WORSHIP and CHURCH ATTENDANCE

As a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), BLH School adheres to biblical doctrine and practice as determined by the WELS. When enrolling their children in BLH School, parents /caregivers must understand that this is the doctrine that will be unwaveringly taught and practiced by BLH and its teachers. Children enrolled in BLH are expected to participate in all of its religion classes.

Devotions and religion classes are conducted at least once each day in the classroom. On Friday each week, a chapel service will be held on each campus.

God expects that Christians be regular in attending worship services. It is essential to the faith lives of believers, both adults and children, to attend weekly services. This may include attending more than once a week during special seasons of the church year like Advent and Lent. Occasionally weekly worship may be prevented by illness or unavoidable conflicts. However, when parents bring their children to church regularly, they are collaborating with BLH in carrying out its primary purpose - making lifelong disciples for Jesus who will meet together in heaven.

Many BLH school families attend different churches and some may not have an affiliation with a particular congregation at all. Thus, teachers will develop a classroom procedure by which children can report their church attendance privately. Students younger than third grade often cannot remember or become confused when asked about church attendance. Thus, recording church attendance and including it on report cards at BLH begins in third grade.

Teachers derive a way for students to share church attendance and communicate it to parents as a way to assist parents in reflecting upon worship attendance and discussing it as a family. BLH does not record and report church attendance in judgment of a family’s church attendance, but rather to encourage and support Christian parents in their endeavor to raise their children in the knowledge of their Savior.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Tuition for families who are members of BLH congregation is lower than for those who attend other congregations or who have not chosen to join a church. This is because those who are members of BLH Congregation contribute regularly during weekly worship services.

Those wishing to become members of BLH Congregation should speak to one of the pastors. In order to receive member tuition rates, the formal membership process and paperwork must be completed. Families who are or who wish to become members of BLH Congregation should be regular in their church attendance, their weekly giving, and their commitment to the ministry of BLH Congregation. A family demonstrating laxity in its membership commitment risks its member tuition rate, which could be retroactively changed to non-member rates at the discretion of the pastors, the principal, and the BLH Board of Education.

SINGING IN CHURCH

In addition to learning the songs, psalms, and hymns that are part of the music and hymn study curricula, the children will sing for several special occasions during the year. ALL children are encouraged to attend and participate in the Christmas service, Education Sundays, and the graduation service.

Students from Bloomington Living Hope Lutheran Church practice singing at BLH services. The invitation to sing is extended to ALL students of BLH School.

A singing schedule is available online and on the school calendar. Parents / caregivers receive notification through classroom notes and SchoolSpeak announcements and are strongly encouraged to support their children’s participation in singing for services. If it is not possible to attend, for planning purposes a written excuse should be sent to the child’s teacher at least one week before the singing date.

Joyful Noise is a special singing group open to students in grades 5 - 8. Information about Joyful Noise will be provided at the beginning of the school year.