SCENIC HILLS LUTHERAN PARISH

Bible Study​

Bible Study which is generally led by Pastor Vidler, and at times by our student interns. Most recently we gathered to study the Gospel of Mark.

 

Chili & Filled Noodle Supper

Each year church members gather together to prepare and then to serve a wonderful Chili and Filled Noodle Supper. The camaraderie shared has always made this a great experience, and today we continue to see the younger generations involved in every step of the process. The funds earned from this event help to support all of our education programs.

 

Trinity Scholarship Program

Recently a Trinity Scholarship Program has been developed to encourage the young people who are involved in our church and in our youth program. This $1000 scholarship will be available for a graduating high school senior with plans for continuing education.

 

Sunday School

Since 1892 there has been a continuous chain of children who have been loved and nurtured in their faith here at Trinity. Our Sunday School is led by several dedicated individuals and always welcomes new young ones for Sunday morning activities. All the children attend church service along with their families through the reading of our Gospel, and then they gather in our activity room for their lessons and activities. In 2013 the students were challenged to learn and study the Ten Commandments.

 

The children participated in the Christmas Eve Program last year by presenting the “Traditional Christmas” as told in the gospel of Luke.

 

High School students actively participate helping to teach the younger children and assisting our adult leaders wherever needed.

 

Puppet Ministry

The children all participate in our fledgling puppet ministry—singing songs and enacting plays for the congregation during Sunday or other special services

 

Vacation Bible School

Each summer we host a week of Vacation Bible School open to all the children in our area. In 2013 our theme revolved around SERVICE, and we hosted 30 children who declared this was “the best!”

 

Youth Group

This group meets monthly with an average attendance of 12 to 15. Some of their activities in 2013:

• Movie nights followed by discussion—with films including Life Without Limbs, To Save a Life, Facing the Giants, and Letters to God

• Camping at Trinity —with an outdoor movie, volleyball, and good food cooked over the campfire. 24 teens participated and then attended Sunday service the following morning.

• Christmas Caroling—teamed with the Sunday School and local Girl Scouts—at the Elizabeth Nursing Home and to many homes both in town and in the surrounding countryside.

 

One of the plans for 2014 is to incorporate some local mission work through connections with the Elizabeth Nursing Home to “adopt a grandparent”. Each youth will be paired with a willing resident to develop positive one-to-one relationships.

 

The kids are also encouraged to pair up with the local Servant Leadership organization to package meals for the needy.

 

Youth Mission Trip

2013 saw Trinity support its first ever Youth Mission Trip! Our group travelled to Minneapolis. In the aftermath of this life-changing experience another trip has been planned this year. The entire Youth Group has been very helpful in the fundraising efforts to support this program. So far these have included: waffle breakfast, spaghetti dinner, “toilet bowl” fundraiser, bake sale, funnel cake and “Easy as Pie” sales.

 

We look forward to our next Youth Mission Trip in July 2014 where our young adults will once again have the opportunity to see life from a different perspective and share God’s love and mercy in a real and practical manner.

 

WELCA – Women of the ELCA

When first organized in 1920, the Ladies Aid Society had 25 members. Its purpose has always been mission and charitable work. This group has also always contributed in substantial ways to meeting the more mundane and practical needs of the church building, sharing in the cleaning, cooking, and improvement efforts throughout our history.

 

In 1988 with the merging of the American Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Church of America into the one synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the women’s group became known as Women of the ELCA – WELCA.

 

Our meetings are held on the third Wednesday each month and include Bible Study and a business meeting with committee reports of various projects related to mission support.

 

One major effort for WELCA is the making and distribution of tied quilts. In 2013, 135 quilts were made and distributed to local food pantries, accident and fire victims, the Salvation Army in Freeport, the Freeport Area Community Churches, and wherever need is identified.

 

Our mission support is accomplished by involvement in many community events/fundraisers – the Elizabeth Spring Fling, auction lunch stands, the Elizabeth Christmas Walk, the Hanover All Church Bazaar, Relay for Life food donations. We also make donations to the local Hospice organization, Ambulance and Fire Department.