GROW
Why GROW?
GROW is an acronym that stands for Growing Relationships On Wednesdays. It is St. Paul's weekly faith formation program for kids in grades K-5. Younger kids are also invited to attend, and there are trained childcare staff available to hang out with them in our nursery. We hope this program grows your child’s relationship with God, with other kids, and with you. We hope this program grows your relationship with God, your child, and other parents.
What do we do at GROW?
GROW begins most weeks with dinner. Just as Jesus gathered around the table to build connections with all kinds of people, we hold up the importance of sharing a meal together each week. Dinner is a community effort, with families sharing the responsibility of providing food. We ask each GROW and Confirmation family to provide at least two dinners during the year, if possible. Please know we don’t want providing dinner to present a significant barrier or undue stress for your family. Colter is experienced at making meals for large groups of people and would be happy to help you with any or all of the steps along the way, including menu, grocery lists, and food prep instructions. If purchasing groceries presents a financial barrier for your family, St. Paul is happy to provide support and purchase part or all of the groceries. And, if ordering pizza is what works best, we love that too. We use a signup system for dinner, asking both participants and dinner providers to sign up well in advance. Families are encouraged to communicate and coordinate with one another to “team up” to provide dinner. In order to allow meal providers time to grocery shop and prepare food, we ask everyone eating dinner to sign up by Monday evening. To best accommodate your family’s needs, please contact Colter ASAP if members of your family have dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Kids Choir
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St. Paul’s Worship and Music Director Janelda Barnett is an experienced music educator who leads our children each week. She teaches them music concepts and techniques as they learn songs of faith together. Kid’s Choir often involves more than just singing, and includes learning various percussion and musical instruments. The Kid’s Choir shares the songs they practice through performances during Sunday worship. Dates for performances are communicated well in-advance.
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Service
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God’s Work, Our Hands! Immanuel and St. Paul Lutheran are excited to announce a new collaboration for the upcoming 2025-2026 program year. Following in the way of Jesus, we welcome our children, youth, and families together to join for monthly acts of service. We hope these projects are meaningful and build connections among our people.
We will meet on the 1st Sunday of each month at 12pm noon, except during October. Meeting location will rotate between Immanuel and St. Paul, and will sometimes be elsewhere. Please see the 2025 schedule below.
September 7 2025 (@ ST PAUL)
Neighborhood Clean Up Walk (From St. Paul to Immanuel)
October 2025 (exact date TBD, depends on apples) (@ Marks Family Orchard)
Marks’ Macs Apple Days (picking, cider pressing)
November 2 2025 (@ IMMANUEL)
Make PB&J for the Poverello Center
December 7 2025 (@ ST PAUL)
Cookies & Cards for Homebound
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Story & Activity
Each week, kids at GROW learn about a particular theme. Each theme is connected to a story, usually from the bible, usually read from either the Spark Story Bible or The Peace Table bible. Colter and Pastor Annela have put together a great calendar of themes and accompanying stories for this year. They will alternate being the lead teacher for story and activity each week. They will also be joined by our assistant teacher, Rylie Curry, one of our nursery staff.
Staying in Touch & Schedule
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Colter and Pastor Annela will communicate each week ahead of GROW. We will send a reminder email on Monday each week, as well as a message on the Remind app. You are encouraged to regularly check your emails, and download the Remind app. To be part of the St. Paul Confirmation class on Remind, you can text “@stpaulgrow” to 81010. Or, send us an email, and we can send you an email invitation.
Colter colter@stpaulmissoula.org Annela annela@stpaulmissoula.org
Adult Volunteers
It takes many folks coming together each week to make GROW possible, which is one of the best parts about it. It’s good for us to be of service to one another, in fellowship and community. Colter is working on inviting trusted and enthusiastic adults to become assistant teachers for GROW. As parents, you are also invited to consider becoming an assistant teacher for GROW. You would help Colter and our childcare staff lead GROW on the Wednesdays you choose. For your safety and the safety of our children, we ask all adults who wish to serve in this role complete a background check through St. Paul, a video training, and an in-person training with Colter. Colter is happy to walk with you through this process, and welcomes anyone who feels called to contact him via email.
Parent Connect and Devotion
Part of our hope for the GROW program is that our families become a network of support as we walk the journey of faith together. Each week, printed copies of the readings for the following Sunday worship will be provided, for reflection and group devotions. You aren’t required to be part of the devotion each week, but we encourage you to!
Normal Schedule
5:30pm to 6pm Dinner with Confirmation families in Lower Level Hall
6pm to 6:20pm Kid’s Choir with Janelda
6:20pm to 6:45pm Story and Activity
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Special Schedule during Advent and Lent
During the church seasons of Advent and Lent, our Wednesday schedule shifts to accommodate St. Paul’s Wednesday evening worship services. These are special services your family is encouraged to attend.
5:30-5:50pm Kid’s Choir with Janelda
5:50-6:20pm Dinner with Confirmation families in Lower Level Hall
6:20-6:45pm Story and Activity
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Christmas Program
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Each December, St. Paul kids and youth tell the story of Jesus’ birth through our Christmas Program. This is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience for kids and parents alike, as kids pick roles, learn their lines, learn the songs with Janelda, and prepare for the performance. Your child is welcome to participate in the role and capacity that best fits them. This year’s Christmas Program will be during 10am worship on Sunday, December 7th. Rehearsals will begin during GROW the first Wednesday of November. If you have questions, please ask Colter!
