Confirmation 2012-2013

July 30, 2012 Dear Confirmands & Parents Grace and peace to you! Can you believe it summer is more than half over and September will be here before we know it. So heres your invitation to participate in St. Johns Confirmation Program for 2012-2013! For those of you who are new to the Confirmation program - Confirmation is a continuation of each young persons faith journey, a time the Church publicly recognizes that our confirmands are no longer children, but young adults - young adults who are dealing with questions of faith at a more complex level, at the same time as they are facing new life challenges, trying to figure out how to live out their faith in their life. This faith development and these faith challenges are the reasons for having a Confirmation program. For the last five years we have used a special model of Confirmation here at St. Johns. It was our belief that a new style of teaching Confirmation was needed to ensure that our confirmands have a meaningful and faithful (perhaps even fun) learning experience - one that we hope might also spark a desire on their part to continue to learn and grow in faith, as they grow in years. Also, given the busy schedules our young people (and their parents) have today, we all struggle with the challenge of making time for our youth to learn and grow in faith. As a result of these considerations, we created a Confirmation program based on some of the best practices of young adult learning, along with our own experiences, and that of our partners in ministry across the Lutheran Church. Our goal has been to do the best we can to understand and accommodate busy schedules, while also honoring the Churchs belief that this is a critical time of faith formation in a young persons life, particularly considering the challenges of our world today. As such, we truly believe that it is our duty as pastors to provide quality time and opportunities for meaningful faith development for our youth. That said, we are well aware that we cannot do it without you. We and the Confirmation Leaders Team are fully committed to offering the best, most faithful program we can for our youth. However, without the support and commitment of parents, and the consistent participation of our confirmands, it doesnt matter how good the program, or how dedicated the teachers. Your involvement is key, and we thank you in advance for sharing with us in this important ministry. The following information should help you become familiar with the program, and also provide details as to dates, classes, requirements, and activities for the Confirmation year. First Confirmation Kick-Off Luncheon Sun., September 30th 12:30-3:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall At this meeting we will talk about the what and why of confirmation; in other words, what is a confirmation program, and why it is important. We will also discuss the details of the program, the requirements and expectations, and what purpose they serve; and answer any questions that you might have. There will also be time for fellowship as we share lunch together. Confirmation lay leaders will also be present at this meeting.
St. Johns Lutheran Church, Parkville: On-line Confirmation Program

Confirmation 2012-2013
After lunch we will discuss the confirmands role in the Worship Service. The Confirmands will then go to the Sanctuary with some of the Leaders to be trained as acolytes, crucifers, or lectors (1st, 2nd, and 3rd year, respectively), while the parents remain downstairs for further discussions with the Pastors and Leaders. Please Note: The Kick-off is a required meeting. Both Confirmands and parents are asked to attend. Please return the enclosed self-addressed postcard by September 1st indicating how many will attend so we are sure to have enough food. If for some reason you are unable to attend, please contact us as soon as possible to arrange a time to meet (parents & confirmand). Additional Important Dates: On Saturday evening, October 27th, Confirmands are required to attend and participate (as servers) in the Reformation weekend dinner theatre. It should be a fun event for the whole family. We hope parents and friends will be able to join us. On Saturday, December 1st, the youth will be participating in a 30-hour famine for world hunger and an overnight lock-in. Confirmands are required to participate in the activities on Saturday during the day, and are invited to stay overnight for the lock-in. However, if they are uncomfortable with staying overnight, that is not a requirement for this event. On Sunday morning, December 2nd, the Youth will lead our Worship Service. Confirmands are required to attend and serve as ushers and greeters for the Service. On Friday evening, December 14th, Confirmands and their families are invited to participate in a wonderful evening of Christmas Caroling for our Homebound members. While this is not a required event (we know how busy this time of year is for families), its always great fun and we really hope you will be able to join us! Confirmation classes will then begin in January 2013. Classes will be held once a month, from 10:00 a.m.3:30 p.m. It is our hope that by limiting classes to once a month, and by giving plenty of advance notice, this will provide an opportunity for confirmands and parents to notify the leaders of other activities that might conflict with confirmation (sports, dance, drama, etc.), that the confirmand will not be available for that activity for one day each of the five months. Confirmation classes will be held on the following dates (first Saturdays): January 5th February 2nd March 2nd April 6th May 4th

We will be using the ELCAs Here We Stand Confirmation Program, and the structure of each class will be as follows: 10:00-10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. -12:00 12:00-12:45 p.m. Gathering, Announcements, & Worship (Large Group) Small Group Teaching Time 1 *Lunch and Fellowship (Large Group)

St. Johns Lutheran Church, Parkville: On-line Confirmation Program

Confirmation 2012-2013
12:45-2:15 p.m. 2:15-3:15 p.m. 3:15-3:30 p.m. Small Group Teaching Time 2 Service Project Time (Large Group) Small Group Sharing and Blessing

*A $20 donation per child will be requested to cover the cost of the main course for lunch, and each family will be asked to bring a side dish, drinks, or dessert, on one of the five Saturdays. Details will be provided at Kick-off. Parents are welcome to join us for this time of fellowship! Special Note to Confirmands: On January 5th, our first class together, we will take some time to get to know each other. Well have a general discussion about Confirmation. No formal preparation is required, but we ask that you give some thought to the question - What does confirmation mean to me? We will also use our first Service Project time together to talk about ideas for various fellowship and service events that well participate in during the year. As a 3-year Confirmation Program, topics will be taught as follows: 1st Year Confirmands 2nd Year Confirmands 3rd Year Confirmands Martin Luthers Small Catechism: The Ten Commandments, The Creed, The Lords Prayer, Baptism, and the Lords Supper Bible Old and New Testaments Lutheran History & Identity, Discipleship & Spiritual Gifts

The following are additional requirements of the Confirmation Program: Weekly attendance at Middle School Sunday School class (begins September 9th) ** Weekly attendance at Sunday Worship Services ** Attendance at Youth Quake (Middle School weekend youth event) - January 11th-13th (More information about Youth Quake will be provided at the Kick-off.) Participation in Youth Worship Services on December 2nd & in May (date tbd) Participation in Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner (February 12th) Serving at a minimum of 1 Wednesday Lenten Dinner & attending the Prayer Service Attendance at a minimum of 2 special (non-Sunday) Services, such as: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, etc. Participation as Liturgical Assistants (acolytes, crucifers, or lectors) Sermon Notes (10)

** We understand that some Confirmands may have difficulty attending every Sunday due to spending alternate weekends with parents in different households. Please let us know if this applies to your family so we can make a note of it. And finally Confirmation Sunday! The day our 3rd year Confirmands are confirmed and we - as a faith community - celebrate the fact that they are moving on to the next stage of their faith journey! Confirmation Sunday will be held on May 19th, at the 11:00 a.m. Worship Service. There will be a Confirmation Breakfast held at 9:30 a.m. that same day, at which the congregation will honor the Confirmands.
St. Johns Lutheran Church, Parkville: On-line Confirmation Program

Confirmation 2012-2013
Parents: Please note that confirmands are required to wear a white shirt with black pants or a black skirt for their Confirmation Service. (girls may also wear a black and white church appropriate dress) We are very much looking forward to sharing this Confirmation time with each of you. It is our hope that together we can have a wonderful, challenging, fun, and faithful time of learning. Were looking forward to seeing you on September 30th for Kick-off! Joy & peace! Pastor Maria Pastor Maria J. Hammons cc: Pastor Danny Pastor Danny R. Hammons

St. Johns Congregational Council Christian Education Committee Confirmation Leaders Ms. Kathleen Wiles, Middle School Sunday School Teacher

St. Johns Lutheran Church, Parkville: On-line Confirmation Program