What is the Vocational Life Academy?
The Vocational Life Academy (VLA) is the formal educational ministry of the Board of Christian Education. Although focused primarily on the catechization of the youth, the program encompasses all the various classes offered at Grace. At its core, the VLA is designed so that the people of Grace may learn to think of their lives vocationally, that is, that every position in life (be it of a parent, a spouse, a son or daughter, a citizen, a grocery worker, or a soldier) is a calling from God and carries with it divinely appointed responsibilities through which God blesses His people.
The goals and purposes of the VLA are to provide a structure both within the church and at home in which the people of Grace can be spiritually formed and nourished through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this spiritual formation of the Christian happens through the Divine Service and Sunday School classes on Sunday morning. But, just as the physical body needs to be physically fed on a daily basis, the spiritual body needs spiritual food.
Programs of the VLA
It includes Sunday Morning Sunday School and Adult Bible Classes, Wednesday Evening Bible Classes and Confirmation Class, Various Weekly Bible Study Opportunities and Vacation Bible School.
The Vocational Life Academy (VLA) is the formal educational ministry of the Board of Christian Education. Although focused primarily on the catechization of the youth, the program encompasses all the various classes offered at Grace. At its core, the VLA is designed so that the people of Grace may learn to think of their lives vocationally, that is, that every position in life (be it of a parent, a spouse, a son or daughter, a citizen, a grocery worker, or a soldier) is a calling from God and carries with it divinely appointed responsibilities through which God blesses His people.
The goals and purposes of the VLA are to provide a structure both within the church and at home in which the people of Grace can be spiritually formed and nourished through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Of course, this spiritual formation of the Christian happens through the Divine Service and Sunday School classes on Sunday morning. But, just as the physical body needs to be physically fed on a daily basis, the spiritual body needs spiritual food.
Programs of the VLA
It includes Sunday Morning Sunday School and Adult Bible Classes, Wednesday Evening Bible Classes and Confirmation Class, Various Weekly Bible Study Opportunities and Vacation Bible School.
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The Icon of the VLA
Church steeples serve many purposes. The most important purpose is serving as a visible sign. The ringing of the bells served as a reminder of the centrality of the things of God to the faith, life and vocation of God's people. They served as a call to worship not only for the formal gathering of the Divine Service on Sundays but also the daily worship that is done through individual and family prayer and study of God’s Word. It is to emphasize the importance of keeping things central to the life and faith of the people of Grace, that this image of our bell tower is used as the icon for the VLA. |