July 2021

WAFL              Wednesdays at First Lutheran

WAFL (Wednesdays at First Lutheran) starts Wednesday, September 15th after school. WAFL staff will meet you at school like we did last spring, and we will all walk together to the church for snacks, lessons, music, projects, laughs, friendships and fun! You might want to invite a friend or friends to join you… kids don’t have to be members to have a good time at WAFL!

Let’s get ready for a fun year together!

WAFL is a weekly ministry for children from pre-school through 6th grade.

Church membership is not required for participation in WAFL; friends are also welcome. 

WAFL is a time to learn about God’s love and have fun in a safe space. We walk from school in a group (or kids can also be dropped off at the church, where an adult greets them). WAFL begins with an after school snack, after which we make some music (singing, ringing chimes, or ringing bells), have some classroom time, and end with games outdoors or inside, depending on the weather. Once each month, we all work together on a service learning project that benefits others. 

As our school year begins, most WAFL children will not yet be eligible for vaccinations, so we will follow the school’s guidelines regarding mask wearing and indoor protocols. We always promote hand washing or the use of hand sanitizer before eating and after using the restroom.

Creating a great experience for our children requires a team effort. The kids benefit greatly from the relationships they form with supportive adults, as well as learning ways we show God’s love to others. There are many ways you might volunteer, and all would be welcomed!

TEACHING: We always need people who want to teach! This doesn’t mean committing to be present every week all year; most current WAFL leaders are retired and take time off for travel or other volunteer opportunities during the year. We know this year some of our teachers will not be able to return at all, so there is a real need for new faces on our team.

FILLING IN: Another option is to help in a classroom for a few weeks sometime during the year, to replace a “regular” who is out of the area. Or maybe you could be available as ‘occasional’ sub, if that suits you better.

ACTIVITIES: We need teens or adults who are interested in leading games outdoors and/or indoors from 4:45-5:15. It could also work if volunteers want to be available for specific weeks or months. New ideas come with new faces! 

MUSIC: An accompanist is needed, either piano or guitar (or both!). These kids sing with gusto when they know the song! We also have chimes for grades 3-6, bells for grades 1&2, and rhythm instruments for younger musicians. Could you help lead any of these groups? 

PROJECTS/ CRAFTS: Our congregation has several artists, seamstresses, woodworkers and other crafters whose skills would be an awesome addition to our kids’ learning fun. Talk to us about how you might want to participate!

FOOD: Did we mention that these kids are hungry after school? As we begin the year, we will serve pre-packaged snacks, such as cheese sticks, yogurt snacks, popcorn, Rice Krispie bars, juice boxes, bottled water. If you can provide any of these snacks, please sign up on the snack list at church.

To volunteer, please call the church office at 218-864-5686. Thanks! 

REGISTRATION for WAFL will begin in August. Please fill out new forms even if your child has been involved in previous years. Thanks for encouraging and supporting our children’s faith journey!