Confirmation
An Affirmation of Baptism
Confirmation is the process we use in the Lutheran church to instruct our youth in the basics of faith and move them toward full membership in the church. Since most of our kids are baptized as infants, confirmation is a chance for them to grow as Christians and claim for themselves the promises that were made for them by their parents and Godparents years earlier. That’s why it’s also called “Affirmation of Baptism.”
Christ Our Savior’s confirmation program runs falls–spring. Pr. Joe is working on determining the schedule for 2023-2024.
Important Links
Affirmation of Baptism Forms for 2023
Confirmands Affirming their Baptism in the fall of 2023 should prepare the following materials.
1) Faith Artifact and Description
2) Submit the Confirmation Rite Information form (Link below)
3) Set up a chat with Pastor Joe for September (the link to the Ministry Action plan is a resource for reflection prior to our visit)
Confirmation Rite Information – Ministry Action Plan
Faith Artifacts and Description
I would like each of our confirmands to create something that can be displayed in the church during our Affirmation of Baptism services. If they like, they could certainly still write up a traditional Faith Statement, but they could also create a painting, or poetry, or perform some act of service and write up a scrap book entry with photos, or some other idea that helps them to give an outward presentation of the faith they have internalized during their time at Christ Our Savior. Whatever the artifact they choose to create, I would like them to write a short paragraph to display with it for folks in the congregation to read about how the artifact connects to the confirmand’s faith.
Chat with Pastor Joe
I would like to connect in September with each of our confirmands to briefly chat about their faith artifact, their selected Bible verse, and how they see their faith shaping their lives. This conversation could be done with other members of their confirmation small group, on an individual phone call, in a group or individual Zoom, or in person. Whatever is helpful for folks’ schedules and will make it comfortable to chat with the pastor. Refer to the Ministry Action Plan link if you’d like to prepare for the kinds of questions I will be asking about.
Real-World Faith
At Christ Our Savior, our confirmation program runs through 7th and 8th grades. We recognize the confirmands becoming full members of the congregation on the Reformation Sunday of their freshman year. We use interactive videos, games, and even humor as we look at topics such as the Bible, Sacraments, and the Lord’s Prayer. We aren’t about just making kids memorize facts. The goal is for them to apply faith to their daily lives. Our youth talk about what the things we learn really mean and why those things are important. They are even encouraged to ask tough questions of the pastors.
Learning and Fellowship Events
Faith is caught more than it is taught, but there are generally four elements that frame out how we seek to foster faith formation: Worship, Outreach, Learning, and Fellowship.
For our confirmation program, we gather to learn more about the Bible and our distinct Lutheran witness in the broad stream of Christianity. We also create regular opportunities for our confirmands to build relationships with one another and experience loving community.