We grow in faith by teaching and learning the story of our faith together, building relationships, connecting to our community, serving others, and inviting people in to grow together in God's love. Zion is here to partner with you to encourage the spiritual growth of your child.
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Learning during COVID-19
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Many things look different right now, but some things are constant - like God's love for each of you! All pre-elementary & elementary aged learning will happen off-site 2020, but know that Zion Lutheran is still loving & supporting the faith formation of your families during this time! Resources will be provided for families to use at home to learn and grow in their faith this fall.
Keeping kids, parents, and families safe and learning about Jesus is our mission this season. Zion is staying in close contact with the County Health Department, the schools, and state guidelines when it comes to public health recommendations. Know that you are in our prayers daily. Passwor is: ZionGale
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Contact Brianna Iverson
Director of Youth & Family Ministries to ask questions & get connected. |
Prepare for @Home Worship
Prepare a space that is most comfortable for you.
Worshipping at home gives you the opportunity to sit in your favorite chair or wrap up with your favorite blanket as you center yourself to learn and respond to God’s Word.
Create an Altar Space @Home
Prepare a space that is most comfortable for you.
- Inside, Outside, In Your Car
- At a table, on the floor, around a fire
Worshipping at home gives you the opportunity to sit in your favorite chair or wrap up with your favorite blanket as you center yourself to learn and respond to God’s Word.
Create an Altar Space @Home
- Blue is the color for Advent..........Find a scrap piece of blue cloth, an old blue shirt, a blue cloth napkin/towel, or even a piece of blue paper and place it in the middle of your kitchen table or coffee table.
- Add a small bowl with water........This is a reminder of our baptism.
- Create an Advent wreath to light as you worship
- Add a small cross to the space........This could be a cross from your wall, a necklace charm, or one made from paper or scrap wood.
- Set up a Nativity Set
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Welcome to the Spark Story Bible!
This collection of beloved Bible stories was designed to make it easy and fun for children and adults to get to konw the Bible together. Experience something new each time you read a story, through the carefully crafted words, the vibrant art, or the suggested activities and discussion questions. Grow in faith together as you explore God's Word.
Using the Spark Story Bible with Your Child
This parent guide can help you get more out of your experience reading The Spark Story Bible with your child. The story Bible itself offers numerous suggestions for activities and discussion questions. As you read with or to a child, you can stop and engage in those activities as they appear. You might make a special sound when one comes up, to transition from the story to the activity or question.
In addition, this guide offers ideas for further questions and activities. You can choose a time that works well for your family—at the end of the day, at the dinner table, or even in the car—to build on what you’ve read in the stories. The suggestions in this guide are meant to help grow your faith together by bringing Bible stories to life in your child’s heart, mind, and soul.
Discussion Questions
Choose a favorite Bible story to talk about. Use the following questions to spark discussion.
Activities
Squiggles
Be sure to watch for Squiggles, the expressive caterpillar whose response to each story will help spark children’s engagement with the story. After you read the text aloud, find Squiggles on the page and ask your child how Squiggles is feeling. Then ask why Squiggles feels that way. Invite the child to share about a time they felt the same way that Squiggles does.
Squiggles Spotting
Squiggles the caterpillar shows up throughout The Spark Story Bible, but sometimes he is hard to spot and takes a bit of searching. One of the best things we learn about God in these stories is that God searches us out too—and sees the wonderful things about us that not everyone else always can. Why not take our Squiggles-spotting skills and use them to see one another as God see us. Take turns “spotting” something wonderful or maybe underappreciated in someone else. Maybe it’s a kind thing one of you did for another, a special way someone smiles, or how they always have a funny joke or kind word.
Promises, Promises
We read about the comfort of God’s promises through many Bible stories. Share this same comfort through a promise made and kept. Choose a person you know who could use some extra love or might need to feel special. Then write a note or call, text, or e-mail the person promising something special. Think about a specific need you can meet and let the person know of your intentions. Then follow up! Make good on your promise just like God does for us.
Themes to Remember
Though God’s Word contains lots of stories and different characters, similar themes are woven throughout. And what we read in The Spark Story Bible is no different: lots of stories with similar themes, such as how God loves us, how God saves us, and God’s peace and presence.
This collection of beloved Bible stories was designed to make it easy and fun for children and adults to get to konw the Bible together. Experience something new each time you read a story, through the carefully crafted words, the vibrant art, or the suggested activities and discussion questions. Grow in faith together as you explore God's Word.
Using the Spark Story Bible with Your Child
This parent guide can help you get more out of your experience reading The Spark Story Bible with your child. The story Bible itself offers numerous suggestions for activities and discussion questions. As you read with or to a child, you can stop and engage in those activities as they appear. You might make a special sound when one comes up, to transition from the story to the activity or question.
In addition, this guide offers ideas for further questions and activities. You can choose a time that works well for your family—at the end of the day, at the dinner table, or even in the car—to build on what you’ve read in the stories. The suggestions in this guide are meant to help grow your faith together by bringing Bible stories to life in your child’s heart, mind, and soul.
Discussion Questions
Choose a favorite Bible story to talk about. Use the following questions to spark discussion.
- What makes this a favorite story?
- Who are the main people in this story? What do they care about?
- What was a problem that came up in the story? How was the problem solved?
- How does this story help you understand God’s love?
- What lesson did people in the story learn?
- How does this story help us understand how God wants us to live?
- What is one way you can show your love for God today?
Activities
Squiggles
Be sure to watch for Squiggles, the expressive caterpillar whose response to each story will help spark children’s engagement with the story. After you read the text aloud, find Squiggles on the page and ask your child how Squiggles is feeling. Then ask why Squiggles feels that way. Invite the child to share about a time they felt the same way that Squiggles does.
Squiggles Spotting
Squiggles the caterpillar shows up throughout The Spark Story Bible, but sometimes he is hard to spot and takes a bit of searching. One of the best things we learn about God in these stories is that God searches us out too—and sees the wonderful things about us that not everyone else always can. Why not take our Squiggles-spotting skills and use them to see one another as God see us. Take turns “spotting” something wonderful or maybe underappreciated in someone else. Maybe it’s a kind thing one of you did for another, a special way someone smiles, or how they always have a funny joke or kind word.
Promises, Promises
We read about the comfort of God’s promises through many Bible stories. Share this same comfort through a promise made and kept. Choose a person you know who could use some extra love or might need to feel special. Then write a note or call, text, or e-mail the person promising something special. Think about a specific need you can meet and let the person know of your intentions. Then follow up! Make good on your promise just like God does for us.
Themes to Remember
Though God’s Word contains lots of stories and different characters, similar themes are woven throughout. And what we read in The Spark Story Bible is no different: lots of stories with similar themes, such as how God loves us, how God saves us, and God’s peace and presence.
- In which stories do you notice any of these themes? How did they show up?
Luther Park Bible Camp
Luther Park, located along the lake in Chetek, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place to nurture faith through Holy play.
Luther Park is open year round for retreats and conferences located on a 100 acre site, covered with towering pines and surrounded by beautiful views of Prairie Lake. It offers a Christ-centered camping experience for people of all ages. Staff is trained to help campers understand God’s message of love and grace and to provide positive Christian role models.
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Luther Park’s ministry programs.
If you have any questions about Luther Park, please call the camp at 715-859-2215 or visit www.LutherPark.org
Luther Park, located along the lake in Chetek, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place to nurture faith through Holy play.
Luther Park is open year round for retreats and conferences located on a 100 acre site, covered with towering pines and surrounded by beautiful views of Prairie Lake. It offers a Christ-centered camping experience for people of all ages. Staff is trained to help campers understand God’s message of love and grace and to provide positive Christian role models.
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Luther Park’s ministry programs.
If you have any questions about Luther Park, please call the camp at 715-859-2215 or visit www.LutherPark.org
Sugar Creek is located along the lake in Ferryville, WI
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place where all generations encounter Christ, experience God's grace and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth in faith..
No matter your age, race, or income level, Sugar Creek pledges to have a program designed for you. Ministry programs run year-round!
As you consider entrusting your precious children into Sugar Creek's care for summer programs, know that their ministry is:
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Sugar Creeks’s ministry programs. If you have any questions about Sugar Creek, please call the camp at 608-734-3601 or visit http://wp.sugarcreekbiblecamp.org
is an extension of our ministry that offers a place where all generations encounter Christ, experience God's grace and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth in faith..
No matter your age, race, or income level, Sugar Creek pledges to have a program designed for you. Ministry programs run year-round!
As you consider entrusting your precious children into Sugar Creek's care for summer programs, know that their ministry is:
- Safe…Safety is our top priority. Rigorous background checks and intense training ensure that our summer staff members are ready to respond to emergencies. Our concrete storm shelter and on-site registered nurse provide additional peace of mind. We meet all safety and program standards of the American Camping Association.
- Christ-Centered…Faith formation at camp is not through rigid instruction or presentation. Rather, it is a way of life lived out in holy play, caring conversations, and intentional time in God’s beautiful creation. Our faith expressions go beyond worship and Bible study to permeate every aspect of the camp experience.
- Fun…Programs are full of age-appropriate activities, games, and songs. Campers participate in “holy play” with friends. Younger campers may enjoy creek stomping, parachute games, camp outs, and pony rides while the older campers canoe the Mississippi, have epic “Olympics” on the beach, and play Ultimate Frisbee.
- Small group focused! Our philosophy is that young people learn and grow best in small groups. Your child will be with 6-8 other campers and one counselor for most activities, allowing for personal relationships and individual attention.
- A partnership with your congregation!We are here to serve you! Join us for confirmation camp, Day Camp, Winter Fun Days or youth retreats, or book your own retreat! Our ministry is designed to support the ministry of your congregation and your home!
- Outdoors!Children need quality time outside. Our programs get them in touch with creation in ways that lead to awe, respect, and curiosity. Meals, Bible studies, worship, and fun activities all happen in God’s beautiful creation.
All children and youth from Zion are encouraged to participate in Sugar Creeks’s ministry programs. If you have any questions about Sugar Creek, please call the camp at 608-734-3601 or visit http://wp.sugarcreekbiblecamp.org
Contact us: Phone- 608-582-2818 Email- zziongale@gmail.com 20335 W. Gale Ave. Galesville, WI