St. John’s Confirmation ministry is about discipling 7th and 8th graders. Our goal is that they grow closer to Christ (UP), closer in fellowship with each other (IN), and are equipped to serve in Christ’s name (OUT). We also seek to grow in our knowledge of the key teachings of the Christian Faith as we pursue it in the Lutheran church. The Confirmation ceremony is not a graduation, but a celebration of a step along the way in a young person’s discipling journey. It provides them an opportunity to confess their faith, commit their life, and receive a blessing. For more information contact Pastor Mike or Kevin Mathison
Confirmation Retreat September 14-16, 2018 at Mt. Cross in Felton CA
How does Confirmation at St. John’s Work?
The Three-Legged Stool
Learning: Teaching the basics of the Christian faith in an interesting, involving, and experiential manner. (UP)
- Large Group Presentation
Multidimensional learning – personal faith stories, games, images, analogies, art, music, skits, movement, multimedia. A varied approach that takes into account the way young people experience life in the information age.
- Small Groups Time
Small groups of students with an adult guide that meet weekly to share highs and lows and pray for each other. In the group they will discuss the lesson, their lives, and plan fellowship and servant events.
Fellowship: Building group identity, trust, care and healthy relationships. (IN)
- The event will normally be hosted by one of the families of the small group.
- The small groups will spend time sharing highs and lows and praying for each other as part of the evening’s activities.
- Fellowship experience for the small group and its guide.
Service: Putting faith into action by serving others (OUT)
- The small groups will spend time sharing highs and lows and praying for each other as part of the evening’s activities.
- Sharing the love of Christ as a group with other people.
- Individual service in the church (acolytes, lay readers, sound technicians, projector technicians, greeters, worship prep, etc.)
The Typical Schedule
Week 1 Learning Event: Lesson 1 (At Church)
Week 2 Fellowship Event (Off site: Groups on their own)
Week 3 Learning Event: Lesson 2 (At Church)
Week 4 Guide Huddle (Host Home)
Week 5 Learning Event: Lesson 3 (At Church)
Week 6 Servant Event (Off site: Groups on their own)
Week 7 Learning Even: Lesson 4 (At church)
Week 8 Guide Huddle (Host Home)
We meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 until 8:30, starting September 5th. Learning events are normally on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month, usually in room 10. Fellowship and Service events are on 2nd. Guide Huddles on 4th. The exceptions are noted on the calendar.
What’s the Difference Between Confirmation and Surge?
Surge is a St. John’s youth ministry for 5th through 8th graders. Every Surge event is open to all, and students are encouraged to bring friends. Each event is stand-alone and doesn’t necessarily build on previous events.
Confirmation is a discipleship ministry that involves a higher level of commitment, and a deeper level of teaching. Confirmation involves service commitments outside of the normal confirmation meeting times. Each event is part of an overall curriculum covering the basic teachings of the Christian faith in two years.
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