BASIS FOR OUR CONFIRMATION MINISTRY

 

Our confirmation ministry is based on the command of Jesus, “Go and Make disciples… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Matthew 28:19-20.  Confirmation instruction is just one of the ways we obey Jesus’ command to teach the Christian faith.

 

God gave us this command out of love for us.  We, too, love our children.  We desire that our youth have the best in life.  We believe that they cannot have the best if they lack faith in Jesus Christ.  We offer our prayers, our encouragement, and our faith, so that they may have the best in life—a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION

            In the Rite of Confirmation, young people publicly confess their faith, claim the promises of their baptism and begin to identify with and become involved in the adult Christian community.  Confirmation instruction is a team effort, involving parents, Pastor, DCE, and the educational ministry of the church in the preparation of confirmands for this important transition.

 

Confirmation instruction is the continuing responsibility of the parents and sponsors who made the following promise on the day of the student’s baptism:  “I promise to diligently and faithfully teach him/her the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer; and, as he/she grows in years, to place in his/her hands the Holy Scriptures, bring him/her to the services of God’s house, and provide for his/her instruction in the Christian faith; that, abiding in the covenant of his/her Baptism and communion with the Church, he/she may be brought up to lead a godly life until the day Jesus Christ.”

 

Confirmation begins at baptism when God claims us as His children and ends when we join our Savior in heaven.  The Rite of Confirmation is in no way a graduation from Christian education and growth in faith, but a stepping stone along our journey of faith.

 

God has entrusted the spiritual instruction of children to parents.  Confirmation instruction is a supplement, not a substitute, for this duty.  The basic responsibility continues to be with the parents or guardians—not the instructor or the church—to see that young people receive and participate in this educational process.

 

COURSE OF STUDY

 

Our Confirmation Ministry instruction is divided into a three year cycle of learning events.  These courses are normally taken by students in grades 6, 7 and 8.  All students attend the same learning events at the same time.  Over the course of three years, the student will have completed the following cycle.

 

Year A:  Old and New Testament Overview

Year B:  Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, and Confession—Office

   of the Keys and Martin Luther

Year C:  Ten Commandments and the Apostles’ Creed

 

The 2007-2008 year will cover Year A of our three year cycle.

 

A series of special sessions on the Sacrament of Holy Communion is shared with students during their third year of the cycle, usually grade 8, during the season of Lent culminating with their first communion on Maundy Thursday.

 

SMALL GROUP FORMAT

 

            All participating Confirmation age youth in grades 6-8 are placed in small groups of 3-5 youth of the same grade and gender.  Studies and experience have shown that youth have an opportunity to thrive in smaller, gender specific groups as they are not battling hormones and performing for members of the opposite sex, they experience less competition for attention of the group and their small group adult leader, they have more opportunities for greater personal sharing, and they are operating in an environment that encourages the building of relationships over a three year period.

 

            The size of the small groups also allows for more adult/parental interaction in the confirmation ministry, lessens disciplinary problems, and encourages a nucleus of relationships that assist in keeping youth connecting to a faith community after they are confirmed.

 

            During any given month, youth will experience the following events as part of the confirmation ministry:

 

Learning Events:  Learning Events are teaching times.  During these sessions the Pastor, Director of Christian Education, and other adults will be teaching the Biblical and Confessional materials to the students.  The Learning Events will include opening devotions, singing, applications for life, Bible study, small group time, worship and prayer.  Learning events typically occur on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  A full calendar is posted toward the end of this handbook.

 

Fellowship Events:  Fellowship Events are times when the small group that your child is a part of will do things that will be fun and build community.  Each of these events will be planned by the small group and their adult leader together.  Fellowship events occur every other month.  Whenever possible the event is scheduled on the fourth Wednesday of the month.  Fellowship event examples include: going to a movie or sporting event, pizza night, roller skating, bowling, mini golf, concert, ice skating or fishing, etc.

 

Servant Events:  Servant Events are times when the small group will take part in service to the congregation or the community.  These events will be planned by each small group and their adult leader together.  Servant events occur every other month, if possible the event is scheduled on the fourth Wednesday of the month.  Servant events in the past have included:  collecting food for CAER, sorting clothes for Good Will, bell ringing at Christmas, playing with the animals at the animal shelter, yard and house work for a shut in, packaging food for overseas missions, inspecting boxes for Operation Christmas Child, cleaning and other work at the church, etc.

 

CONFIRMATION REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

 

            Involvement in confirmation is a choice that the youth and parents make.  It is a choice that requires commitment, assessment of family and personal priorities, and faith.  For the confirmation ministry process to succeed parents, youth, and staff need to work together as a team.  The church staff, however, are not the driving force behind confirmation, the parents are.  Parents make the commitment to bringing their children to confirmation instruction and activities, parents set the priorities in the family schedule of activities, and parents step forward in the faith they were also instructed in when they were growing up.

 

            Following is a list of requirements and expectations parents and youth need to consider for the coming year as disciples of Christ.

 

A.  Attendance at all Confirmation activities; Learning Events, Fellowship Events and Servant Events is required.  It is a part of the program to be involved both in the planning and the interaction that takes part in each of these activities.  If a youth is missing from any of these events they will be required to complete additional learning activities (i.e. worksheets or interview) for each missed event that must be turned in at the next Learning Event.  Excused absences include: sickness and family emergencies.  No other activities either from school or extra-curricular are a good reason for missing any of the scheduled events of Confirmation.  Each topic is covered once during the three year cycle so attendance at each event is crucial to the total learning process.

 

B.  Worship and Worship Notes:  Participation in worship is an assumed part of the life of a member of the Church of God.  It is assumed that the confirmation age youth will be regular both in worship and in Sunday School.  Attendance will be checked.  16 worship notes per year are a required part of class work.  Worship notes can be done at any regular or special service here at St. John Lutheran Church.  Worship notes will not be counted as done from any other congregation.

 

C.  Acolyte:  Each small group will be scheduled on a rotating basis to serve as acolytes in worship here at St. John Lutheran Church at least once every six weeks at one of the Sunday morning or special services.  If your child is unable to acolyte, it is the responsibility of each family to find a replacement and inform both the student’s Adult Small Group Leader and the Church office by Wednesday of the week in which the schedule change takes place.  This advance notice allows the church office to print the names of the youth in the Sunday bulletin.  Each student is expected to serve as an acolyte at least 4 to 6 times per year.

 

D.  Discipline:  It is assumed that each student will afford to whoever is leading, either in large group or small group time, the respect and consideration due any leader.  If a student is unwilling to be respectful and considerate of either adults or fellow students the parents will be informed of each incident.  If a student is unwilling to participate in class in a proper way, the parents may be asked to carry on the instruction of that student on an individual basis.

 

E.     Memory Work:  Memory work from both the Small Catechism and the Bible will be required.  A schedule of memory work in a check list format will be given to the students at the beginning of each unit.  Memory work will be scheduled for and completed at the Learning Events.  Memory work must be completed each year for the student to advance.

 

F.      A portfolio will be maintained for each youth during his/her three years of Confirmation instruction.  The portfolio will contain summation sheets on each major topic area, worship notes, and a record of attendance and memory work.  The compilation of the portfolio materials will be assessed prior to participation in the Rite of Confirmation.

 

CONFIRMATION DAY:

 

            Confirmation takes place in the fall of the 9th grade year or after the completion of units for years A, B & C.  After a three session Confirmation study unit in October with their parents, the youth will take part in the Rite of Confirmation on the Last Sunday of October which is Reformation Sunday.  

FIRST COMMUNION:

 

            Proper instruction for preparation to receive the Sacrament of the Altar will take place at St. John Lutheran Church during Lent of the 8th grade year of the student.  Three learning events for parents and youth together will take place in preparation for Holy Communion.  First Communion and the First Communion Stepping Stone will be celebrated as part of the Maundy Thursday Worship service in the students 8th grade year.  From that date on, these students are welcome to come to the Lord’s Table whenever the Sacrament is offered in worship.

 

MATERIALS NEEDED:

 

1.      Each youth will need a Bible, preferably in a translation that is easy for youth to understand.  The New International Version (NIV) is one of the more common choices.  We will be making notations in the Bible and highlighting key verses so the Bible should be the youth’s personal Bible.

 

2.      Each youth should have a notebook with paper in which to keep notes, assignments, schedules, and other materials.  Youth should also have a pen or pencil and a highlighter.

 

3.      Youth will be provided a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism.  This text will serve as resource throughout the three year cycle and will be useful to youth in years to come.  A copy of the Small Catechism is also available on the church website.

 

4.      To assist in covering a portion of the cost for Confirmation, families are asked to submit $20 per confirmation youth each year payable to PRIZM.  This fee helps offset the cost of the Fall Retreat and the annual lock-in during Lent.  Occasionally, youth will be asked to provide items for large group events (i.e. cookies and hot chocolate for the Caroling night or chips and snack foods at the lock-in).

 

5.      Due to the various activities the youth will be involved in during the confirmation and the fact that parents are not always readily accessible, parents need to submit a Medical/Liability Release form each year in case of an emergency situation.  These forms will be available during the orientation sessions, on the church website, or from the DCE office.

 

HOW WILL PARENTS PARTICIPATE?

 

Since the primary responsibility for Christian nurture rests with the parents or guardians, it is important that they be actively involved in the confirmation instruction.  For this reason, we ask that parents be accountable for the completion of assigned homework and memory work.  Each parent and youth will be given a check list of the required memory work for the year.

 

Learning event worksheets will contain questions and devotional materials and topics to discuss within the family related to the weekly theme.  Parents can encourage youth in completing these elements by choosing a particular time each day and week for discussion.

 

Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend learning events during the large group time and assist the small group leader on fellowship and servant event activities.

 

Parents can also offer invaluable support for our confirmation ministry by daily prayer for their son or daughter, by keeping in touch with the staff and small group leader by discussing any problems as soon as they arise, and by cooperating with attendance and discipline guidelines and working with the youth to iron out any discipline issues. 

 

Above all, it is important that parents set an example for their youth in worship, Bible study, prayer, and personal and family time with God.  Studies show that a parent’s example has more impact on a young person’s faith than any other factor.