St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Children/Youth/Family Ministries
Confirmation Information
2010-2011
Attendance Policy
The Confirmation process is a commitment. We therefore ask that students make every effort to participate in all of the lessons. If you are going to be unable to make a Confirmation class, please contact Pastor Peter ahead of time. If you miss a class, you will be required to make that lesson up by writing a 1-page report on the topic you missed. For information on the missed topic, look in your catechism and the Bible, or ask Pastor Peter for the missed Power Point. If you miss too many classes, or have any unexcused absences, you might not be confirmed on time. Make sure you bring your Bible, Catechism and a writing utensil every week as well! Failing to do so could count as an “absence”. A complete confirmation schedule is in this packet. We have avoided scheduling Confirmation Classes on any 3-day weekend, Holiday, or even on Superbowl Sunday. We have tried our best to eliminate any excuses for why you cannot be there. Please put the dates for confirmation on your family schedule now.
Sermon Reports
All Confirmands will be required to complete 10 sermon reports between now and Confirmation Sunday, April 17th. This tool trains the student in how to listen to a sermon and apply the teachings to their lives. Blank sermon reports can be found in the Narthex (the back of the church) and online. Upon arriving for worship, take a form from the back, fill it out during the service and return it before leaving or bring it to the church office. The 10 sermon reports can be done at any of St. Paul's worship services. A Sermon Report form is included in this packet.
Ministry Hours
Each confirmand will be required to complete 10 ministry hours before confirmation Sunday. Ministry hours can be done at St. Paul’s in a variety of ways such as, nursery, Kingdom Quest, Theo’s Place, Assisting with Donuts and Coffee, work days, Mission Trips, special events such as carnivals and festivals, etc. Ministry hours can be done outside of St. Paul’s as well, but need to be approved by Pastor Peter. A Ministry Hours form is included in this packet and online. A list of ministry hour ideas is also included in this packet.
Spiritual Gifts Inventory
Each confirmand is required to do the Spiritual Gifts Inventory found on our church web site, www.stpaulsorange.org. Go to Church/Adult Discipleship/Serving at St. Paul’s. This could be a very eye opening experience for you as you figure out how God has gifted you! Please print out a copy of the end results, put your name on it, and turn it in to Pastor Peter. If you do not have the internet at home, please let Pastor Peter or Kathy Borg know and we can provide you with a paper version.
Personal and Family Devotions
Each week the confirmand will be required to read at least three devotions from the devotion books Revolution (for boys) or True Images (for girls). On the Devotion Summary form (one provided in this packet and also online),
- each student must summarize in two to three sentences what they got out of each of the three devotion.
- They must also choose one devotion to discuss with at least one parent that week, and the parent must write their own reflection/summary of the conversation.
- Additionally, the student and parent must discuss and together write a one sentence summary of the previous week’s confirmation topic - you may consult your catechism, the Bible, and any handouts for help.
- PRAY for each other (yes, out loud!)
- Lastly, BOTH student and parent must sign the bottom of the form verifying that the above described conversations were had. All devotion sheets MUST be turned in EVERY WEEK that there is class to receive credit unless there is an excused absence. When there is no class, devotion summaries are not required, but you are still encouraged to continue doing the devotions. This is for your families benefit. You will get out of it what you put into it, so enjoy and grow in your relationship with God and each other!
Confirmation Sunday Specifics
Confirmation will be on Sunday April 17th at the 11:00 am worship service. We will have an important rehearsal in the church on Saturday April 16th at 10am. At that time we will try on robes and go over the procedures for the Confirmation service. Pictures will be taken right after the Sunday service. You may take some of your own at that time. The professional photographer is taking only a group shot. Flash pictures during the service are not allowed. Girls should wear dresses, short enough not to show under the robes. Boys should wear slacks, a light colored or white dress shirt - suits and ties are optional. Everyone should wear appropriate dress shoes (No sneakers). Robes will be put on at church and left at church. Please do not take your robe home.
Confirmation Retreat
The date for the Confirmation Retreat will take place the weekend of November 5-7, 2010 at Pine Summit Christian Camp in Big Bear Lake. The retreat will be a full weekend, Friday midafternoon through Sunday mid-afternoon. The cost for the retreat will be around $130 including all expenses (exact price will come in September). There is financial assistance available for you and your student. If for some reason you cannot go on the confirmation retreat, a 6 page paper will need to be written covering the topics and themes covered on the retreat. Please put the retreat dates on your calendar as soon as you receive them! Parent chaperones will also be needed for the retreat. (The youth board policy is at least 1 adult chaperone for every 6 students on an over-right retreat) If interested, please see Pastor Peter.
The YOUTH WORSHIP EXPERIENCE
The brand new youth worship experience in the MODJ at 11:00 AM on Sunday mornings is designed just for you! We strongly encourage you to attend the new youth worship
experience. You are always welcome to bring a friend to the youth worship experience or confirmation! You do not have to come to the 11AM youth worship experience, but are encouraged to do so - no matter what, you must regularly attend a service at St. Paul’s on a regular basis in order to be confirmed.
Catechism/Devotion Books
You will be given these two very important books on the first day of confirmation. Make sure you bring your catechism and your Bible every week to confirmation and do not lose them! You will also want to bring a pen or pencil each week to keep notes. Failure to bring all the necessary materials could result in an “unexcused” absence.
Feel free to contact Pastor Peter at any time with questions or concerns @ 714.637.2640 @ 208 or pmueller@stpaulsorange.org
