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:
  • Bible studies
  • Service projects
  • Fun events
  • Incorporating them into the overall life of the church
Please scroll through this page, or click on the links to the left, to see what some of those offerings look like.
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
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:
  • 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
These nights are designed for families to grow in faith together while building relationships across generations.
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 CONNECT

A 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).
  • In most months we’ll have two to three “regular class nights” that include a lesson, fun interactive activity/game, and small group discussion. 
  • One Wednesday night per month we’ll have a special activity (service project, fun night, or outing)
  • Most months we’ll also have a CYF Night. CYF Nights go from 6:00pm-7:45pm and include a meal, large group learning (often with a special guest presenter), and then small group learning time. CYF Nights are designed for families to attend together. Only during the small group time do we intentionally divide into groups by age, including an adult group.

Confirmation Forms

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!
​

SUMMER BIBLE CAMP

LUTHER CREST BIBLE CAMP

Luther Crest Bible Camp – Alexandria, MN
​Give your child a summer filled with faith, friendship, and unforgettable experiences! Luther Crest offers Christ-centered camps on the beautiful shores of Lake Carlos, designed for a variety of ages and interests.
Our church is participating in specific camp weeks (see above), making it easy for kids to attend alongside friends from Elk River Lutheran.
​
👉 Ready to learn more or register? Visit www.luthercrest.org/summer-camps

Don’t forget—our Endowment Team covers half the cost for Luther Crest campers!

 Check out some of the highlights from the past year:

    Have questions? Contact us today.