Westaker Free Lutheran
Kids' Club !!
The Westaker Kid's Club meets every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. during the school year.
Arrive a little earlier and enjoy a 5:45 p.m. Supper!
April 2024
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in
me, though he die, yet shall he live'”
The kids are learning about the life and the ministry of Jesus on Wednesday nights. In
February, we studied the different “I AM” statements that Jesus made. Starting again on April
3, we will study about how Jesus is the resurrection and the life and celebrate the events of the
first Easter!
All kids ages 4 yr old to 6th grade are welcome to join us on Wednesday nights at
6:30pm. We will meet April 3 - May 8th this spring.
The Kids’ Club end of the year program will be on May 8th at 7:00pm in the sanctuary
at Westaker.
Family, friends, and all in the congregation are invited to come
and hear what the kids have learned this past year! -Carla Bjorgaard
March 2024
February is a month we hear a lot about love. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that the
two lessons we studied were about Jesus' unconditional love for each person! The first week
we studied about Jesus healing a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus not only healed
the man’s physical sight, but he opened his spiritual eyes as well. We are all spiritually blind
and need Jesus to open our eyes and hearts to understand and believe the Bible. The next week
we learned about the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. After a person has helped a
neighbor with a need, I have heard them say, “That’s just what neighbors do.” We learned
who our neighbor is and how God commands us to love our neighbors. We learned all people
are our neighbors, not just those we like and who live around us. The people Jesus was talking
to thought it was ok to hate some people because they were different, for example, the
Samaritans or Gentiles. Jesus confronted this shallow love by telling the parable of a Jewish
man who was robbed and left half dead along the road. A priest and a Levite, leaders in the
temple, walked by on the other side and did not help him. A Samaritan man was the one who
stopped, treated his wounds, and brought him to a safe place to get well. The Samaritan had
mercy on the man and showed God’s compassion and love.
This was written in the teacher’s guide at the end of the lesson and I feel it
sums up the parable well.
“God wants his people to love others—no matter who they are—with the
same kind of love and kindness God shows toward us.” (pg. 82, Answers In Genesis)
On our own, none of us are able to love the way God calls us to. Only by the power of the
Holy Spirit, that God gives to us, can we begin to love our neighbors as Jesus calls us to in this
parable. Jesus was the supreme example of love as he laid down his life for us so we can be
forgiven and in a right relationship with God. He met our deepest need! “We love because he
first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
No Kids’ Club in March! -Carla Bjorgaard
February 2024
What a joy to be back in the routine of singing, studying God’s Word, and playing some
fun games with the students! Our first week back we continued talking about Christmas. We
looked at Matthew 2 that tells of the Wisemen who were searching for a King. The church
calendar calls this the season of Epiphany. And of course, we can’t end our Christmas season
without singing the 12 Days of Christmas!
We then continued with our study of the life of Jesus in Matthew 16 & 17. Jesus is
revealing to the disciples that HE IS the Son of Man AND the Son of God. “But who do you say I
am?” This is a question Jesus asks the disciples in Matthew 16:13-16. Peter replies, “You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This question from Jesus got me to thinking. It is a question we ALL need to consider
and our answer, or belief, has eternal consequences. If Jesus is the Son of the living God, then
his death and resurrection from the dead were powerful enough to defeat sin, death, and the
devil! He was perfect and able to pay the price our sins deserved. Through his resurrection he
gives us freedom from the eternal punishment of sin. He has met our deepest need.
I am so encouraged by one of the banners hanging in the sanctuary right now. It quotes
Psalm 51:7 "...wash me and I will be whiter than snow."
Please pray for Jess and me as we try to teach some spiritual truths that are hard for
adults to understand!
Kids’ Club will break for the Lenten Season starting on February 14. We will start again
April 3. -Carla Bjorgaard
December 2023
November has flown by so quickly, but it has been a good month of learning about Jesus in Kids’
Club. We studied how Jesus shows that his power is from God by the miracles he did on earth. He casts out
evil spirits, raises people from the dead, calms the wind and the waves, and our last lesson this month
was how he feeds over 5,000 people with just 5 loaves of bread and two fish.
The kids are so close to filling up the Scripture Memory Jar! I am so proud of how they have
practiced and learned so many this month! I pray these verses will guide them throughout their lives.
We had a “Bring a Friend” night to go with our review night. The youth helped put on a puppet
show and the kids enjoyed a few fun games to review the Bible lessons.
Our theme verse has been Matthew 6:31&33 (ESV) “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What
shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'... But seek first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
The Lord knows our needs and our wants and He is actively meeting them. As we enter the seasons
of Thanksgiving and Christmas may these verses remind us of how Jesus has met our greatest need, the
need to be saved from our sinfulness.
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-10 (ESV) sums up how God has provided salvation for each person! “But God,
being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our
trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved.......For by grace you have
been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so
that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (ESV)“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be
to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
The last Wednesday of Kids’ Club will be December 13 and that will be the night we have a
Christmas party.
We will start again on January 3. -Carla Bjorgaard
November 2023
We are in full swing with our Wednesday
night group and it has been a great month of
learning new songs, Bible verses and lessons about
Jesus’s power!
We continue to study about Jesus’s life
and his authority. He performed many miracles
that showed his power and authority. He healed
many sick people, raised dead people to life, cast
out demons, and calmed the wind and waves of a
storm. Only God could do these things!
The theme verse in Matthew 6:31&33 is
about trusting the Lord for our every need . I
pray the students would understand and believe
that Jesus is trustworthy! Thank you to the
parents and grandparents who bring the students
each week!
October 2023
We will be meeting each Wednesday evening in October except for October 25.
The kids can dress up as their favorite Bible character or animal on Wednesday, October 18.
The theme verse for this fall is Matthew 6:31 & 33 (ESV). “Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear? Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.”
The kids will continue to learn about trusting God for their needs, building their lives on God's Word, and learning about the miracles Jesus did on earth.
September 2023
Kids' Club will start on September 20th at 6:30 pm!
All kids ages 4 yrs - 6th grade are invited to come sing songs, dig into God's
Word, and make some new friends.
We will continue to study the life of Jesus this coming year.
Come and bring a friend!
Supper will start at 5:45 pm for everyone.
June 2023
Kids’ Club finished the year on May 10th with an end of the year program. The kids did a great job sharing what they have learned about Jesus and his ministry when he was on earth.
Also a big thank you to Jessica and Amy H. for teaching this year and to Marsha for the good food each week!
If anyone is interested in being involved in this ministry for children next fall please talk to Carla. We plan to start again in September!
Have a good summer! --Carla Bjorgaard
Kids' Club Program
May 10 at 7 pm
All Family and Friends Welcome!
May 2023
We started meeting again on Wednesdays in April, and I was so impressed how well the kids remembered the songs and verses from seven weeks ago! We had a lesson on what Easter is and why we celebrate it. Jessica led the kids in a leather stamping activity which involved using a piece of leather and making it in the shape of a cross; the kids had a lot of fun using mallets.
On April 26, they had a "Fun Night" of songs, games, prizes, and just having fun together. The kids earned it by filling up the Scripture Memory Jar. This group relishes hanging out together! I pray there would be lifelong friendships developed through this season of their lives.
Kids' Club will finish at 7 p.m. on May 10 with a program of singing and recounting what they learned this year. All family and friends are invited to come!
--Carla Bjorgaard
April 2023
Kids' Club will resume Wednesday, April 12th at 6:30 pm! Supper starts at 5:45 pm.
Kids' club will continue for about 6 weeks this spring. The students will continue studying about the life of Jesus, singing songs, making crafts, and memorizing Bible verses. There will be a short program in May. More details to come.
Please spread the word to any young people ages 4 yr old-6th grade in our church and community. If someone is looking for more info they can contact Carla Bjorgaard at 686.5235, look at the church website (www.westakerfreelutheran.360unite.com) or email the church at westakerflc@wiktel.com. Looking forward to it!
See you in April! - -Carla Bjorgaard
March 2023
Reminder Kids' Club will NOT be meeting again until after Easter (April 12).
The students will begin a new unit about the authority of Jesus. The theme verse will be Colossians 1:16&17 (ESV)"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." These verses speak about the preeminence of Jesus.
In February, they studied the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and how Jesus came to clarify the law. He explained how the law is not only about external actions and words, but it exposes the wrong attitudes of the heart. Praise the Lord Jesus came to fulfill a law we could never keep! Jesus then taught about trusting him for all our needs in Matthew 6. The young people are also learning the verses of Matthew 6:31 & 33 about trusting God for food, drink, clothing and the promise that our Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask!
We did a couple crafts for Valentine's bags our church gave to people who are not able to come to church for health or other reasons and the older people in our congregation to encourage them. The kids had fun making them and we pray those who receive them will be blessed.
--Carla Bjorgaard
February 2023
The students are learning about the ministry of Jesus. They have studied how He traveled all over Galilee preaching, teaching, healing people, and performing miracles. He did these to prove He was the Son of God and had the authority to forgive sins. The students had fun acting out many of the healing miracles Jesus did. The verses that spoke to my heart this month were Matthew 9: 12-13 (ESV), "...he said,' Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." I am a broken sinner and Jesus came to bring spiritual healing for our broken hearts and the forgiveness for our sins!
At the end of January, we plan to have a review night with puppets, lots of music, and review games. In February, they will continue studying about the teachings of Jesus and his ministry. Keep encouraging the kids to memorize the five verses they have been working hard to memorize! If they can fill up the Scripture Memory jar, they will be having a prize night and vote on a fun activity one Wednesday in February.
There will be NO Kids' Club on Feb 22nd because it is Ash Wednesday. --Carla Bjorgaard
January 2023
In December the students continued learning about the ministry of Jesus, sang Christmas songs, made crafts about the woman at the well and a Christmas ornament, and we plan to have a Christmas party to celebrate Jesus' birth. There was a lot of glue, pompoms, jewels, and stickers put to good use this month! Isaiah 61:1 has been the theme verse the first half of this year. As we are remembering the birth of Jesus, this verse reminds us of why He came and what He did. He proclaimed the Good News to all people that our sins can be forgiven, He binds up our broken hearts, frees us from the bonds of sin, and releases us from the darkness as we put our faith in Him. One song the kids learned this year was "Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven." I will end with these words. “Jesus, joy of the highest Heaven, born as a little baby under a wondrous star. Like us, crying, he takes his first breath, held by his mother, helpless, close to her beating heart. Jesus, laid in a lowly manger, facing a world of dangers; come to turn me, a stranger, into a child of God.” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! See you again on Jan 11th! - Carla Bjorgaard
December 2022
The students continue to study the life and ministry of Jesus. They studied how Jesus was tempted but did not sin,
how He called his disciples, His first miracle, and His conversations about spiritual life with Nicodemus and the women at the
well. Jesus offers us eternal life and changes us from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive! The kids are also
learning to sing a couple new songs about why Jesus came to earth as a baby, died on the cross and rose from the dead.
Jesus defeated death, our sin, and the devil. He gives us spiritual life and the hope of heaven as we put our faith in Him!
This year we decided to try encouraging Scripture memorization in a different way. We will not be doing a prize night
as we have done in the past couple of years. The students will focus on memorizing two to three Bible verses very well from
each unit. Each time they can say the verse, a pom-pom will go into a container. When the container is filled up, there will be
a vote on what they would like to do as a group.
Please take a look at the tree on a wall in the fellowship hall filled with “Leaves of Gratitude” from the kids.
Kids' Club will meet each Wednesday evening in December, except for December 28th. Their Christmas party will be
on December 21st! We will have a Christmas lesson, do a craft, and of course, decorate some cookies! Merry Christmas!
--Carla Bjorgaard
November 2022
It has been a joy to hear the kids singing! And a joy to be getting back to a more normal fall schedule.
As the kids finished studying creation, they made creative and awesome animals with clay! They will now be
studying the life of Jesus and learning Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has
anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (ESV)
They had a fun night of dressing up as a favorite Bible character or animal!
On Nov 9th and 16th, they can dress up in camo or orange clothes.
There will be no Kids' Club Nov 23. Please come to the Thanksgiving Eve service at 6:30 pm.
--Carla Bjorgaard
October 2022
We are excited to see all the kids again and look forward to a year of learning and fun! Marsha is
serving up yummy suppers again! Our teachers this year are Amy Hall (3rd grade), Jessica Jacobson (4-6th
graders) and I am teaching PreK-2nd grade. The kids will be studying Creation for a few weeks and then diving
into the New Testament.
There will be no Kids' Club on Oct 26th because we are having Pastor Phill Hooper here for Spiritual
Life meetings, which start at 6:30 pm.
Thank you to those who volunteer to help each week! 1 Cor 3:6-7 reminds us of how we as a
congregation plant the seeds of faith and pray He will cause them to grow and flourish.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither he who plants
nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.”
--Carla B.