Children, Youth & Family Ministry (CYF)
|
Faith Formation is an important part of Elk River Lutheran Church. Our ministries, from preschool through high school, nurture students and their families in their faith journey by providing:
Reach out with any questions (contact form at the bottom of this page). All are welcomed, celebrated, and loved, and you do not need to be a member of ERLC to participate. |
|
CYF NIGHT
Fellowship - Learning - Fun for All Ages
Upcoming CYF Night Dates
Time: 6pm - 7:45pm
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2026
April 22, 2026
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2026
April 22, 2026
CYF Nights (Children, Youth, and Family Nights)Our monthly CYF Nights are a vibrant part of life at Elk River Lutheran Church—bringing together kids, youth, and families for evenings full of faith, fun, and connection.
Each event includes:
Highlights from past CYF Nights include:
Join us as we share meals, grow in faith, and serve our neighbors—one memorable CYF Night at a time!
Each event includes:
- A shared meal
- A welcoming large-group session with icebreakers, songs, and a meaningful message
- Time in small groups to dive deeper into discussion and reflection
Highlights from past CYF Nights include:
- Learning to care for God's creation by planting prairie grasses with Heidi Ferris of Growing Green Hearts
- A powerful evening on inclusion, diversity, and antiracism with Dave Scherer of JUSTmove, through music and dance
- A service project where we made over 1,300 sandwiches for local food shelves and shelters—exceeding our goal!
- Creative and joy-filled themes like “Let Your Light Shine” (neon night!) and a “Christmas Party for Jesus”
Join us as we share meals, grow in faith, and serve our neighbors—one memorable CYF Night at a time!
KIDS CONNECTA New Spin on Sunday School!Learning about God in a fun and interactive way!
👧🧒 Who is it for? Kids PreK – 5th grade ⏳ When does it happen? During the sermon at Sunday worship 📖 What do we do? Kids begin worship with their families, then during the sermon, they are invited to a special lesson just for them! Each 15-minute small group includes: ✅ A Bible story 🏺 ✅ Fun activities, crafts, and games 🎨🎲 ✅ Prayer and discussion 🙏💬 ✅ Making new friends! 👫 💡 No registration or cost—just come and join the fun! Listen for the invitation during worship, and kids can head to their lesson. 
|
|
CONFIRMATION
|
What is Confirmation?
In our Lutheran tradition many of us are baptized as babies, so Confirmation serves as an opportunity for students to learn and grow into a more mature faith, culminating in the fall of our student’s 9th grade year when they make public affirmation of their faith. Pastor Nathan leads our weekly Wednesday gatherings of students grade 6-8, which include lessons from the Bible, application to daily life, and small group discussion. (AND we have a lot of FUN!) We want students to learn about the Bible, church, and faith, but one of our primary goals is to build relationships between our students to make Confirmation a safe, fun, learning environment. |
|
|
Why include 6th graders in the Confirmation program now?
Last year was the first year 6th graders were invited to participate in Confirmation at Elk River Lutheran. Elk River schools follow a middle school model where 6th graders attend the same schools as 7th and 8th graders, so this change brings us in line with what Elk River and surrounding school districts are already doing. We also believe that developmentally 6th graders will benefit from the social and learning opportunities available with Confirmation. |
|
What is the Confirmation schedule like?
We meet most Wednesday nights during the school year from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm in the Community Room (lower level).
|
|
Confirmation RegistrationParents, please register your students
with form link below so we have the appropriate contact information. There will be a meeting for both parents and the 6-9th graders on Wednesday, September 17th from 6:30-7:30pm. We will discuss the curriculum and plans for a winter retreat! |
Confirmation Forms |
9TH GRADE STUDENTS (2025-26 School Year)
|
9th Graders—your big day is almost here! We can’t wait to celebrate with you as you take this exciting step of confirming your faith at our Confirmation Service on Sunday, October 26. This is a beautiful moment to affirm your baptismal promises, share your faith story, and publicly declare your commitment to following Jesus.
Please register on our website so we know you’re ready for this important milestone! Our journey begins with Parent Night on Wednesday, September 17 at 6:30 pm—make sure at least one parent or guardian comes along so we can share all the details for this fall. From September 25 through October 22, you’ll join the high school youth group from 6:30-7:30 pm, then stay afterward (“After Hours”) for special confirmation prep—writing your faith statement and getting ready for your big day. We’ll finish by 8:30 pm each week. We’re so excited to walk with you in faith as you prepare for this special celebration! |
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 9TH GRADE STUDENTS
2025-26 School Year
|
HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH
Hey 9th - 12th graders! Come dive into your faith, the Church, and ourselves, and let’s figure out what discipleship means together.
We’ll spend time talking about God and the Bible and how they apply to our real lives. Occasionally, we’ll have service projects or fun field trips to see how God is at work in the community around us. Your voice matters—come share it with us on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm!
We’ll spend time talking about God and the Bible and how they apply to our real lives. Occasionally, we’ll have service projects or fun field trips to see how God is at work in the community around us. Your voice matters—come share it with us on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm!
High School Youth Mission Trip: Colorado Springs
We are so proud of the 12 high school students and 4 adults who served God by loving the people of Colorado Springs this past June. Our team painted, scraped, sanded, and prepped several homes in a housing development that supports people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We also spent an evening at a home for single parents - playing with their children and serving a meal so parents could attend classes.
Along the way, our students learned about, experienced, and shared the love of God in incredible ways. And yes, we had plenty of fun, too - white water rafting and hiking at the Garden of the Gods. Thanks be to God for each of you who supported us financially and/or prayerfully!
Along the way, our students learned about, experienced, and shared the love of God in incredible ways. And yes, we had plenty of fun, too - white water rafting and hiking at the Garden of the Gods. Thanks be to God for each of you who supported us financially and/or prayerfully!
SUMMER BIBLE CAMP
SUMMER FESTIVAL CAMP
Summer Festival Camp at Gustavus Adolphus College
Get ready for an unforgettable week of faith, fun, and friendship at Summer Festival Camp! Held on the beautiful campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, this camp offers two incredible experiences--one for middle schoolers and one for high schoolers.
Students will experience powerful worship, engaging speakers, small group faith conversations, and tons of fun with games, music, free time, and evening activities. Whether it's growing closer to God, making new friends, or just soaking up the joy of summer, Summer Festival is a life-giving week your student won’t want to miss.
Middle School Camp and High School Camp run separately but share the same core mission: helping students explore their faith in a meaningful, memorable way.
✅ Open to all students currently in grades 6–12
✅ Register soon—spots fill quickly!
Get ready for an unforgettable week of faith, fun, and friendship at Summer Festival Camp! Held on the beautiful campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, this camp offers two incredible experiences--one for middle schoolers and one for high schoolers.
Students will experience powerful worship, engaging speakers, small group faith conversations, and tons of fun with games, music, free time, and evening activities. Whether it's growing closer to God, making new friends, or just soaking up the joy of summer, Summer Festival is a life-giving week your student won’t want to miss.
Middle School Camp and High School Camp run separately but share the same core mission: helping students explore their faith in a meaningful, memorable way.
✅ Open to all students currently in grades 6–12
✅ Register soon—spots fill quickly!
|
|
LUTHER CREST BIBLE CAMP
|
Luther Crest Bible Camp – Alexandria, MN
There are so many options for different experiences and age groups. Full schedule is available on their website, which is where you could register as well. Located on the shores of Beautiful Lake Carlos near Alexandria, Luther Crest offers innovative, Christ-centered experiences that are fun, safe, spiritually filling and open to all! Visit their website for details on their programs and camps. www.luthercrest.org |
