God knew we’d need reminders to stop and tell the stories, the stories of God and his people, the story of God’s Son, our own faith stories. Use these pebbles as reminders to tell the stories…on special occasions… and everyday.

“… What do those stones mean to you?” (Joshua 4:6)
Then you can tell them…

Milestone celebrations connect families to each other and to the church. The following milestones are celebrated during worship services throughout the year. Each of these is preceded by a family-centered event that helps parents and guardians connect children to the faith in which they were baptized.

Baptism
On the first Thursday of each month, a First Lutheran Church pastor leads a class to prepare parents for the baptism of their children. Parents and local sponsors are invited to participate in this opportunity to focus on the baptismal promises by God to embrace the child as his own, by the parents to nurture the child and by the congregation to support the family in their journey. During the one-hour class infants receive a blessing bowl and their first milestone pebble. The class meets at 7 p.m. in the Gathering Room. To arrange for a baptism and to register for the class, contact the church office at (605) 336-3734.

Tell the story of your baptisms. Talk about your given names and why they were chosen. On the day of baptism, take lots of pictures, especially with family and sponsors. Consider giving a special gift to your baby to remember the day. Share with your sponsors how grateful you are for their presence in your child’s life and remind them of the importance of their role in their faith life. Pray for God’s guidance as you make these important life promises for your child.

Anniversary of Baptism
Each year on a Sunday in January, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Parents and their children who were baptized within the past year are invited to mark the anniversary of their baptism. They are blessed during worship, enjoy a light meal together and receive tools to continue nurturing faith in their homes.

Light the baptism candle while you remember the day your child was baptized, look at pictures and remember guests and gifts. Talk about what it means to “let your light shine.” Plan to mark this day each year as your child grows, perhaps with your child’s sponsors. Read about the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3). Visit the First Lutheran Church Library and check out children’s book on baptism.

First steps ... entering FaithWalkers
Three-year-olds who will be entering Sunday school receive an orientation to help them transition into FaithWalkers (church school). They receive a story Bible and learn about the importance of worshipping together and attending FaithWalkers.

Read together the words from the Service of Holy Baptism, (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 227) and talk about keeping promises. Use the children’s Bible (that you received from the church for First Step) to read a story, then say a prayer for God’s people as a part of your night-time ritual.

Lord’s Prayer
First-grade children learn about the Lord’s Prayer and lead the congregation in reciting it in March.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer with your child and encourage him or her to memorize it. Add this to your night-time ritual. Look up the Bible passage where Jesus taught his disciples this prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Display a copy of the Lord’s Prayer in your home.

Confession & Forgiveness
Second-graders learn about Lutheran heritage and lead the Confession and Forgiveness in worship in January.

Talk about the importance of admitting when we do something wrong and how it feels when are forgiven. Tell your child about a time when you were forgiven and when you needed to forgive someone else. When you go to worship, look for the Confession and Forgiveness in the bulletin. As a part of your night-time ritual, make a sign of the cross on your child’s forehead and say, “Remember God always loves and forgives you.”

Third-Grade Bibles
In third grade, students receive a Bible specifically targeted toward their age group. Full of pictures, activities and color pictures, this Bible allows a fresh encounter in Scripture.

Parents are invited to learn about the Bible to be given to their child, and to be reminded of their baptismal promise to “place in their child’s hands the Holy Scripture.” The parents come to a meeting and then fulfill that promise in worship. Third-graders and their parents later meet for pizza and to learn more about their Bibles. Third-graders are challenged to read and highlight a verse in every book of the Bible, families are encouraged to read the Bible together at home, and given fun worksheets to help!

Tell your favorite Bible story, then find it using the Bible that you received from the church, and read it together. Spend time each week exploring the Bible highlighting or underlining special verses. Together memorize John 3:16 and Philippians 4:13 (and any other verses that you like).

Apostles’ Creed
Fourth-graders learn about the Apostles’ Creed and lead the congregation in reciting it in November.

In worship, we stand for the Apostles’ Creed to show that this is something we, as God’s people, believe in. Use the Luther’s Small Catechism that you receive from the church to learn more about why we believe these things to be true. Say the Apostles’ Creed as a family, maybe at a meal, and encourage family members to memorize it.

First Communion
First Communion preparation is a family event. Fifth-graders and their parents attend four sessions: one to make a pottery blessing bowl and talk about baptism; a second to make a pottery chalice and begin learning about Holy Communion; a third where they make the bread to be used at their first Communion (and take some home to bake and eat as well); and a final session for conversation about what Holy Communion is and what it will mean for them. On Maundy Thursday each year, Fifth-graders celebrate their First communion by using the pottery chalices they made and serving the whole congregation the bread they made.

Celebrate this day with family, friends and sponsors. Have a meal together. Maybe you could make some bread for them with the recipe you learned during First Communion classes. Take pictures before the worship service. Place your homemade chalice and bowl with your blessing bowl in your home.

Entering Confirmation
Prepare your child for confirmation by explaining that this is the next step in their lifelong journey of faith. Read again the words from the Service of Holy Baptism, (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 227) and talk about keeping promises. As your sixth-grader learn about the 10 Commandments at church, go over them at home as well. (You can find them in Luther’s Small Catechism.)

Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation)
Confirmation classes take place when students are in grades six through nine. In the fall of their 10th-grade year youth, will be confirmed at the Affirmation of Baptism service held the first Sunday in November. Each youth will also participate in the Sophomore Mentor Ministry.

This is your child’s opportunity to publicly proclaim the baptismal promises that you made for him or her. This also initiates you child into ministry. It is important to understand this is not a graduation from the church. Now is the time to get involved. Find ways for your family to serve others together, worship together and stay connected to your faith.

Graduation
Prepare your child for leaving your house in a spiritual sense as well. Commit to new ways of staying in touch with faith traditions in the family and the congregation. As your child moves on, help him or her to find a place to worship. Be sure to send along their Bible, the First Lutheran senior recognition quilt and a cross.

Premarital
This is a great time for a couple to talk about their faith and how it was formed. Make time to discuss how faith will be formed in your new family. Worship together and continue the faith rituals you have learned: praying, reading the Bible and sharing devotion together.

Milestones bring God’s presence into the home and the rituals of daily life into the congregation. They renew and transform congregations with the mission to “tend the baptismal journey” through all the ages and stages of a life centered in Christ.

The Blessing Bowl given to you at baptism is meant to be the keeper of the pebbles. Place it in your home where your children can see it and bring it to you to ask the question “What was this pebble for?”