St Mark Lutheran Church

Confirmation PlayBook 2024-25

At St Mark, students in 6th-8th grades are invited to participate in Confirmation Class with the Pastor. There are also Confirmation Classes available by request for adults who want to learn more about the scriptures, the Lutheran Church Classes, and the Small Catechism Students normally meet for @45 minutes on Wednesday evenings during the school year. During the 2.5 years of classes students are invited to explore their faith, explore and learn how to study the Bible; learn why the parts of the Small Catechism are so important; and to participate in the life of the congregation as a young adult.

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION ABOUT?

Confirmation classes have been around in Lutheran Churches for centuries. While many of us have memories of what it was like when we attended Confirmation class, it can be helpful for us to pause and explore the basics of Confirmation. Whether you are a parent or a student preparing to begin classes, it is helpful to think about “what” Confirmation class is about, and “why” we do it. Here are a couple of really good descriptions:

From the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)-

“Confirmation ministry is a pastoral and educational ministry of the church which helps baptized persons through Word and sacrament to identify more deeply with the Christian community and participate more fully in its mission.” 

From the (LIVING LUTHERAN August 11, 2014)

At their Affirmation of Baptism, confirmands are asked to make this promise for themselves: “…to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” The process of preparing people to affirm these promises can take many forms, including classes and increased involvement in congregational life. The process of confirmation takes many forms and varies from congregation to congregation, but the end goal is the same: to prepare people to boldly and confidently make those promises, affirm their baptisms and continue to live out their faith in the church.)


At St. Mark, our hope is that this journey will help to inform and shape the faith and lives of those who attend. The purpose of these pages are to share what Confirmation classes are about at St Mark, to help students and parents journey through these 2.5 years together, and for young men and women to be prepared to "affirm" their Baptism in the 8th grade. God’s richest blessings to you and your family as you grow in your Christian identity! May your journey be directed by the grace and love of our Savior Jesus Christ! 


Peace to you,

Pastor Dave

Confirmation Program Goals

  • 1. To help students come to know who Jesus Christ is.

    2. To help students affirm their Baptism by beginning their faith journey as young adults.

    3.To help students gain an appreciation & understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.



  • 4. To encourage students to grow in their understanding of the Christian Faith from a Lutheran Perspective.

    5. To express the Christian faith as their own through their words and actions.

    6. To invite students to participate in the life of the congregation.


  • 7. To develop a prayer life and to learn to pray for others.

    8. Learn to live out their faith in their daily life.

    9. To understand the role of the Church as the people of God and our role in society.


  • 10. To learn to love and serve our neighbors, and all peoples in God’s Kingdom.

    11. To develop an understanding of stewardship and God’s call to care for and wisely manage God’s creation.

    12. To discover their talents and abilities for service.


  • 13. To understand that Christian growth and understanding is a lifelong process.

    14. Select and meet with a Confirmation mentor monthly.


Overview

1. Classes meet weekly on Wednesday evenings. 5:30 PM for 6th Grade students, and 6:30 for 7th Grade students. They meet in the Office Conference Rooms. 8th Grade Students meet on Sunday mornings @10:00 during the fall months in the Office Conference Room.


2. As worship is the central activity in the life of individual Christians, families, and congregation life, we ask that students are in worship on a regular basis and hope that this is already a practice for your family.


3. During the Confirmation journey students will learn what it means to be a part of the Church by participating in projects that serve our neighbors, and by participating in ministries of the congregation such as helping with Sunday School, child care, hospitality, and helping with worship leadership.  A tradition we have started during the season of Lent is that Confirmation students will be the primary worship leaders alongside the Pastor.


4. Annual Confirmation Service takes place on the last Sunday of October each year. This year it will be on October 27th at 9:00.


Expectations for Youth and Parents/Guardians

1. Youth and their families are asked to make a firm commitment to attend worship together. Worship is essential to our identity as believers in Christ.


2. Youth and their families are asked to make a firm commitment for the student to attend all Confirmation classes.


3. At baptism parents and sponsors make promises to their child. Parental participation in the Confirmation program is a part of living out those promises. We ask parents to keep the promises they made to your child by engaging them in conversations about their Confirmation

lessons and projects in the car and at home. This is a vital component of Confirmation learning for your child and takes only a few minutes.


4. As a part of our Christian vocation, we are called to work and serve in the world. Each student is expected to participate in the lending of their gifts and talents in service to the church and the world.

Confirmation Covenant St Mark Lutheran Church 2023-24

Words from the ELW Affirmation of Baptism Service- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9