2017-2018 Confirmation Registration & Covenant

Confirmation Covenant and Expectations

The expectations we have for confirmands do not cover all the elements that make up a living faith, however, they are ways to encounter the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, are related to the promises the youth will make when they Affirm their Baptism, and are an important part of a life of faith.

Centering Our Lives in Christ

Worship

Centering our lives on God is the foundation to our faith life. The main place this happens is in corporate worship. Please indicate below the worship service you are committed to making your primary worship time. It is understood that you might need to attend worship at other times or even in other congregations, but the very act of making this commitment is an encouragement to be faithful in attending. We expect that between September 3, 2017 and September 2, 2018 you will complete and turn in 18 worship notes.

Cultivate our Faith through Discipleship Practices

Wednesday Evening Confirmation

To grow in faith to God and love towards one another we spend time reading scripture, and thinking about/questioning our faith and what we believe. The main opportunity we provide for you to do that is on Wednesday evenings. We ask that you commit to making attendance on Wednesday evenings a priority in your life. Your presence will help you and your peers get the most out of this Confirmation experience. Missing more than 1/3 of our class meetings will be grounds for review of your moving to the next stage of confirmation.

Advent/Lenten Reflections

As a congregation, we cultivate our faith through mid-week Advent and Lenten services. Confirmands will participate in these services as if they were attending the Wednesday evening program. During Lent, there will be time spent in small group discussion immediately following the service. Worship notes can be completed for these services.

Memorization

Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism in 1529 as a tool for parents to equip their children with the basics of faith. While the value of purely rote memorization is debatable, Luther often spoke of the value of writing these basics on your heart. Each year there will be certain parts of the catechism that we will “write on our hearts”. We will work on them in class as well as at home. Students will be expected to know these texts by May 31, 2018.

Connecting with each other

Christian Camping Experience

Connecting with each other and with God in a fun but meaningful way is what happens at a Christian Camp. Studies have shown that these experiences are often deeply formative for future faith. Because we recognize the value of such an experience we ask that you commit to attending either a weekend Dirty Feet Retreat at Camp EWALU or a week at a Christian Camp* sometime between the Summer after your 6th grade year and the Fall of your 9th grade year. Please mark what (if any) you are willing to commit to this year.

Youth Behavioral Covenant

As followers of Christ we are called to respect and care for all whom we meet. When we gather we will behave in the following ways:

• Pay attention and think.
• Follow through. I will complete all aspects of confirmation, even if I don’t have to turn them in.
• Ask any questions I have. If you’re thinking about it, it’s important enough to ask about.
• Treat other youth and adults with respect.
• Don’t talk while others are talking. It’s rude
• Don’t tell lies about, gossip about, make fun of, pick on, or spread rumors about those we are here with. As Christians, we treat each other with dignity and respect, always seeing others and what they do in the best possible way.
• Keep electronic devices off and put away during any confirmation activities (unless specified by the leader). If we hear it/see it we will hold it until the end of the activity.
• Have fun! This includes having a positive attitude about people and activities, refraining from pouting, and talking out problems rather than letting them make me angry.

I, the undersigned, have read the above covenant and understand the commitments and promises I have made. By signing this document, I show my intent to fulfill, with God’s help and guidance, these commitments.

Parent Leadership and Support

Worship

As parents, you play the vital role in the faith development and growth of your child. Therefore, we wish to encourage you in several areas. These areas are based on the promises you made as parents at your child’s baptism as well as scriptural, theological, and mounting statistical evidence that shows that parents are the number one faith influence on their children. A 2005 study by the National Study of Youth and Religion showed that parents will ‘get what they are’ when it comes to faith involvement and belief. So, live the faith you would want your children to have!
Part of our calling is to assist you in your role as a faith model for your children. The more they see you engaging in these activities and investing your time and energy in them, the more likely your children are to make them a priority in their own lives. We ask you to make the following commitments:

To attend worship as a family.

This falls under your promise at their baptism to ‘faithfully bring them to the services of the Lord’s house’ and your own confirmation promises, ‘to hear God’s word and share in his supper’.

To regularly participate in activities to grow your own faith.

This could include things like a bible study, Adult Forum, or other opportunities provided by St. John. This models for your child(ren) the continued growth that accompanies a living faith and fulfills your own confirmation promises to ‘hear God’s word’.

To talk with your children about what they are learning in confirmation and participate in any parent nights.

You are always welcome to attend on Wednesday nights, and we encourage you to ask questions and find out what your children talk about. To support this, we will be sending out a weekly email with information about what is discussed that evening in Confirmation and questions for your own discussion.

To pray with and for your family.

Time spent together in prayer, reading scripture, reading a devotional book, or discussing the week’s sermon can be a great way to grow your relationship with your family and with God. Also, praying for your family will open your eyes more to their needs, desires, and concerns.

To pray for your child’s small group leader and the confirmation leaders on a regular basis.

As brothers and sisters in Christ with a common goal of nurturing children in faith, we need to support each other. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We need the support of parents to make our ministry successful.

Nurturing children in faith is a community effort, and without the help of parents, it would be nearly impossible. Please check any of the following ways in which you would be interested in helping:

I, the undersigned, have read, helped complete, and understand the commitments and promises my child and I have made. I witness their signing of this document and agree to support, encourage, and help my child as they work to fulfill this commitment and promise to fulfill the commitments I have made.