Welcome to Emmanuel's Confirmation program!
When children are baptized, parents joyfully promise to raise their children in the Christian faith so that their child's personal relationship with Jesus and his church may grow and flourish. Emmanuel's Confirmation program is designed to help parents fulfill this all-important promise.
Key Components
Emmanuel's confirmation program consists of three key components: (1) Catechetical Instruction with the pastor, (2) Study of the Old and New Testaments, and (3) Participation in the worship life of the congregation.
Catechetical Instruction with the Pastor
An overview of the basic parts of Christian faith takes place with the Pastor over a two-year period of time. One year we study Baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. The other year we study the life of Martin Luther, the development of the Lutheran Church, Worship and the Ten Commandments. Through this we learn how Jesus calls us into community and creates a deep, personal relationship with each one of us, and how we respond with trusting faith and by doing the things Jesus wants us to do.
Normally, the kids meet with the Pastor once a month on a Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The morning starts out at 8:30 a.m. with a breakfast hosted each month by a different set of parents. From 9:00 to noon the kids engage in discussions and activities with the pastor.
Because of the highly compressed nature of these sessions, regular attendance is extremely important. Missing one Saturday morning is like missing three-days of a regular class.
Sunday School: The Story of Jesus and God' in the Old and New Testament
Christian faith is grounded in the story of Jesus as told in the Bible. At the seventh and eighth grade (or older) level, the kids go over once again the key Bible stories of our salvation—this time as a connected whole—that is, the connected thread of God's loving action in Jesus which runs throughout all our history. Developmental research tells us that before the sixth grade level, children encounter the Bible only as isolated stories. They do not yet have the kind of reasoning it takes to connect stories together. But at the seventh and eighth grade levels (or older) they can begin to tie it all together. This happens for them during the Sunday School hour each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Since this is part of the Confirmation Program, attendance is monitored and recorded and the “Attendance Policy” applies.
Sunday Worship
Our Christian faith teaches us that God comes to us in Word and Sacraments and we respond in thanks and praise. Worship is the heart and center of the Christian life. Regular worship attendance is without a doubt the most important part, not only of the Confirmation process, but also of the entire Christian life.
Acolyting
We ask the kids to serve Jesus in worship by being among those who help lead our worship in “up front” roles. They do this in an age appropriate way by serving as “acolytes.” Kids are scheduled for a month at a time. Training is provided in advance.
Retreat
There is a two-night retreat at Camp Mowana. It usually falls in April or May towards the end of the educational year. We will leave the church around 5:00 p.m. on Friday and return around noon on Sunday. This is an event not to be missed! Many kids find it the best event of the year. The cost is $50. Our parish administrator will mail families an invoice for $25 due January 31 and another $25 due March 31. If money is a problem, please let us know. We don't want anybody to stay away just because of the cost.
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is essential. We are aware, however, that occasionally there can be a valid reason to miss a session once or twice. And so, we have developed the “Attendance Policy” which is enclosed which provides up to two absences for the Saturday class (including the retreat) and up to five absences for Sunday School. Anything more than that and we begin to wonder if parents are truly supporting this program and it draws the student's readiness for confirmation into question. It also makes us want to suggest an alternative—Independent Study (see below). We will, however, make special accommodations for divorce situations where there is joint custody and biweekly visitation.
Sports
One frequent conflict with confirmation is sports. We feel that we have already made a considerable concession to sports by scheduling the Saturday class only once a month freeing up the other three Saturdays for sports (giving sports a 3 to 1 advantage). We do not think it is unreasonable for sports to accommodate Jesus, especially when you consider what is of ultimate importance. Sunday is the Lord's Day, THE time for Christian worship. Please do not use absences or request early release for sports practices and regular games. Reserve them for the one or two critical championship games. Most coaches understand.
Independent Study/Home Schooling
If your commitment to a sport or some other activity creates an irresolvable conflict which will definitely take you past the allowed absences, another alternative is “Independent Study” or “Home Schooling” where you in consultation with the pastor develop your own course of study and provide for your child’s own instruction. This is a legitimate alternative since religious instruction is ultimately the parents' responsibility anyhow. (Martin Luther originally developed the Small Catechism for parents!—so they could use it as a tool to instruct their children.) Some churches use this approach and hold confirmation classes for the parents and instruct them on how to teach their own children. Confirmation would then take place whenever you, the Pastor and the Church Council all together determine the child ready. The two drawbacks, however, are that your child will miss the ”group experience“ (church is a “community” after all) and the development of relationships with and mentoring by “faithful adults” who are other than their own parents. No one has chosen this option yet, but we want you to know it is a valid possibility.
Council Review & Approval
Our Church Constitution provides that the Church Council must give final approval to all persons presented for confirmed membership. Those who are eighth grade or older will meet with the Church Council for their Final Review and interviews at the Council's May meeting. Should this present an irresolvable conflict, please notify us sufficiently in advance so that an alternative time for an interview can be scheduled.
Confirmation Record
A record is kept of attendance on the front sheet of a folder given to each student on the first class with the pastor. This record is reviewed and finally signed by the Church Council at the Council Review.
Confirmation
Confirmation for those who are in eighth grade or older is usually on the Sunday before or after Memorial Day weekend. Pictures are taken before the service. All eighth graders and older must be present and robed at that time. A brief reception follows the service. All eighth graders are asked to remain for at least 20 minutes so that people from the congregation can extend to them words of encouragement, appreciation and support.
Confirmation Reception
It is a tradition the parents of the seventh graders to help host the reception for those being confirmed.
Questions, Suggestions & Concerns
Your comments, questions, suggestions or concerns are welcome at any time. Please do not hesitate to contact the pastor.