Join us from June 16th – 24th as we return to Kentucky to be good stewards of the creation that God has entrusted us with. Any high school aged students who will be an incoming freshman through graduated seniors are encouraged to join us.

More than missions and more than adventure, Creation Restoration is a unique experience designed to help youth make the connection between environmental stewardship, service to others and Christian witness. Our youth will spend three days restoring creation in the Daniel Boone National Forest – projects include cleaning up watersheds, building trail systems and general maintenance of campsites. We will also spend 4 days managing the recycling program for the nearby Icthus Music Festival, billed as the “Christian Woodstock”.

We will also go on wilderness adventures, such as cave exploring, hiking, rock climbing or rappelling, giving them chances to appreciate the intricate world of the Creator from a new vantage point.

In short, this is a great week for your high school aged children to grow in their relationship with God, learn how to take care of the creation that God has entrusted us with, learn valuable leadership skills, and worship with some of the hottest Christian bands!

Find out more about Creation Restoration 2012 here.

Confirmation is for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We run a three year program where students learn about the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Small Catechism where we learn about Martin Luther’s teachings.

This is an important time in the faith lives of our children. Confirmation classes lead to the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism in the spring of the 8th grade year. For most of our children, they were baptized as infants with their parents promising to raise their child in a life of faith where God’s word, prayer, and regular worship play an integral part in the upbringing. Rite of Affirmation of Baptism is when our children, after having completed confirmation requirement, publicly affirm their baptismal vows (that their parent’s made for them) as their own, and the covenant that God made with them at their baptism.

Confirmation is not all classroom work, however. We also like to have a lot of fun too. We attend a Fall retreat at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in Oregon, Illinois, which is led by Peder Eide and is one of the highlights of the year. We also attend a Spring retreat as well. Service is a big part of what we do. Our small groups have service requirements that they fulfill each year, and we make to treks to Feed My Starving Children to package meals that go out to starving children all around the world. In short, our confirmation program readies our children to become adult members of the church, but more importantly, readies our children for a life long relationship with God. See more details about our confirmation program, including the calendar here.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says “Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. Here’s another way to look at it. Jesus is saying “If you’re tired and run-down, or, if you feel like you’re the only one who’s going through this, come to me with all of these things that weigh you down. I will carry them for you and refresh your soul.

Isn’t that what our young people need? To know that they are not alone? In a society where the media and messages they receive don’t necessarily mimic God’s  intentions, we offer them a venue in which they can know they are not alone, that there are people who truly care for their needs, and hear the good news of the Gospel.

re:fresh is for High School aged students, and meets Thursday nights from 7-9pm @ Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church. 10805 East Main Street, Huntley Il (847)669-9448

Find out more information about re:fresh here.