Youth
Sunday School
Children’s Sunday School classes are for all age groups ranging from 3 years old to high school. Classes begin in the Sanctuary at 9:15 am with a music session with Pastor Schroeder and continue in the education wing with classroom instruction from 9:30 am to 10:20 am.
Adult Sunday School is taught by Pastor Schroeder from 9:30 am to 10:15 am in the Social Hall.
Youth Group
Our Youth Group has at least two adult supervisors and is for youth ages 6th grade to 12th grade. The group participates in many activities and fundraisers including making and selling popcorn and buckeyes, Guitar Hero competitions to benefit cancer research and car washes. The youth also participate in a 24 hour famine – staying overnight at the church. There is a breakfast in the morning and is done on behalf of World Vision. The group attends youth conferences, concerts and movies together and has enjoyed toboganning and turkey bowling, too. Each Christmas, the group adopts one or two families in order to provide for a nice holiday for them.
Our Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran School
Our Shepherd Lutheran School opened with three association churches – St. Paul, Painesville; St. John’s, Geneva; and Zion, Painesville in 1980. Faith, Mentor became an association member in October,1980. Additional affiliate congregations were added in later years: Holy Cross, Madison and Good Shepherd, Mentor in 1986; Grace, Thompson in 1992 and Immanuel, Fairport Harbor in 1994.
When the school opened in 1980, it was housed at St. Paul, Painesville in two rooms. In the fall of 1983, the school moved to Zion Lutheran, Painesville. Two additions to the Zion facility, one in 1987 and the second in 1988-89, unified the campus. A new playground was dedicated in 1992. Another addition was completed in 1997 which included a Science lab, a Computer lab, a Library, and a beautiful new Kindergarten room with self-contained restrooms, sinks and water fountains. Most recently, in 2000, the office area was remodeled and now houses a Staff Workroom, Secretaries Office, Clinic, Conference Room, storage closets and the Principal’s Office.
O.S.L.S. received its state charter in 1982 and has maintained National Lutheran School Accreditation since 1989.
For more information about Our Shepherd, visit their website at www.oslpainesville.org.
Vacation Bible School
The origins of Vacation Bible School can be traced back to Hopedale, Illinois in 1894. Sunday School teacher D.T. Miles, who was also a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching the Bible to children. So, she started a daily Bible School to teach children during the summer. The first Bible School enrolled 40 students and lasted four weeks. A local school was used for classes, while an adjoining park was used for recess.
Vacation Bible School may be for only one week, however, what the children will learn will last a lifetime. Our VBS is normally held in mid-June from 9am – 11:30am. Children ages preschool to 6th grade will spend time singing songs, doing crafts, playing games and most importantly, learning about the Bible, Jesus and His works. There is no fee for this program, but donations of snacks, drinks and time are always appreciated.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this important ministry, please join us. Volunteers are always needed to help with decorating, teaching, crafts, snack time, games, etc. Please contact our church Secretary at 440-466-2473 for the name of the person(s) in charge of this years Vacation Bible School.