We want our kids to feel comfortable in worship, so a special "Pray Ground" was added to the sanctuary space back in 2022. Kids can color booklets that are related to the worship theme for the day, grab a musical instrument and dance during the music, help light the candles on the altar, play with a 'breathing ball', use blocks to build something creative, or pray with the 'prayer sloth' or finger labyrinth. They are also invited to participate in communion every week.
In 2026, we added a new element to our Sunday morning for kids. During certain months out of the year, PreK-5th kids can participate in "Worship & Wonder." At the 9:30 service, kids will start in worship with the rest of the congregation, and leave the worship space after the passing of the peace with two Worship & Wonder leaders for a story/craft/game time that connects to the theme of the day and is appropriate for their age group. Then, the kids will join the congregation back in the sanctuary for communion and the closing song. Look for "Worship & Wonder" dates on our church calendar.
Our curriculum changes every year based on the needs of the kids and concerns of parents. Currently, we wonder and explore different Bible stories, connecting them to topics such as social justice, spiritual practices, and social-emotional learning.
To volunteer or get more information, Contact Us!
Holy Trinity hosts events for youth in grades 6-12 as well. You can find meeting dates by checking out the church calendar as they adjust every year based on the availability and needs of the youth.
We typically meet a couple times a month on Sunday mornings from 10:45-11:30.
Holy Trinity High School Group also typically goes on a summer trip that focuses on cultural experiences, service, and faith formation both as a group and as individuals. A summer trip is a crucial part of this ministry allowing the youth to also expand their world views. Past trips have been to the Lutherhaven Bible Camp in Idaho and both ELCA National Youth Gatherings in Detroit, Houston, and New Orleans.
You can also follow the @htlcto Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
For more information about any of our youth ministries and volunteer opportunities, please reach out to our Associate Pastor, Emily Ebert.
Connections with Camp
For weekend retreats and Summer camps packed with fun and rooted in faith, check out Lutheran Retreats, Camps & Conferences. They offer Memorial Weekend Family Camp, Winter Family camp, and Summer camps that include a week full of crafts, outdoor adventure, singing, and making new friends.
We invite all ages to participate in worship. You can sit anywhere in the sanctuary during worship, but we know that it can be helpful when kids have a space they can call their own. We have two areas that are specifically made for children in our worship space.
PrayGround & Liturgical Library: Here, There are different activities to choose from that are connected to various parts of the worship service. For example, a "Prayer Sloth" whose arms you can wrap around you during the Prayers of God's People, water toys to play with during a Rememberence of Baptism, and streamers for dancing and singing. Kids can also choose to color or play with playdoh if they need something to keep their hands active. It is towards the front of the sanctuary, and we find this helps with kids' level of engagement.
A wiggle room: This room has a window and speakers connected to the sanctuary. There are toys for the young ones in our congregation who like to play. We find this room especially helpful because of the restroom directly connected to it and because it is an enclosed space. For kids who like to crawl and move around a lot, parents can feel a little more at ease.