
An OSL Youth Christmas
We had quite the finish to 2019 at OSL Youth Ministry. Before Christmas break, our middle schoolers had their second annual Christmas Games and White Elephant Gift Exchange. With over twenty MSYG students in attendance, we played such games as “Christmas Antlers,” “Unwrap a Kiss,” and “O Christmas Tree” before eating some Christmas pizza, talking about the nativity, and opening (and stealing) our white elephant gifts.



—John Schomberg,
Director of Youth Ministry



Four- and Five-Year-Old Preschoolers Walk with Jesus
The grocery store. Disney Land. Dance competitions. School. Building LEGOs. The doctor.
These are a few of the places Jesus has gone with OSL’s four- and five-year-old preschoolers—well, Jesus goes everywhere with everyone, all the time: we mean Plush Jesus, going with preschoolers participating in the Walk with Jesus Milestone.
Every child at Our Savior’s through grade five is invited to participate in a milestone. Each one carefully aligns with the stage they are at in their life. These milestones help nurture faith formation, bring families into relationships with the Youth and Family Pastor, and celebrate new seasons of understanding.
When students enter preschool, their world changes. For some it is their first time away from home. For all, it is a time of growing conceptual awareness.
At OSL, we celebrate this new understanding—and work to calm feelings—with reminders that Jesus is very present with us always. So for one week students carry Plush Jesus with them wherever they go. While they have him, their parents document where Plush Jesus went with their child and take pictures that help share their story, which are later used for a video to be shown in worship services. As students go through their days, constantly having Plush Jesus by their side, they are reminded that real Jesus is a part of everything they do. That there is nothing they experience that the Lord is not present for. In the midst of their fun, Jesus’ presence and love for them is reinforced.

If you are the parent of a four- or five-year-old presechooler and you need the SignUpGenius link for your child to walk with Jesus, email me, Melissa Nesdahl, Director of Faith Formation, mnesdahl@oslchurch.com.
Plush Jesus reminds us what a beautiful gift milestone ministry is. Know that Jesus walks with you always.