8 West 60th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55419-2553 | (612) 861-2265
Sunday School
News and Events for Sunday School
2013 SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR KIDS - REGISTER NOW!
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 12:42pm — MaryBeth
RELC – the place to be for the kid in you!
Richfield Lutheran continues a decade old tradition of offering quality, low-fee and free summer programming for kids in a safe and nurturing environment! All programs request pre-registration at least one week prior to the start of each program date as space is limited. And each of our programs is affordable with a cost of about $2.50 per hour for a fun, supervised week of interactive learning and relationship building with other kids in our community.
MAY 29 - 31 PB&J Kids Adventure Camp 9:30 – noon
That's Praise, Beauty and Joy - and each day we find ways to celebrate all of these in the world around us! A fun filled morning designed for preschoolers and kindergarten. Each day will focus on a different interactive way to explore God’s big back yard through interactive learning and play!
COST: A free will donation program
JULY 08 - 12 “Once Upon a Musical” Drama Camp 1:00 – 5:00
A full week of theater fun and a full musical production is the result. Designed for the young actor, Kindergarten – 5th Grade, this program offers a week of intense theater training & two performances on Friday. COST: $50.00/child
JULY 15 - 19 “I’m a Gleek” Show Choir Camp 1:00 – 5:00
Back for it’s fourth summer, the RELC Sing-sations will learn the art of show choir and dance for performance in Friday night’s cabaret. Designed for 6th grade – high school, this is an intense week of song and dance training and show choir performance.
COST: $65.00/child and includes a show choir tee shirt
JULY 29 – AUGUST 02 Creation Keepers Ecology Camp 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
This camp’s motto is “Saving the Planet One Child At A Time!” Each day a different theme and a different way to be a creation keeper. Designed for preschoolers – 5th graders, kids will learn how they can take care of the planet through hands on learning and daily field trips.
COST: $40.00/child and includes three bus trip adventures
REGISTER ONLINE NOW
REGISTRATION FORM IS ATTACHED BELOW
Richfield Lutheran Church
60th Street @ Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis 612.861.2265
Registration Form Required for 2012/13 Programming
Sat, 09/08/2012 - 7:45am — MaryBeth
Richfield Lutheran is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing place for all our programming, theater and activities for children. We require that we have information about a child and their family contact information before we start any multi-day program. Please tale time to fill out the attached form and bring it to one of the beginning sessions of your child's course work. For those returning, please fill out a new form if you have changed any of the contact information or something has arisen that we need to know about as RELC staff. A current form can be found at the bottom of this article. Thank you!
2012/13 program registration form attached
News From Faith Development
Thu, 12/22/2011 - 8:12am — MaryBeth 
NEWS FROM FAITH DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES
JANUARY 2013: We continue to find ways to warm out heart in these cold midwinter days. Our complexion of what makes up a congregation of faithful people may be different then ten or twenty years ago. But…regardless we are seeing children, teens and adults who are doing good works for God’s people in many different and new creative ways. In this issue of The Good News you can see all kinds of ways we are reaching out to others with the love, care and compassion of Christ. My questions and challenge to each of us is “How do we support the many ministries of RELC?” Each of us is called to support the body of Christ in our many ministries – even if it is not a ministry we are directly part of. How can we do that? Simple. We can each pray, attend, contribute, donate and positively uplift with others all the wonderful things happening at RELC (whether we participate in the ministry or not.) Of course, not everything will be for everyone – but we can build positive energy through support in our positive conversations and prayers about what is happening that will make RELC strong into the next 100 years. This photo alone show our future in the children and families of RELC as they make Valentine Day flower arrangements for use in the weeks ahead for coffee hour and other events in the Fellowship Hall. Let us always embrace each other – each of us - as a vital part of the body of Christ. Together we are making firm and solid footprints in the neighborhood, community and world – and that is a GOOD and GOD thing! Winter blessings to you! Mary Beth Weibel, Minister of Faith Development
“Don’t we do anything but drama around here?” I hear that question here and there around Richfield Lutheran and thought it might be best to answer it in print for all to read. The answer is “YES, we do lots of things. Just come and see!” Summer is a time when we REALLY do a lot of things for youth and families at RELC. You see, it is a common fact that ‘when school is off – church is on.” And during the summer our programming focus is all about “Serving God by Serving Others” with programs, activities and worship services that involve God’s children of all ages. Member or not, RELC is the place to be for youth and families all summer long– it has been for the past three decades. The fact is when school is off – there are many families in our congregation and community that need a safe and nurturing place for children who are past the childcare option but too young to be home alone all day. This is exactly the niche that RELC fills! This summer we have the following options that include ALL of our congregational children for at least one or more activities and a WHOLE BUNCH of our community families in the south Minneapolis, Richfield and beyond communities. Each program building on our mission statement by being ambassadors for Christ in the world around us. Here’s a list of what is happening this summer:
PB&J Kids Adventure Camp (June) Mission Trip 2012 (June)
Luther Park Bible Camp (June) Summer Drama Camp (July)
Show Choir Camp (July) Ecology Camp (August)
And in between fun afternoons where we host congregational and community kids for: Random Acts of Kindness (RAK Attacks) , RELC, clean & organize the church closets and bulletin board teams, flower water & weed teams, bible discussion groups, 4C programs, Feed My Starving Children packing teams, fun outings for all youth, lock-ins for (middle school plus) and late-ins for younger kids, art nights, worship team leaders at The 10:45, host park activities and youth leadership training.
Anything but drama – absolutely! But remember, we also do drama VERY WELL and we should be proud to be one of the “best church theaters” in the twin cities area! Please keep the children and our program staff in your thoughts and prayers. And if you are around the church during the week this summer – look for us! We’ll be there creating a safe and nurturing place for God’s children! Thanks for your support!
Mary Beth Weibel, Minister of Faith Development
Y-LIFE: Youth Living in Faith Everyday!
Sun, 01/02/2011 - 7:09am — MaryBeth
We are Christ's ambassadors in the world!
You will never know where you will find the youth of RELC making a difference in their neighborhood, community or the world. Our motto is to 'Serve God by Serving Others' and that might find us at worship, teaching Sunday School, working a church dinner, packing meals at Feed My Starving Children and sharing faith, fun and fellowship over a stack of pancakes at Perkins or a board game afternoon at the church.
Y-LIFE youth, we're everywhere! Come join us!
Drama Ministry - More than just theater!
Wed, 05/12/2010 - 4:56am — MaryBethDRAMA MINISTRY – MORE THAN JUST THEATER…
Well..the set is cleared, the lights are down and the costumes and props are almost put away...I guess that means the house is dark...for awhile anyway! This past weekend, a cast and crew of over 100 adults and children worked together to bring a double bill production to the RELC Theater that included “Bye Bye Birdie and Rock and Roll is Here to Stay!” And I hope many of you got to see the show because the talent of our young people and supporting adults in the Richfield Lutheran Youth Theater Company is amazing!
Our younger troupe Drama Delights, learned how to have stage presence, project their voices, memorize dialogue, work together as a team of 20 and sing and dance their way into your hearts with a pre-show that told the history of Rock & Roll. Then, the Main Stage Players brought together 4th grade through 23 year olds in a full length Broadway musical (no junior versions here) of Bye Bye Birdie. But our drama ministry program is MORE THAN JUST A GREAT SHOW! And I feel a need to share that story with all of you…
You see, the finished product that the audience sees is but icing on a cake that is filled with many layers. The basis of all productions is grounded in the RELC mission statement. How? Let me tell you.
It invites all children – all talent levels – a place to do quality theater without the fear of rejection or inability to be involved because of cost. Theater is expensive and many of our production companies around town charge $100-$500 fees to be in shows. At RELC, the fees are minimal ($50 a show or less) and no child is turned away because they cannot pay the fee. That is covered by the Faith Development Ministry scholarship budget. While in production, youth learn to sing, dance and act along the way. For our high school plus cast, they are given opportunity to learn life skill tools like being accomplished actors, student directors, lighting designers, choreographers, stage managers and costumers – all skills that can turn into careers.
It is more than just putting on a show. You see, the acting and performances are the end result of living out the RELC Mission Statement. Theater involves ways to "love one another" with care and compassion, reach out to all people in our community and not just congregational members, inviting and involving everyone - all of this through the stage door! During the four plus months of rehearsals, the families involved in the show share their joys and struggles together and for many reach out to tap our ministry base beyond drama. Some, even have decided to make RELC their church home for other ministry options. Together our “theater family” form a small group ministry that laughs and cries with each other as we experience life on a daily basis. Many have become close-knit beyond the show.
The wonder of being a part of a production help young people and families achieve confidence, mentoring, fellowship and intergenerational opportunities through being on stage, part of the production crew and being part of a show family. In addition to long rehearsals, the youth come to support other church functions as part of their “give back” to the church that provides them with a theater and place to hone their talents. They do service projects around the church and in the community and do creative fundraising (like Cabaret Night) to help support the theater program, too.
Youth Drama gives a portion of each ticket sale to help in the upgrade and upkeep of the theater that includes equipment like wireless mics, lighting, cabling and sound enhancements that make our theater better and more appealing – as well as enhancing all the other functions that happen in the Fellowship Hall. And…we even have “patrons of the arts” who have given financial gifts to support the needs of the youth theater.
But the RELC Youth Theatre Company is more than just good theater - each production is grounded in both scripture and virtue/value base living examples – like understanding and talking together about the “Bye Bye Birdie” themes that promote acceptance of cultural and intergenerational conflicts that are not just a thing of the past – but a part of everyday life for all of us. Virtues and values are stressed as an intergenerational group of actors and adults come together with respect for each other. It is the “body of Christ” in motion – as without all elements working together – the show could not go on!
As you can see – the layers of this cake are many! Together our goals for drama ministry are to find ways to work things out, share in our variety of religious and cultural backgrounds, live in a theater world that allows actors to perform in all roles, share in a community outreach without the bottom line $ being the basis for ministry support, provide a place for adults and youth to work together and embrace a ministry that is to always further God’s kingdom and not just make every actor part of the RELC congregational base. And I think our youth theater company is doing a great job at accomplishing those goals!
And… if we also make others happy by watching the show, make people forget about their troubles for a few hours, make congregational members feel a part of the production through their donations of props and costumes, bring 500 community people through the theater who learn about the many facets of RELC through displays and playbills, -(and make enough revenue to pay the costs of a show and still have seed money to bring future productions to the stage) well, then we have iced a truly wonderful cake called outreach ministry!
And finally, I need you to know that before each performance, the entire company gets together for prayer. We thank God for the day, for each other, for the talents we have received, the abilities and facilities we have to perform and bring joy to the hearts of our audience. This weekend, I heard many prayers but these three petitions need to be shared with you:
“Thank you God for Richfield Lutheran for being my theater home.”
“Thank you God for Richfield Lutheran and it’s people for giving us a nice place where I can be a star”
“Thank you God, for Richfield Lutheran being part of my family”
And that my friend, is why youth drama is part of the outreach ministries of RELC.! This is the “News From Faith Development Ministries” for this issue. Grab a copy of the new RELC brochure in the Narthex for more summer programming options happening at RELC and share it with others! Thank you for your support!
MAY 29-31 PB&J Kids Adventure Camp =Praise, Beauty and Joy for Preschoolers!
Wed, 04/24/2013 - 6:15am — MaryBeth
It's Praise, Beauty and Joy for preschoolers
to learn about God's big backyard in a morning of fun
designed with them in mind. Each day a different theme
and a different way to learn about ourselves and
being community with other kids in a nurturing setting
that is designed just for preschoolers to 2nd graders!
FREE Program - donations accepted to cover cost!
Meets May 29-31 9:00 - noon daily Parent and Grandparent
volunteers welcome!
Please register at www.richfield-lutheran.org or by calling the church office at 612 861 2265 so we can plan just for YOU!
Aladdin Performance Sparks Newspaper Article
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 11:11am — MaryBeth|
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below:
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Join us Mother’s Day Weekend for…
DISNEY'S ALADDIN jr
May 09 - 12, 2013
May 09 6:00 p.m.
May 10 & 11 7:00 p.m.
May 11 & 12 2:00 p.m.
Adults $10.00 Students & Children $7.00
Tickets on sale now! Reserved limited seating performances!
612.861.2265 www.richfield-lutheran.org
Ole & Lena FUN-draiser: Another Uff Da Good Sucess!
Sat, 03/16/2013 - 9:10am — MaryBeth 
Raising $ AND having fun for kids to go to Luther Park Bible Camp! It doesn't get any better than this! It was a great night with over 150 people and 40 adult a
nd youth workers who helped bring this event to our community! We had a wonderful all you could eat dinner, a great silent auction and the a
ntics of "The Tina & Lena Show." And all proceeds went to provide scholarship $ for kids to go to camp.
nd youth workers who helped bring this event to our community! We had a wonderful all you could eat dinner, a great silent auction and the antics of "The Tina & Lena Show." And all proceeds went to provide scholarship $ for kids to go to camp. A little over $7000 was raised for Luther ParkCamping and Retreat Center. A
great night for kids - a fun night for everyone! Thank you Richfield Lutheran members, staff and friends for helping make year 17 another great sucess! Here are some pictures from the evening!
great night for kids - a fun night for everyone! Thank you Richfield Lutheran members, staff and friends for helping make year 17 another great sucess! Here are some pictures from the evening! Register Now for Youth Programs - Form Attached
Wed, 08/29/2012 - 6:13am — MaryBethRELC continues to provide a variety of programs for youth and families each year. As with all programs, we continually update our data bank with emergency contact and phone number info on all program participants. If you have auditioned for "Rock Nativity" we have your new 2012/13 registration information. If not, we ask that you fill out the attached form and bring it to the office when you are next at RELC. We continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment for all children and appreciate your help in keeping us updated. Thank you!
On-Line Giving: Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Fri, 08/24/2012 - 8:18am — MaryBeth
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7)
RELC is pleased to offer a "user fee free" on-line giving option for everyone!
Getting started is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Here's how:
#1 - Click below (or paste the following link into your browser) to be taken directly to the RELC on-line giving page:
#2 - Once there, create your own personal and secure profile that includes banking or credit card optional links for your on-line giving.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of RELC with an envelope #, please include this number in the "Address Two" line of your personal profile for church accounting purposes
#3 - Once steps #1 & #2 have been completed-Log in, using your secure personal identification and password, and let the giving begin.
Once you have been verified, you will be directed to RELC's secure personalized giving site where you can choose from three areas in which to designate your giving plan:
Regular Pledge Offering
Centennial Mission Fund
Extra Mile Fund
Your giving contribution will appear on your next banking or credit card statement and an itemized confirmation of your donation will be sent to the parish manager for record keeping.
Please note: this option of giving, although "user fee free," does assess Richfield Lutheran a small service charge for each transaction processed.
This option is one of many in giving opportunities for individuals. RELC also accepts traditional offering giving through check or cash, offering envelope, giving in worship Sunday mornings or banking institution "on-line banking" checks. Thank you for your generosity!
APRIL 12 CONFIRMATION PLUS WORKSHOP ***FRIDAY NIGHT***
Wed, 08/22/2012 - 7:51am — MaryBethY-LIFE YOUTH AND CONFIRMATION WORK AS PART OF THE WOVEN TAPESTRY THAT IS "YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY" AT RELC.
OUR CONFIRMATION PLUS PROGRAM RUNS AT LEAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND OFFERS YOUTH AND FAMILIES FAITH FORMATION, VIRTUE AND VALUE LESSONS, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OPPORTUNITY TO "serve God by serving others." WHEN THE EXPERIENCE IS COMPLETE - WE OFFER THE OPTION TO HAVE ALL YOUTH AFFIRM THEIR BAPTISM THROUGH A CELEBRATION OF CONFIRMATION EXPERIENCE. ***2012/13 Registration Form Attached***
CONFIRMATION PLUS- WHEN DO WE MEET?
At RELC, we realize that the traditional model of Confirmation Class every WEdnesday night, just doesn't fit with the busy lives of youth and families any more. Therefore, we offer a once a month Saturday afternoon workshop. Each workshop starts with a potluck meal - planned and served by our confirmation class for their parents. While the kids prepare the meal, parents have a chance to meet with each other and have conversations before their busy world starts again. After lunch and clean up, parents depart and the work begins! Devotions and check in happen followed by faith formation learning. Each session includes hands-on learning and dialogue and a service project related to the monthly theme. Children learn their bible basics and review at an older age those fundamental things taught in Sunday School. As young adults preparing to live and work in the world, current events are always brought into the mix as we discuss how we will live and work in the world today with all of God's people.
Each Saturday will be followed by a “service project” the following week. We will also have family service days – TBD and just plain old funday Sundays or other days to round out everything. I will have more details on workshop but here is the basics to put on your calendars.
Workshop always noon – 5 lunch option with kids preparing the meal
Service Project hours TBD
Creation Keepers Camp Blog (of sorts...)
Tue, 07/31/2012 - 7:15am — MaryBethJULY 30 - MONDAY - Get to Know Your Neighbor Day - 
We started the day with 52 K-5th Graders who became Teams, Earth, Sky and Stars! We did opening worship and talked about how we will be "Creation Keepers - Saving the Planet One Child at a Time!" We talked about trees and how important they were. Then we walked almost two miles total to Fire Station #27, and as we walked we felt the difference the shade of a tree makes in our world. We talked about how instead of chopping down trees we can cut and c=prune them so that they can continue to provide life-giving oxygen to us all. WE sang creation songs all the way down and all the way back. We were thankful for the six boxes of popsicles in stock at Holiday Station Store on the corner of 54th & Nicollet. We took a cool shower under a lawn sprinkler and brought an abandoned cart back to CUB Foods - just to be neighborly. When we returned to RELC - we laid out on the floor of the Fellowship Hall and gave thanks for air conditioning and snacks and cold juice to drink. Our bible discussion was on creation and used the Genesis scripture about "In the Beginning." We ended the day with Chapel Time and sang fun songs about creation - like The Hippo Song!
DAY 2 - Water, Water Everywhere! A trip to Lock and Dam #2 and Minnehaha Falls for a cool off under the shade of the mighty oaks. Our team learned a lot about the pwer of water and how our world is impacted by river systems. We also picked up a LOT of acorns to take home and plant in our own backyards - or to feed a feast to the squirrels. Minnehaha Falls roared in the background and most teams made the trip up and down the stairs to the base of the falls.
DAY 3 - Creature Feature Day took us on a field trip to Como Zoo. We had a program with the zoologist about how our actions impact the world and God's creatures in it. We then worked together as small groups to do a zoo scavanger hunt that taught us facts about God's creatures big and small.
DAY 4 - Serving God by Serving Others was our motto as 65 of us took a bus trip to Feed My Starving Children and packed food for a shipment to an orphanage in Haiti later this week. Together - kids 5 years through adults packs over 9,000 meals for FMSC during our 90 minute session. Good works by God's kids. Then after packing was through we took time to pray for the shipment and the life-saving nourishment it will bring to 
so many children. Our efforts will help feed 25 children one meal a day for one year!
DAY 5 - We celebrated a wonderful week of God's Creation by being in God's creation at Woodlake Nature Center. We came - we saw - we went on a scavanger hunt and we worshipped under the popular trees. A great week. the kids learned that they hold the future of God's creation in the palm of their hands. Each of them - a steward for their lifetime!
PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS OPTIONS
Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:03am — MaryBethDO YOU HAVE A PRAYER JOY OR CONCERN?
Let us bring your prayer petition to the RELC church family next Sunday morning. If you have a prayer joy or concern - here's what you do.
1. Go to the home page
2. Under "Site Navigation" click the Contact Us tab
3. List your prayer concern there and we will include it during our next Sunday morning worship. If you want us to reply to you - please let us know that, too and we will be in touch.
For more immediate concerns - please feel free to contact the church office at 612 861 2265. God's richest blessings on your day!
FALL INTO FMSC - Packing Sessions Every Month - Day and Evenings
Sun, 07/01/2012 - 9:01am — MaryBethFMSC? Why, Feed My Starving Children, of course! And we need you to help us pack meals for starving children world-wide. Fall and Winter are great times to pack and we have lots of groups going through the week. Below is our current schedule through the middle of 2013
All ages CHANHASSEN LOCATION - Drivers needed
RELC Packers - Noon - 2:00 p.m. SESSIONS
November 21
December 19
Christmas Season - Sharing our Gifts with Others Packing Session
December 27
2:30 - 4:30 multi-generational session during winter break
Free Transportation - Details to follow closer to event day
2013
January 14*
*Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Packing Trips @ 12, 2:30 and 6:00 p.m.
bus transportation provided - come and share in the MLK Day of Service Event.
The following are RLC Daytime Packer Shifts meet at church @ 11:30 a.m.
Packing Sessions are noon - 2:00 p.m. @ Chanhassen Location
February 20
March 20
April 17
May 15
"For I was hungry and you gave me food" Mathew 25:35
Wizard of Oz Memories - It was Magical!
Mon, 04/30/2012 - 10:38pm — MaryBeth
There’s no place like home, or….
The Richfield Lutheran Youth Theater Company!
Where we journeyed over the rainbow and back for five amazing performances! Every show was nearly sold out and the audiences were great! The weather cooperated with rainy days outside but rainbows inside! Check out these fun show memory photos!
What's next, you ask? We continue the magic this summer when
The Richfield Lutheran Theater Company presents, "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella - the enchanted edition"
August 10 - 12, 2012
toto
witch's lair
poppies, poppies
The Munchkins on tour at CUB Foods April 28
The 17th Annual Fall Festival - A fun time had by all!
Sat, 11/05/2011 - 10:05am — MaryBeth
The 17th Annual Fall Festival
The day might have started with thick fog – but it wasn’t long before the sun was shining around the 17th annual Fall Festival and Craft Fair. When all was said and done, we say a steady stream of about 700 people who came to the event. The bake sale and food booth were busy all day along with the games and raffle. The Crosstown Community Band entertained us at noon with a fun concert that included both classical and pep band music. The crafters saw good to fair business – depending on what they were selling. The Barrel Butter Booth was so busy that they ran out of product and had to shut down early while other vendors didn’t see much in sales. It does depend on the market and those you market to. But as one crafter said, “If you make back your table fee – it’s a great day because you get to meet so many people.” The flu shot clinic and blood drive saw a steady flow of people and the free pony rides and petting zoo are always a hit with the community. The volunteers did a great job with the day as well as set up and clean up and on Sunday morning we saw two families return for worship who had been at the Fall Festival! Our name and our programs/worship opportunities are out in the neighborhood and that is a good thing. The Bake Sale Booth outdid themselves and had a record $640 in profits for the day which will go to support our many RELC ministries after expenses are paid. Our community saw RELC shine for the day in hospitality and community welcome and we provided a fun, low cost or free way for people to spend time together. You can’t ask for more then that! If a picture is worth 1,000 words - the day was worth at least a million!
"Seussical the Musical" in Review
Fri, 07/08/2011 - 7:34am — MaryBeth
"Seussical the Musical" What Great Fun!
Could you, would you like the show?
In the meantime - enjoy these memories from "Seussical - the Musical"
Over 500 people got a chance to see Dr. Suess and his amazing characters come to life in the musical "Seussical" playing at the RELC Theater August 12 - 14. Great fun - great music - and heartfelt message about caring for each other. But once the house is dark - there is always another production in the wings. Auditions are being held August 16 & 17 for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" presented by the RELC Youth Theater Company
News From Faith Development Ministries
Mon, 05/02/2011 - 9:51am — MaryBethNEWS FROM FAITH DEVELOPMENT MINISTRIES - as printed in the September 21 issue of the Good News
“We are marching in the Light of God…” And singing, dancing, praying and serving in the light of God, too! Fall is always a busy time for youth and families. Fall schedules and school are kicking into high gear. As a church community, we are VERY BUSY working at RELC and in the community around us. Look for the youth of RELC to be very active in the next few months as they work among us in faith development, worship, confirmation, drama, garage sale and fall festival events and activities. I am very excited to see so many youth attending ‘The 10:45’ worship service and hope you will join us often and support this new ministry outreach worship. A critical mass at worship is visually so important as we bring new people into RELC Sunday mornings. Literally, there is something every week happening for our young people and families in and around RELC and we hope you will join us, too. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the adults who nurture and lead them on their amazing adventures!
Mary Beth Weibel,
Minister of Faith Development
LATE AUGUST ISSUE: There are so many things happening at RELC this fall. But as the summer winds down, it is also very important to highlight with you what a great summer it has been. Many of you are not around RELC on weekday afternoons, but if you had been you would have seen children all over the place, so let me share with you a summary of how the spirit is working to make RELC a place for everyone.
In late May we brought 17 preschoolers together for PB&J Adventure Camp. In June our high-schoolers went on a life-changing mission trip; those six kids continued to volunteer in their community and at RELC programming all summer long. Once a month we sent at least 16 intergenerational packers to Feed My Starving Children for a packing session to help combat world hunger. In July we had 62 kids in drama camp with junior high and high school age leaders who put on a great show about the Perils of Paul Bunyan and friends. In mid-July, with the help of camp credit received through your campership designations and the Ole & Lena Spaghetti Dinner last April, we sent 22 campers to Luther Park Bible Camp in Danbury, Wisconsin. They toughed it out during the hottest week of the summer in tree house camping. In late July, we had 45 kids experience Creation Keeper Camp and learn through hands-on activities how they can be stewards of God’s creation. The first week in August was Show Choir Camp where we doubled our numbers to 22 dancers. 
They entertained for the public Friday night but more importantly, every day the toddlers and preschoolers of our 4C daycare came down during camp and had a mini “dance party” with the dancers. Just last week, we auditioned 61 kids for our upcoming fall musical, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. That number includes all 12 of our RELC youth with the remainder being from our community. It was a lot of work and took a lot of people to be the leadership we needed to make these programs happen. The reality was we only had two adult members of RELC help as leaders for this group. The rest of the leadership was done by RELC’s Youth Group, Youth Theater Company youth, and their parents. Our membership is the membership of those in God’s kingdom who join us from the neighborhood and surrounding community. As RELC ages, we are transitioning in new people who are excited and committed to making RELC the place to be for youth and families.
And much like what you read in the Evangelism article about “Would you like to join me”, these people were personally asked to be a part of the RELC family in the fall. As a result, we several new community youth and their families joining our Confirmation group, about twenty families added to our Youth Theater Company roster and Wednesday night programming, and two families who are looking forward to joining The 10:45 worship and Sunday School experience this fall. It’s a celebration for RELC; it’s an even bigger celebration of how RELC is a safe and nurturing place for youth, families, and everyone, in the summer and all year long. Please continue to celebrate this growth through your interactions, attendance of fall programs and activities and most importantly your prayers, as RELC continues to make footprints in our community. Thank you for your support.
- Mary Beth Weibel
A Minister of Faith Development
Y-LIFE A Place for Service and More SUMMER 2012
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 2:53pm — MaryBeth
The Y-LIFE Group of RELC stands for Youth-Living in Faith Everyday. And this summer they are living up to that name with a great reputation. They are working with their busy schedules to find time for Youth Group meetings and with their busy schedules that is hard to do sometimes. 
This summer they will continue to lead and mentor community youth through a variety of summer camps and fun intergenerational events. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they help RELC be a "safe and nurturing place for children" this summer and all year long!
Richfield Evangelical Lutheran Church
8 W. 60th St
Minneapolis, MN 55419-2553
(612) 861-2265
(612) 861-2266 Fax
JUNE 24 starts Luther Park Bible Camp Week!
Mon, 06/08/2009 - 5:31am — MaryBethApril was Luther Park Bible Camp Month at Richfield Evangelical Lutheran Church. It is a time when we share the benefits of Bible Camp in a young person's like and why RELC supports camping ministry.
We are part of the corporatation of churches that support Luther Park Bible Camp in Danbury WI. We're going as a group from RELC to church camp June 24 - 29 this year. We know that Lake 26, the lake on which the camp is located, will feel especially good for this group of campers as they experience Tree House Camping first hand this summer. This year we earned funding close to $6000 for camper scholarships through our annual:
OLE & LENA SPAGHETTI DINNER
It was a whoop-dee-doo good time, don't cha know for everyone and camperships for Luther Park - with half the proceeds going in camp credit for RELC campers to use during our summer adventure!
Why Bible Camp? I am often asked this question and why is it important. In a world that if filled with everything from “Art Camp to Zoology Camp” and lots of sports and creative camps in between, the concept of Bible Camp has gotten buried in a large pile of possible registration forms. But here’s the thing: Bible Camp is a unique experience and Luther Park is premiere in that concept. They start with the diversity that comes from a camp staff from across the world, people who have a gift of working with energetic (and sometimes homesick) youth of all ages. They provide leadership, but more importantly, mentoring and a wonderful listening ear for all those conversations that come with teenage angst or elementary school friendship groups. They fill the camp with the concept that no child is ever denied the camp experience. That's a true servant heart concept in a world where camps of any kind cost nearly $500 per week. Bible Camp also provides a wonderful routine that many children need during the summer; a routine that starts early and goes all day with a little FoB (Flop on Bunk) time built in. And talk about faith life development! They start with morning Word; they offer prayers before all meals. They have morning and evening worship with lots of group singing; they share in daily Bible themes; they offer devotional small group discussions and round it out with LIFE Groups where kids apply their faith in everyday life. It all happens in a north woods setting where children see God’s nature all around them, not just in a zoo.
It's a place for base camping for the Great Lakes Mission Trip experience. In this concept, teens base at Luther Park Bible Camp. One of the many Mission Trip Adventures is to the Duluth area where youth head up to Duluth for a wonderful immersion experience with education and experience in homelessness, elder care, children, and service mission outreach. 
In a world that has become 24/7, we also provide a unique challenge for our children: no MP3 players or IPODS are allowed. No cell phones are permitted during camp or for mission trippers during the day. No e-mail leaves the camp. Only faith, fun, and fellowship for a weekend, a week, or a double week. For many of us, it is the retreat that provides a breath of fresh air (literally) in the busy world we call life.
Why Bible Camp? I can’t think of a better place to nurture faith for us all! For more information about Bible Camp or how you can provide a camp scholarship for one of our many campers or mission trip attendees, please contact me via the church at (612) 861-2265.
Mary Beth Weibel Minister of Faith Development
Drama Troupe Promotes Mentoring Opportunities
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 4:24am — MaryBethThe Richfield Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth Dessert Theatre Drama Troupe is a great place for mentoring opportunities to happen. Each week there are many ways in which the "olders help the youngers." This is seen at the high school level through the lower elementary ages where youth are helping youth in acting, running lines, stage directions, costuming, sets and make up. There is team work built into the fun and generation to generation mentoring. It's a great place to grow in spirit and ability. For more information about how your K-12 grader can be part of the acting experience, call Mary Beth Weibel at (612) 861-2265 x3.
Faith Link
Mon, 02/09/2009 - 11:13am — MaryBethFAITH LINK By integrating experiences of education and worship, children’s understanding of life together among God’s people is greatly enhanced.Worship and Sunday School provide many opportunities for children to practice their faith development through life skill development.
Development of healthy faith development can happen in many ways. Some happen in worship, like celebrating the sacraments, praying for others, sharing God’s peace and singing faith and praise. Others take place beyond the worship setting; praying at home, forgiving one another, sharing faith with others, serving God by serving others and working for justice in our world and local communities. Connection of children and families with their congregational family and community provides a strong link for putting our expressions of faith into action.
A key component to faith development is application development. Showing faith through example and participation encourage children of all ages to celebrate and share in the congregational growth and development of faith in action. Children, families, congregation, worship and education are key foundation stones for our building of faith and life long learning habits that can be strengthened in all of us. Who teaches a child about faith and worship – we all do!
