Advent Festival - celebrates the season of reflection and anticipation for the birth of the Christ Child. Music, crafts, stories, games, even cookie decorating have all been used to usher in this season of the church year.

Rally Sunday - celebrates the beginning of the church school year with activities and information for all ages. Fun and food for kids and adults plus different ministry highlights are part of this September kick-off.

Other family events have included a family devotional event, and special celebrations of baptism in January.

Church Camp Opportunities

In addition to camp for different age groups of children, such as Shetek Bible Camp,  family camp opportunities are encouraged and supported by Spirit of Joy. Families have enjoyed and been enriched by experiences at Outlaw Ranch in the Black Hills.  

Camp scholarships are made available to families and children every year to make camp more affordable and accessible to all.

Nursery for Family Use

Although we welcome and encourage babies and children to be with their families during worship, we recognize that there are times when a nursery is helpful!  Our nursery room is now staffed for childcare at the 11:00 am service. Our Nursery Coordinator plus volunteers will provide loving care for children ages 6 weeks through 36 months. There is a P.A. system in the nursery as well, so parents choosing to remain with their children may continue to hear the service.

Family Service

How do we thank God for the gifts God has given us?   One way to give thanks is to honor God by service to our neighbors.  We encourage our families to enlist their children to help with the various outreach ministries of Spirit of Joy.  These include school kits, food pantry collection, gifts for our Meals on Wheels clients, winter clothing for needy children and others. Family service is one important way to pass on the faith to the next generation!

Four Keys to Nurturing Faith

Caring Conversations ~ Sharing joys, concerns, dreams and faith questions in everyday life.

Family Devotions ~ Prayer, Scripture reading, devotional readings together.

Family Service ~ Fulfilling together God’s call to love our neighbor, giving of family time and resources to serve others.

Rituals and Traditions ~ Family practices of blessings, remembering birthdays and baptismal anniversaries, and the seasons of the church year in our homes.

Special Links for Families

The Little Lutheran  This is a wonderful publication for our littlest Lutherans (six and under) published under our church’s publication The Lutheran.