Good Shepherd Church
Youth Online
Juarez Mission Trip
So if you're here you're probably looking for information
about one of Good Shepherd's youth programs or (most
likely) looking to download a health form or two. That's
stuff is all here, but... be sure to check out some of the
other resources we've got for those brave souls who have
undertaken one of life's most important challenges -
raising kids. Stuff like: featured articles, important links,
and advice from other parents and experts.
Welcome, Fans of the 4th Commandment
Download the GSC Health Form
For any event that involves an overnight or a trip it
is required that each student have a health form
complete with parental signature. Because health
information often changes a new form must be
filled out for each school year. Save yourself from
the hassle of filling one out on 'the day of' and
download the form now.
Click here to download the pdf version.
Click here to download the Word version.
Please Note: For safety and insurance reasons your
child may not be able to attend an event without
the form.
All You Ever Wanted To Know About:
Click on the icon for information on the following
areas of Good Shepherd:
Sunday School
Starlights
Confirmation
Sr. High Youth Group
Peer Ministry
Mission Trips
Retreats
Choirs & Music
Good Earth Village
We have one of the nation's best Lutheran camps right in
our backyard. Why not give your kids an experience of
the beauty, fun, and Christian community? Camp can
provide strong and beautiful life experiences that may
become the backbone of their faith formation.
Because we believe so strongly in the power of outdoor
ministry... GSC offers a scholarship of $50 to each camper
who spends a full week at Good Earth during summer
programming.
GSC also hosts a Good Earth Village Day Camp in June
of each summer. It's a chance for kids to get a good taste
of camp life right here in their own backyard. Counselors
from camp lead this action-packed week. This years day
camp goes from June 19-23 (Monday-Thursday 9-3pm,
Friday 9-12pm). For pictures from the past summer click
here.
For more information on Good Earth Village visit their
excellent website at www.goodearthvillage.org.
Confirmation
Starlights
Featured Articles:
"Children can withstand a lot of pressure
and trial from the outside if the home
inside is held steady by parents whose
character is steady."
- Stuart Briscoeg
"The best inheritance a parent can
give to his children is a few minutes
of their time each day."
- M. Grundler
The Teenage Brain - Does it ever
seem like it might be easier to learn
quantum physics than to understand
what's going on in the brain of your
teenager? Well, you are not alone. In
fact, some of the difficulty adults and
teenagers have seeing "eye to eye"
stems from the fact that their brains
are in very different places
developmentally. A interesting article
that might be of help the next time you
are getting frustrated with your
teenager.
Understanding and Preventing
Teen Suicide - Suicide is now the 3rd
leading cause of death among teens. It
is an unfortunate topic but one that
needs to be in the forefront of any
discussion of teenage health. This
article provides a good discussion of
warning signs, risk factors, and advice
for providing help.
The Tale of a Lazy Parent - An
insightful article that the parents of
any newborn/toddlers should read
about getting their children started out
right in their faith life.
Alcohol - Sooner or later, your kids
will be faced with the temptation to
drink. Here's how to help them make
the right decision.
Boys to Men: Emotional
Miseducation - How our society
teaches boys to forfeit sensitivity for a
'mask of bravado'. Teaching our male
children to deal with their emotions is
one of the keys to shaping a healthy
life for them.
Raising Strong Girls - What parent
doesn't want their daughters to grow
to become strong, capable, assertive
girls who can stand up for themselves
as they navigate the social and
emotional waters of childhood,
adolescence and ultimately adulthood?
Here are some important tips for
raising strong and healthy girls.
Teen Sex Linked to Racy TV -
A recent study in Chicago links tv
viewing habits to levels of sexual
activity in teens. Jokes and sexual
humor were found to be just as
influential as more explicit sexual
content.
7th & 8th Grade
Confirmation Parents
Meeting
If you missed our last
pow-wow, do not fear,
the info is here.
Here are the points of
interest and orders of
business:
1) Sign-up for a night to host our Youth Room
Open. The schedule is posted on the new youth
bulletin board just outside the youth room. If everyone
signs up for at least one more night we should be
covered for the rest of the year.
2) We discussed the May 5-7 End-of-the-Year Retreat
in detail. This is an exciting opportunity for of kids to
have a fun, hands-on weekend away. We are committed
to keeping the cost of this retreat under $50. This price
includes two night lodging in guest houses at St. Croix
State Park, food and transportation for the weekend.
Two elements in keeping this cost down will be the
willingness of parents to assist in driving and a pizza
fundraiser on Sunday, January 29.
3) During Lent our students will be doing a project
with their small group on Great Christians. The goal
is to share the biography and importance of a great
role-model of faith through whatever means the group
chooses (a skit, display, diorama, song, website, etc.).
There will be no regularly scheduled classes during Lent
as the groups will be meeting on their own. Please
check with the schedule (available here) for specifics on
this project and three days during Lent when both
Sunday and Wednesday groups will be meeting together.
4) In addition to the End-of-the-Year Retreat there are
two other large event coming up. The Middle School
Ski Trip and the Confirmation Lock-In are both great
events that have been highlights of our Confirmation
year.
- The ski trip is February 18-20 at Spirit Mountain
in Duluth. Cost is $150. Deposits of $75 are due
on Sunday, January 15.
- The Lock-In is April 7-8 here at Good Shepherd.
It is led by a local college outreach team but
the involvement of parents is absolutely crucial.
There is a nominal fee. Students may bring one
non-GSC friend each.
5) Lastly, Wednesday and Sunday night parents
split up to discuss particulars to their night of
Confirmation.
- Wednesday night parents are reminded to pre-pay
for the remaining Simple Supper meals ($12).
- Sunday night parents voted to extend the Youth
Room Open time so it would start at 4:30pm.
There will also be a group hosting meals on specific
Sunday evening. More information will be
forthcoming. If you would like to assist in this
meal hosting please talk with Mark or Peggy
Marquardt.
