLC. The focus groups will be conducted by Chuck Evans, a Bethany member, Sunday School teacher, and non-profit programming consultant. The meetings will take about 30 minutes, so drop your children off at Sunday School or JAM and join us.
Sonshine Station Children’s Church (Sunday mornings at 11AM) This is a special ministry for children ages 4 years old though 2^nd grade. These children are invited to join us at Sonshine Station (Commons Area) to learn about Jesus’ love with a special children’s lesson and help from our puppet ministry team. Children will be excused during the 11AM service for Sonshine Station and will return during the offering. Parents, please feel free to accompany hesitant children or join us anytime. Parent help is always needed for this ministry. Easter Celebration Join us on the Saturday morning before Easter as we celebration Easter with egg hunt, games, petting zoo, activities, and other events. The events are open to little ones up through 4th grade. The egg hunt begins at 10:10AM for the two groups. This is a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to church.			VBS (Vacation Bible School) June 24-28 from 9AM-12Noon For more information and registration - click here! Bethany offers a large VBS program for members, friends, and the community. This is our largest children’s outreach program hosting over 600 children per year. The program takes place one week in June and runs from 9AM-12 noon! Each year we have a new program that leads us on a Bible journey with educational activities such as crafts, snacks, games, skits and songs. All children ages 3 – 6^th grade are welcome to attend. Parent and youth volunteers are always needed! Annual Trunk or Treat This is a new ministry at Bethany that takes place on or around Halloween as an alternative to normal trick-or-treating. Children and their families are invited to come and collect treats in our parking lot from members who have decorated their trunks for Halloween. For two hours kids can collect candy, participate in a cake walk, hear a storyteller, jump in moonwalks, and much more. Everyone is invited. This is also a great outreach to the community around Bethany. For more information, please contact Kim Lauer.
Summer Scholarships for Camp Lone Star Deadline date for registration money - June 1 The Women in Missions chapter of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League has designated $1500 from the proceeds of the Christmas Marketplace to be used for scholarships for those members of Bethany, ages 8-12, attending summer camp at Camp Lone Star in La Grange, TX. Your child is free to attend any of the sessions. However, to encourage your child’s attendance, you might want to check with other families and find a week agreeable with most families. For more information on the camp session calendar, check the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Texas web site www.lomt.com or email info@lomt.net How to apply for scholarship money: Send your application to Camp Lone Star at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Texas (LOMT). After you receive confirmation from Lone Star, email Carol Boerger at carollwml@gmail.com regarding your interest in receiving partial scholarship money. Request read receipt to make sure Carol gets it. Deadline for scholarship application is JUNE 1, 2013 Make full payment to Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas. Women of Bethany will pay you, not LOMT. The amount of the scholarship depends on the number of confirmed campers. $1500 will be split evenly between the campers. A check will be sent to each family by the end of June. Questions? Contact Carol Boerger 282-9540 or carollwml@gmail.com

Baptism On the first Saturday of every month, one of the pastors leads a pre-baptism class. These are held in the church office at 10 AM. At the class, we teach our beliefs on baptism as well as offer the opportunity to schedule your child’s baptism. The class is about 30-45 minutes in length. We ask that all parents wanting to have their children baptized at Bethany attend the class, but it is not necessary for parents to attend the class more than one time. We can help you schedule your private or public baptism by contacting Cindy McCormick at the church office. Listed below is the schedule for the public baptism (during the worship services): 1st Sunday: 11 AM service; 2nd Sunday: 9:30 AM service; 3rd and other Sundays: 8 AM service. 2^nd Grade Bible Distribution One of Bethany’s long-standing traditions is the distribution of Bibles to 2^nd graders. Dr. Martin Luther emphasized the importance of placing the scripture into the people’s hands, including children. If you would like your child to receive this gift, we are blessed to do so.			First Communion Bethany instructs 5th and 6th graders on the beliefs, traditions and practices of Holy Communion in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. These classes, taught by the Pastors, are held during the Lenten weeks following Ash Wednesday and ending on Palm Sunday. The class will receive their First Communion during the 11 AM service on Palm Sunday. For youth 7th grade and older, we offer a First Communion Instruction Class at various times. All First Communion classes are attended by both children and their parents. Confirmation Bethany offers a two year program of instruction for Youth Confirmation. Youth are eligible to begin Confirmation instruction beginning in the 9th grade. This program is held on Wednesday evenings from September to May. Second year students are confirmed the first Sunday in May. The Confirmation program includes weekly worship services, pastoral teaching and small group meetings with adult leaders. Youth also participate in two Confirmation retreats and several service projects led by Minister of Youth and Education, Landon Becker. Participation as an acolyte at worship services is a requirement for Confirmation students. Please contact Landon Becker, Minister of Youth and Education for more information.