Confirmation

Confirmation

2007-2008

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

- Book of Common Prayer, p. 832-833. A Prayer of Self-Dedication

Contents

Introduction to Confirmation at St. Johns

Confirmation Books

Personal Growth

Downloads


	Introduction to Confirmation at St Johns
	We do not prepare students for Confirmation. We prepare students with the resources and tools to make a decision about the Rite of Confirmation. All students who complete the two-year program will be honored at the year-end banquet, regardless of their personal decision regarding Confirmation. Each student will be asked to demonstrate personal growth in Service, Parish Life, Christian Education, and Self-Examination before making a decision about the Rite of Confirmation. First Year Confirmation has an academic focus. Second Year Confirmation matches up each student with a Mentor for our year-long mentor program. First Year classes take place on Wednesday nights during the academic year. Class will begin promptly at 6:15 pm and end at 7 pm. Traditionally, ninth grade is the time when youth begin the first-year class, but we do open up the class to older youth who have not yet participated in the academic portion. Attendance is expected at each meeting. If you have a good reason for an absence, call me the day before the class meets. If there are more than two absences we will schedule a personal discussion about your interest in continuing the confirmation program at this time. You are expected to attend church services regularly. First Year Confirmation substitutes one class for a dinner together in December. Please come to church at 5:45 pm. You will be back to church for pick up by 7 pm


	Confirmation Books
	Confirmation: A Workbook Based on the Book of Common Prayer, by Stephen Cunningham, Morehouse Publishing Mustard Seed Series: Confirmation, Leader Resources Keeping the Promise: A Mentoring Program for Confirmation in the Episcopal Church (mentor's guide, confirmand's guide), by Andrew D. Parker, Morehouse Publishing


	Personal Growth
	Each youth should be able to demonstrate growth in each of these four areas before making a decision about confirmation. This is not a uniform checklist, as each student will be beginning the program from different levels of involvement and understanding. Each student is encouraged to make individual decisions about how to grow in each area without worrying about what other students in the program have decided to do. Parish Life How have you invested yourself in the church community? Do you attend services each week? Are you an active member of youth group? Did you attend the annual meeting? Did you assist with any church fellowship event? Did you attend Holy Week services? Service How do you contribute your time or talents to the church and community? Are you an acolyte, Sunday school teacher, church musician or usher? Have you served a meal for Out to Lunch or helped with a church outreach project? Did you participate in planned service projects? Have you been on a summer mission trip? Are you involved with any school organized service group like SADD or Peer Helpers? Self-examination Have you been involved in a program beyond the parish level that allowed you to examine what you believe? Have you attended a Diocesan Youth Event, Cass Lake Episcopal Camp week, Music Camp week, a Teens Encounter Christ weekend, or a similar retreat or camp? If you have not attended yet, have you registered for one of the programs? Have you participated in any other retreat or program allowing you to really think about your faith? Do you journal? Have you read anything that has been helpful to you in your spiritual life? Christian Education Have you completed both years of academic preparation through the first year class and the second year mentor program? Do you have an understanding of what it means to be a Christian? Do you know how to pray? Do you have a good understanding of what it means to be Episcopalian? Do you feel comfortable using the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer? Do you feel that you have been adequately prepared to make a decision about confirmation?

Downloads

To download a copies of the First Year Confirmation Overview and Syllabus as PDF files, click on the PDF icon, or right click on the icon and choose "Save Target As" from the menu:

First Year Confirmation Overview 2007-2008	(66 KB)
First Year Confirmation Syllabus 2007-2008	(146 KB)