SUNDAY FAITHGENERATIONS
CHILDREN & YOUTH
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
MUSIC MINISTRY
PRAYER NETWORK
SENIORS & WINTER TEXANS (JOY)
LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION
RAGGED EDGES QUILTERS
OUTREACH
SERVICE

We strive to treat our neighbors as Jesus would treat them.

Galilean offers a warm, friendly community of believers who strive to worship God, hear God's Word and receive the Sacraments. We give high priority to the study of God's Word, to reaching out, sharing the Good News of Jesus and for opportunities for service to others.

If you have no church home, we invite and urge you to begin worshipping regularly at Galilean. We worship every Sunday at both 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. services.

SUNDAY FAITHGENERATIONS
"Faith GenerationS" is our new Sunday-morning education format for children, teens, high school students and adults alike. It’s brain-based learning through song, story, movement, sign language and creative constructions, plus a little play thrown in.

Where did it come from?
“Faith GenerationS” is based on the learning model developed by Faith Inkubators. The curriculum, called “Bible Song,” uses song, movement, (including dancing and sign language) and repetition to actively engage participants in the Bible. Over time, the goal will be to learn by memory up to 120 Bible verses in content and context.

Faith GenerationS comes from two terms: "Faith" and "Generations." Teaching and proclaiming faith in Jesus is what we are about. Coming first from God, faith is heard, told, remembered. Faith is to be lived and passed on to others. The word "Generations" takes on two meanings as it applies to multiple age groups. The second, a more loose meaning, is that of "generate" as in "to power or to make happen or start something" … you know, like a generator.

Putting the two words together gives us "Faith GenerationS" (yes for now the capital S is intentional and for some annoying). Welcome to “Faith GenerationS” Galilean Lutheran Church’s Sunday school and education program, where all of our church members are involved, growing and sharing together.

When does it happen?
At 11:15 am on Sunday morning the music will start in the worship center (or the "sanctuary" for us lifers). At 11:18 am, the actual lesson for the day will begin. By 11:40 am, the story will have been told, verse said, sung, signed and danced. Then "Creation Commotion" will happen in the education wing as different hands-on projects and activities will happen.

Why change?
Our church's mission is to “engage our community," and many in the congregation feel that traditional Sunday School no longer fits the values and strategies of contemporary society. With a goal towards engaging young families, we have placed our core values on "Growing and Sharing Together" and "Youth: our Present and our Future."

"Faith GenerationS" offers all family members the opportunity to participate in the church service. Everyone can come and sing, sign, listen, dance and repeat. Adults can be there with their children and even make a craft or do other things. We can now engage one another in learning together and age is not a barrier, as all are welcome.

CHILDREN & YOUTH
At Galilean Lutheran Church, we believe Jesus calls all ages to follow as disciples. We are especially committed to guiding, encouraging, and teaching children and youth. We look forward to what they will teach us about following Jesus Christ.

A variety of activities and opportunities are offered to nurture faith. Groups for children's ministries include:

• Little Lights - 3 through 5 year olds
• Kids of the Kingdom - First through 3rd grade
• God Squad - 4th through 6th grade
• Confirmation - 7th and 8th grade
• S.U.R.F. Club - High School Youth

SURF: Soul-ly United Religious Friends
The S.U.R.F. Club is open to high school youth. The group gathers for various activities twice a month on Sunday night at 6 p.m. The S.U.R.F. Club also goes on trips and plans fun activities outside the church.

Confirmation
Confirmation classes are offered for 7th and 8th grade youth. Confirmation provides a “Head to Heart”© study of the Bible, Martin Luther's Small Catechism, and that it is good to be Lutheran. There are many fun activities incorporated into the learning.

Youth Camps and Youth Gatherings
Both Junior and Senior high youth programs regularly participate in national and synod gatherings. Summer events include Vacation Bible School and Day Camp sponsored by Cross Trails Ministry for children and youth from 4th grade through high school.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The following groups provide adults an opportunity to learn, discuss biblical, spiritual and timely topics and to pray together.

• Dorcas Circle – A woman’s bible study group, which meets at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the church.
• Star Throwers– A woman’s bible study group, which meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at member’s homes.
• G.A.L.S.– A woman’s bible study group, which meets at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at member’s homes.
• Evening Discussion Groups—“Tuesdays with …” This is a continuously evolving series of topics to be studied and discussed from books to video presentations.

Adult Choir
Our adult choir meets on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. to rehearse and to share in a little fun. The choir is filled with a variety of ages and abilities with all being welcome. The choir is a leader for congregation song in worship and for special anthems. The adult choir members sing at the 10 a.m. service and some give an added boost to our 8:30 a.m. service.

The talents of "Jubal Mountain" a bluegrass gospel group are used throughout the year as are a variety of solo group singers during the summer months.

Children's Choir
The children's choir practices as part of the opening of Sunday school. The children usually sing once a month.

PRAYER NETWORK
All members and guests are invited to pray for concerns in the church. Prayer requests are distributed via a phone network and e-mail.

SENIORS & WINTER TEXANS (JOY)
Just Older Youth (JOY), adults of the retirement and leisure time of life, meet from September through May at noon on the third Wednesday of the month. From January through Easter Winter Texans join in. Lunch (often a pot-luck) is provided, followed by a short devotion.

LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION
Lutheran Men in Mission meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. This men's group does many outstanding projects to benefit the members of Galilean and our community.

RAGGED EDGES QUILTERS
The Ragged Edges Quilters of Galilean meet weekly on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Quilters and non-quilters are welcome. Their mission is to make baptismal quilts, quilts for the youth at the Bokenkamp Treatment center, and lap robes and wheelchair bags for nursing facilities. They also participate in other “quilting” projects for special causes. Come for fellowship and fun as well.

OUTREACH
Jesus welcomed everyone -- sinners, the poor, the wealthy, adults, and children. In the same way, the members at Galilean strive to welcome everyone. From the moment you arrive to the time you leave, we want you to feel invited and welcomed:

• parking spaces have been reserved for our guests
• greeters will meet you on Sunday morning at the door
• ushers will be ready to assist you
• an attractive, "user-friendly" bulletin will help guide you through the service
• child care is provided during both services and the Christian education hour for nursery-age children
• children are included in worship with a children's sermon and bulletin geared just for them

SERVICE MINISTRY
Our service ministry extends the love of Christ to our neighbors outside the walls of the church building. We serve through a variety of ministries:

• Bokenkamp Treatment Center (a ministry of the Lutheran Social Services of the South) – Volunteers help lead Bible studies and worship, and staff the in-house store for the residents
• Foster Parents "Night Out" – Members of the congregation care for foster children and youth to give their parents a "night out." (We have had over 70 children for this event!)
• Salvation Army – In January volunteers prepare and deliver food to the hungry of Corpus Christi.
• Assistance for Abused Children – We provide Easter baskets, Christmas gifts, and back-to-school supplies.
• ELCA World Hunger Appeal – Our yearly Doulos Auction raises funds for this appeal.
• Merrill Gardens Center for Assisted Living — We provide a monthly devotional service at this facility.