From Baptism to the Confirming of Faith

In our baptism liturgy, we say these words:

We also were baptized into Christ and received the Seal of the Spirit.  We were buried with Christ in Baptism so that as he was raised from the dead, we might walk in the new way of life.

Christ will first be known to your child by the Christ seen in your home.  Will you teach your child in work and deed the way of Christ and the Word of God?  Will you share with your child the Church’s life-worship, the Lord’s Supper and fellowship?  Do you promise to provide for the most complete possible instruction in the Christian faith, that living in the covenant of Baptism and in communion with the Church, your child may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ?

One way that parents and a church community fulfill the promise of Christian education is through confirmation.  The confirmation program at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is for youth in grades 7-9 and offers students and their parents help in grappling with life issues in light of faith.  There are four general facets to the program.

1.  Participation in worship.

2.  Participation in instruction classes.

3.  Participation in mission and service activities, including a selected service project.

4.  Participation in fellowship and community building activities.

Program Content

The instructional part of the Confirmation program is built on the Here We Stand curriculum from Augsburg Fortress.  Over the course of three years, confirmands become familiar with the Biblical story, the history of the Church, the teachings of Martin Luther, and the mission of the church today.  Sunday sessions are a combination of large and small group activities that encourage confirmands to interact with adults in the congregation and with each other.

Participation and Service

The instructional component of the program is augmented by the participation of the youth in a variety of service activities, culminating in the selection and execution of a service project during their third year in the program. Service activities include both serving in some capacity during regular church services (ushering, performing musically, delivering the liturgy, etc.) or participating in our mission to the larger community (preparing meals for a homeless shelter, helping at Loaves and Fishes, etc.).

Based on their talents and interests, each third year Confirmand identifies a special service project that they will plan and complete. These projects can be done individually or in small groups. Prior to Confirmation the members of the class report to the congregation on their projects and what they have learned from their experience.

Fellowship

Throughout the year Confirmands are offered a variety of opportunities to interact and learn with each other in events that are held outside of the regular Sunday classes.  From lock-ins and retreats, attending plays or movies, to informal dinners with the Pastor, confirmands are challenged to grow in their faith even as they have fun.

As a part of the program, first year confirmands are matched with an adult “sponsor” in the congregation.  The confirmand and sponsor work together to define the scope of their relationship, based on their shared interests and schedule availability.  Some of the fellowship events, like the CROP walk, are structured to encourage sponsor/confirmand participation.