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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

What Must I Do to be Confirmed?

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The 2007-2008 Confirmation Program will provide a variety of exciting ways to learn about the Christian faith. Following Confirmation, young Lutherans are considered adults in the church. In preparation for the Confirmation Service, our pastors, teachers, and the entire congregation have the task of exposing our Confirmation Students (called confirmands) to virtually every part of church life. This will allow our eighth graders to make an informed decision about the next phase of their church involvement.

With that distinction and responsibility comes freedom. From that point forward, our new adults in the church will be defining their participation in church life. The Confirmation Service for this year’s eighth grade class will be on Sunday, June 1, 2008.

During the school year, September through May, Confirmation students will be required to participate in:

Sunday Morning Confirmation Classes

A Confirmation Retreat

Community Service Activities

Sunday Morning Worship

Fellowship Events

Leadership through Worship Assistants & Acolyting

SUNDAY MORNING CONFIRMATION CLASSES - Students are required to attend all Confirmation classes. Classes meet during the Sunday school hour (9:45 am to 11:00 am) in the Education Wing. If a student has to miss a class because of a conflict, please let the teacher know in advance. If a student misses a class, a make-up assignment will be sent to the student’s home via e-mail or snail mail. This gives the student the opportunity to read and consider the missed lesson and become ready to participate meaningfully on the following Sunday. The make-up assignment MUST be completed and brought in to the next class. Three unexcused absences are allowed each year.

CONFIRMATION RETREAT - All Confirmation students will participate in a weekend overnight retreat. The retreat will take place from Friday, September 21, 2007 through Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Camp Kirchenwald.

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES - Community service projects will be planned during Confirmation classes, the retreat, and youth group events. All students are required to participate in three community service projects. Records of participation will be kept.

WORSHIP SERVICES - All Confirmation students are expected to attend worship every week. Students unable to attend services at Good Shepherd on Sundays are encouraged to attend another church, bringing the bulletin from the worship service to Confirmation class the following Sunday. Worship attendance will be recorded weekly, with three absences allowed between September and June.  We have three weekly worship services:

Sundays         8:30 am – Traditional Worship,

                        10:00 am – Traditional Worship,  and

                        11:15 am – Contemporary Worship

 

FELLOWSHIP EVENTS - There will be many opportunities for fun and fellowship! Students are required to attend at least four Youth Group events.

ACOLYTING - Confirmation students serve the church as worship assistants and acolytes at worship services. They light the candles, receive the offering trays, and assist with Holy Communion. Participation as an acolyte is required. Guidelines for acolytes can be found in the guidelines for acolytes.

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