Confirmation 7th - 9th Grades
Wednesday Faith Growth for Students
We are very excited for the return of in-person Confirmation!! We are making plans for in-person Confirmation each Wednesday!!
Confirmation is: an intentional process of Scripture study, exploration of our Lutheran confessions (beliefs), learning what it means to be an ELCA Lutheran, growing in personal faith habits, and growing in faith with a caring small group.
Wednesdays, September 15 - May 4
We are hoping and praying that everyone can attend in-person, but will work to provide a remote option if needed. Please let martin@immanuel.us know if you are in need of a remote option.
Our regular weekly schedule....
6pm - REfuel (informal worship and devotion)
6:20 - 7th-9th Grades
7:30pm - Home
Advent and Lent
5:45pm - REfuel (informal worship and devotion)
6:10pm - Small Groups
7pm - Worship with Holden Evening Prayer (Students and parents are encouraged to participate)
Calendar Highlights, 2021 - 2022
Tuesday, August 31, 6 p.m. - Guides and Student Leaders Meet
Sunday, September 12, 9 a.m. - Welcome Sunday under the Tent & Blessing of 7th Graders
September 15 - First Night of Confirmation for 7th - 9th Grades:
6pm – Refuel (Sanctuary)
6:20pm – 7th and 8th grade Acolyte Orientation in the sanctuary, with a parent (Pastor Paul)
6:20pm – 9th grade & parent orientation (Paul E) – Luther Hall
7pm – 7th and 8th grade Stepping Stone with parents (Martin)
7:30 p.m. – Home
September 22 - 7th and 8th Grade Stepping Stone, 6 - 7:30 p.m. (with a parent)
October 13
6 - 7:30 p.m. - 10th Grades & Parents - Confirmation Photos and Orientation to the service of Confirmation
7:30 p.m. - National Youth Gathering (NYG) Information Meeting
October 20: MEA - No Confirmation
Sunday, October 24, 1:30 p.m. - Service of Confirmation (10th Graders)
October 29 - 31: Confirmation Retreat (Onsite with Agape)
October 31, 10:30 a.m.: Hip Hop Reformation Sunday Worship with Agape (Retreat closing)
November 24 - Thanksgiving Eve - Worship at 7 p.m. - No Confirmation (7th graders and families serve pie)
December 1, 8 & 15 - Advent Schedule:
5:45 p.m. - Refuel followed by Confirmation
7 p.m. - Worship with Holden Evening Prayer
December 15 - Confirmation Christmas Party
December 22 & 29 - No Confirmation
January 6 - Confirmation Resumes with Refuel, 6 p.m.
January 26 - Service Projects (Meet at 5:30 p.m. and return by 7:30 p.m.)
February 27 - Youth! Rejoice! (9 and 10:30 a.m. worship services)
March 2 - Lenten Schedule (5:45pm - Refuel with Confirmation to follow; 7pm - Worship with Holden Evening Prayer).
March 23 - Spring Break - No Confirmation
April 13 - Holy Week - No Confirmation
April 20 - May 4: 6 p.m. - Refuel followed by Confirmation, concluding at 7:30 p.m.
April 30 - Churchwide Garage Sale (fundraiser for youth participation in trips/events)
May 4 - Last Night of Confirmation
General Information:
- Supper will not be served at Immanuel this Fall.
- Confirmation will continue on Wednesdays, beginning with REFUEL - a weekly livestreamed informal worship - at 6pm.
- Students in grades 7- 9 will be asked to submit 15 Worship Notes (either online or in-person).
- Students in grade 10 will be preparing for their Confirmation on Sunday, October 24. Details.
Covid Safety Precautions
- We encourage the unvaccinated to remain masked.
- The Sanctuary’s glass doors will remain open when REfuel is in the Sanctuary but may be closed when small groups meet in the atrium.
- Small groups will meet in the largest rooms available.
Confirmation at Immanuel
Students grow in faith through large group worship and teaching, service projects, a retreat, and students grow tight and personal relationships in small groups led by adult Guides and about 50 high school (grades 10-12) Student Leaders.
Each spring we seek out loving and caring adults to serve as Confirmation Guides. Is God calling you to serve in this way?
Students are confirmed in the fall of their 10th grade year (usually on Reformation Sunday).
Students attend the annual Confirmation Retreat - a weekend of growing in friendships and faith.
We have a 3-year curriculum that will focus on God and what God has done for us. As tools we will use the Bible and Martin Luther’s Small Catechism to help us grow in understanding God. We will use songs/music to assist us with memorizing Scripture.
- 7th & 8th Grade, Year 1: New Testament; Year 2: Old Testament
- 9th Grade, Year 3: Daily Discipleship, Questions of Faith, Faith Statements
Small Groups
Our students gather as a large group for our Confirmation opening and then split into their small groups. These small groups provide intentional and deep faith community where students not only learn about faith but experience the Christian faith in/through caring and trusted relationships. All confirmation leaders adhere to Immanuel's Child Protection Policy.
We ask that parents do 3 things:
1. Grow in Faith with your Child
- Pray for & with your child daily as it is God who gives and creates faith in us.
- Share highs and lows, read the Bible and then turn your highs and lows into prayer.
- Bible Reading…through the written word, Jesus the Living Word comes to us!
- Use The Faith Five as a format for daily devotions.
2. Worship, Worship Notes and Acolyting
- Worship with your child on Sunday or Saturday and help your child complete 15 worship notes.
- Support your child when scheduled to be an Acolyte.
- Watch the acolyte training video for a reminder of what you need to do.
3. Service Hours Assist your child to participate in the service projects and complete 4 x 60 minute acts of service. This may include:
- Confirmation small group service projects
- Personal acts of service (e.g. teaching Sunday School, VBS Helper, volunteering in the church nursery, scouting service hours, free babysitting, leaf raking, snow shoveling, food packing at Feed My Starving Children, etc.)
- After each act of service each individual, or group, is asked to submit the Act of Service reflection sheet within one week of completing the act of service.
- Confirmation small groups may choose to do this immediately after the act of service or at Confirmation the following week.
- Confirmation Guides will keep a record of each student’s act of service hours.
Can friends come?
Yes! Many students do invite their friends to grow and learn with them.
For more information contact:
Martin Rathjen
Minister of Faith Formation
952-230-0354 (direct dial)
952-937-8123 ex. 54
martin@immanuel.us
A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America