Lutheran Social Services Shared Ministry

PROGRAMS

Michelle Underwood - Chippewa Valley Conference, Dairyland, St. Croix Valley, and parts of both Apple River and Heart of the North
Kathy Chesley - Lake Superior, Apple River and Heart of the North Conferences

Michelle Underwood - Chippewa Valley Conference, Dairland, St. Croix Valley, and parts of both Apple River and Heart of the North  [ TOP ]

Whether planning a program or looking for new ideas to enrich the spiritual life of your congregation, LSS can help. Listed below are some of the programs available to your church free of charge.
Please email me if I may be of service to you.
Michelle Underwood
munderwo@lsswis.org

ADULT STUDY
Birth Order: How the order in which we were born (oldest, the middle, or the baby) affects how we relate to others across our lives.
Time needed: 1 hour

Winter Blues: Millions of people suffer from SAD or “Winter Blues”. Learn what it is and how to overcome it.
Time needed: 1 hour

Personality Type: Learn more about your personality type through use of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator.
Time needed: 1 hour

FOR PARENTS & TEENS
1,2,3, Magic!: This video and discussion program takes a practical approach to humane and effective discipline of toddlers and children.
Time needed: 1-2 hours

Healthy Teen Relationships: With a religious emphasis, this program helps teens make healthy life choices through activities allowing them insight into their values, communication styles, and self-esteem. This program also stresses what’s good and what isn't’t when teens begin dating.
Time needed: 1-4 hours

Kathy Chesley - Lake Superior, Apple River and Heart of the North Conferences
[ TOP ]
For more information, call (715) 682-3289 or (cell phone) (715) 456-5716
email: chezfam@charter.net

ADULT INTEREST GROUPS
Passing on the Faith:Based on the book by the same name, this program discusses how we formulate our faith and how we share it with our families. Using a video called "Splashed with Promise," by Dick Hardel, scriptures and "The Four Keys," we will consider how to begin and where to find the time. Also includes a self-evaluation for congregations and a check list for spiritual training of children.

A Late Frost: A delightful video offering the thoughts of the late seminary professor Gerhard Frost on aging featuring interviews with people young and old from the Upper Midwest. The video provides discussion about growing old today. This program is especially good for senior citizen programs.

Plain Talk About Depression: Discusses types and causes of depression as well as coping techniques. Also provides ways a congregation can help depressed people. Uses scripture, writings, discussion, hand-outs, and a video called, "Nobody Knows," for help and encouragement.

Pete and Re-pete: How we recycle the patterns from our earlier years all the way through our lives, in our work and our families. Discusses how to determine our strengths and weaknesses, what is worth passing on, and what should be tossed out. also ways we can celebrate our "Family of Origin" and make our present families better. Uses worksheets, stories, and hand-outs.

MARRIAGE MAINTAINENCE

Retreat/Workshop: Using the books by Walter Wangrin, Jr. As For Me and My House, and other sources, we examine marriage as covenant, marriage as vow; why do we stay married? communication/dialogue; time together/grace. Includes retreat/homework (sharing as couples and as a group), music, thoughts on marriage from many sources. Four hours or more in an overnight retreat or divided day segments, or can be done in several class sessions.

For Those Who Hurt: Discusses coping techniques for those with chronic pain or illness or dealing with difficult life situations. uses scripture, humor,  music, and many sources and experiences. Also suggestions for how to start a support group. Program especially good for people with these problems, their care-givers, or parish nurse groups.

YOUTH GROUPS

Find Your Fit: Discusses the questions, How do you plan a life? How do you find your fit in your community, church, and world? It reminds you that God made you unique and valuable and that God invites you to an incredible future. hand-outs and scripture help you discover your talents, spiritual gifts, personality, values, and passions, and how to use them to do what God designed you to do. Due to length and intensity, program works best when divided between several sessions. Great for senior high or confirmation retreats.

Fatal Vision: This program talks realistically about the realities of drinking and driving with the use of several short videos and simulation goggles showing how it is impossible to drive safely while impaired. Discussion covers developing responsible attitudes and behavior in the use of alcohol and stresses prevention. Emphasis is on helping youth make better choices, know that they are valued, plan a response to peer pressure, know what the Bible and the church say about substance abuse and challenge youth to consider that we and the people around us are gifts to be cherished. Adaptable for youth and confirmation retreats.

Preventing Teen Suicide: Deals with causes, warning signs, what to do if you think a friend is suicidal, and coping skills. The program provides scriptural encouragement and support with the use of discussion and hand-outs. Adaptable for youth or confirmation retreats.

Funding from the ELCA Congregations, with additional support from foundations and other organizations, makes it possible for Lutheran Social Services to offer special church programming. All programs listed here are free to the congregations.

Although we request a minimum commitment of 6 people, we do not restrict the audience in any way. The host church may open the program to other churches or to the public at large.

Most programs are adaptable to one to two hours in length unless otherwise noted.