Growth in Faith Our highest priority at St. James is to help each person become a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are a number of ways for people of all ages to grow in their faith. Here you will find a list of some opportunities to help you and your family grow in faith. Sermons from St. James We invite you to listen to some sermons that have recently been given at St. James. It is our prayer that they bless, inspire and bring you closer to Jesus. Kids Connect 
Kids Connect is a biblically based interactive ministry to help kids connect with Jesus. All Kids are welcome on Saturday evenings at 5:15 (September through May; check worship schedule) and Sunday mornings (all year) at 9:15 and 11 am. Kids will study one Bible story per month and will go to a different rotation every week. They will interact with the Bible story through games, movies, crafts, cooking, drama, storytelling and more! It is our goal that the kids will be able to tell the Bible story in their own words after the one month session. The message is always the same; loving and following Jesus as we learn to be His disciples! As the children are promoted to 3rd grade they are presented with a student Bible. Vacation Bible School (see below) is a favorite annual event, along with other events that include; the annual church picnic, Advent Family Night, Baby Shower for Jesus and the Birthday Party for Jesus. We care about our children's safety, so please print, complete and return the student *registration form to St. James. Growth in Faith and New Member Classes Classes are taught twice a year to help us grow in our faith and are especially helpful for those who would like to become a member of St. James. Good for everyone, these classes are designed to encourage, strengthen and deepen faith. More information about these classes can be obtained through the Director of Discipling or the church office.
Spring 2008 classes. Vacation Bible School Each summer in June a free week long Vacation Bible School is held where children learn more about God's love for them through interactive Bible Lesson, worship, skits, games, video, snacks and crafts. VBS is open to all children ages 3 through 6th grade, with opportunities for youth grades 7-12 to serve. Contact Corey for more information. Confirmation Class Students, usually in 7th and 8th grade, begin preparation for confirmation, a time when they make promises of faithfulness to God and Jesus, affirming their baptism. The classes are weekly from September through May. The curriculum is Here We Stand, a curriculum from Augsburg Fortress that uses Lutheran resources that youth can relate to, multi-media, humor and the web to make the lessons come alive in a friendly, flexible and solidly Christian format. Anyone interested in more information should talk to Pastor Stuart or the church office. 
His Kids Christian Preschool is an exciting children's ministry of St. James Lutheran Church. Recognizing a real need in our community, the opening of a quality Christian preschool program became a part of our church's vision in 1999 for the future. In September 2002 we hired a director to lead a team of church members in establishing a well-rounded early childhood program that would prepare young children for school while nurturing in them Christian values. We have followed the licensing guidelines from the PA Department of Education and curriculum recommendations from area preschool and kindergarten teachers throughout our planning.
Following our church mission statement "Following Jesus, We Love God and Neighbor", it is our purpose to provide a quality service to families in our church and the community.
Much more information and registration forms can be found at His Kids! Please contact His Kids Director or the church office for more information! Small Groups We are highly committed to small group ministry at St. James. These groups gather in fellowship to share and study the Bible or life issues from a faith perspective. Sometimes these groups are oriented toward particular needs such as mothers of young children or those needing support in a particular time in their life. During sermon series new groups are often formed to help deepen the understanding of the particular topic or book. Many topics are covered, including practical topics and Bible studies. There are groups available for our youth, too! We believe that discussion groups help growth in faith and deepen the bonds of friendship and help to build a strong Christian community. Please contact the Director of Discipling to help you get connected with a group that fits your needs. YaP  YaP (Youth with a Purpose) is our youth ministry. YaP focuses on youth in 9th grade through 12 grade. Along with the YaP Monthly Gathering, they meet weekly, getting to know each other better and learning how to follow Jesus. Each month they enjoy activities such as volleyball, fellowship events, devotions, service projects, retreats, Bible studies, game nights and trips. The youth are involved in planning, preaching and leading several services during the year, including the 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service, after each mission trip and other times through out the year. They have their own web site, too. Check it out!
Serving Others  In addition to educational opportunities, we know that many grow in faith by participating in a serving or caring ministry. To learn more about that, please visit our Service page! Please contact Pastor Stuart or Bobbie, our Director of Discipling for more information.
Faith Building Presentations A new resource, these are presentations that we hope will inspire you!! It is our prayer that, as you watch, they touch your heart, bring you closer to Jesus and offer you just one more way to experience the love of God! Looking for More? Hey kids! Does God have a special plan for you? Check this out! PLEASE call or email to connect with someone who cares. We all have pain, struggles and questions ~ and sometimes it just gets so hard to face them. Are you looking for some answers? Are you looking for hope? PLEASE call or email to connect with someone who cares. For our Adults We love our kids! We do as much as possible to keep them safe. Adult volunteers are vital for any ministry to succeed and flourish. And it's FUN! Please talk with Corey or any of our volunteers if you would like to hear more about it. All volunteers need to submit background clearances. Here are some links to help you get started. Clearance information; Criminal Clearance ~ Child Abuse Clearance Other Resources for Children, Youth and Adults Looking for something for the kids? Try some Veggie Tales for the younger ones and some music or devotions for our teens at Christianbook.com. Looking for something for yourself or a friend? Look for Bibles, devotions or music at ChristianBook.com! How can I get connected? How can I get connected? For adults, contact Bobbie, Director of Discipling. For kids and youth, email Corey, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry. Registration forms are also available at church, at Kids Connect, and YaP! Questions? Please contact us!
Pastor Stuart Luce or Bobbie, the Director of Discipling (DofD)
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