Confirmation Overview

1. Commitment by each confirmand to prepare themselves for active and faithful adult Christian life in the congregation and community, and by their parents to support them in this time of preparation.
2. Registration Fees (due at orientation):
   1. Grades 3-5:  $10
   2. Grades 6-9:  $25
   3. Grade 10:     $30
   4. Fill out Registration form and Medical Release Form to be kept on file at the church.
   5. If Ashwaubenon School is cancelled – confirmation is cancelled.
   6. Rite of Confirmation will be celebrated on Reformation Sunday (last Sunday in October) of the 10^th grade year.
   7. All documents, including meeting forms, make-up forms, and Loving your Neighbor in the Name of Christ reflection sheets are available on the church website.  (www.stjohnash.com)

Parents:

1. Prayer – pray for your child, their teachers, and yourself.
2. Support child in their faith journey.  Remember you are their greatest and most influential teacher.
3. Be faithful to ensure your child attends scheduled events.
4. Demonstrate the importance of faith study and growth in word and deed.
5. Assist your child’s group when called upon.
6. 3^rd – 5^th grade parents:  attend Confirmation classes with your student.
7. 6^th grade parents attend the final Confirmation class on October 19.

3^rd through 5^th Grade Students:

1. Prayer – pray for your teachers, peers, parents, and yourself.
2. Attend scheduled confirmation classes.  In the event of absences, make-up work will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.  This make-up work will be to ensure the student knows the material missed during class.
3. Faithful attendance of worship services is encouraged.
4. Encouraged to attend 20 of 25 Rotation Sunday School Classes. 

6^th Grade Students:

1. Prayer – pray for your teachers, mentors, peers, parents, and yourself.
2. Attend scheduled confirmation classes.  In the event of absences, make-up work will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.  This make-up work will be to ensure the student knows the material missed during class.
3. Attend Sunday School Classes 9:15-10:15 (attend 25 of 30 classes before make-up work is needed).  Please see section on make-up work opportunities.  Other make-up work will be considered on an individual basis, but must be approved by the confirmation task force before starting.
4. Worship Attendance:  Attend and sign in for:
   1. 25 Sunday worship services throughout the year
   2. 2 of 3 Advent services (make-up services include Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)
   3. 4 of 5 Lenten services (make-up services include Ash Wednesday,  Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise Service, and Easter Service)
   4. Complete a minimum of eight Loving Our Neighbor in the Name of Christ reflection sheets.  Refer to the guidelines for specifics.
   5. Attend and turn in one Annual meeting and one Council meeting during grades 6-9 and complete meeting form for each meeting.
   6. Meet with mentor during scheduled mentor events.

7^th and 8^th Grade Students:

1. Prayer – pray for your teachers, mentors, peers, parents, and yourself.
2. Attend class Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 7:30pm.  Makeup work will be assigned at the discretion of instructor in the event of absences.  This makeup work will be to ensure the student knows the material missed during class.
   1. Demonstrate knowledge of topics covered in class in a timely manner to teacher and mentor.  Turn in signed demonstration of knowledge form in confirmation mailbox under the z’s.
                                                    i.     Memorize the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments.
                                                    ii.     Based on the instructor’s preference, the demonstration of knowledge may consist of:  verbally answering a set of questions on the given topic, writing a paragraph, creating a power point, or taking a written test.  Information about how the demonstration of knowledge is to be completed will be given out in class.
      1. Attend Sunday School Classes 9:15-10:15 (attend 25 of 30 classes before make-up work is needed).  Please see section on make-up work opportunities.  Other make-up work will be considered on an individual basis, but must be approved by the confirmation task force before starting.
      2. Worship Attendance:  Attend and sign in for:
         1. 25 Sunday worship services throughout the year
         2. 2 of 3 Advent services (make-up services include Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)
         3. 4 of 5 Lenten services (make-up services include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise Service, and Easter Service)
         4. Complete a minimum of eight Loving Our Neighbor in the Name of Christ reflection sheets.  Refer to the guidelines for specifics.
         5. Attend confirmation camp once in June (after completing 7^th grade is recommended).  Additional fee will be collected to cover camp expense.
         6. Attend one Annual meeting and one Council meeting during grades 6-9 and complete and turn in meeting form for each meeting.
         7. Meet with mentor during scheduled mentor events.

9^th Grade Students:

1. Prayer – pray for your teachers, mentors, peers, parents, and yourself.
2. Attend Sunday School Classes 9:15-10:15 (attend 25 of 30 classes before make-up work is needed).  Please see section on make-up work opportunities.  Other make-up work will be considered on an individual basis, but must be approved by the confirmation task force before starting.
3. Worship Attendance:  Attend and sign in for:
   1. 25 Sunday worship services throughout the year
   2. 2 of 3 Advent services (make-up services include Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)
   3. 4 of 5 Lenten services (make-up services include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunrise Service, and Easter Service)
   4. Complete a minimum of eight Loving Our Neighbor in the Name of Christ reflection sheets.  Refer to the guidelines for specifics.
   5. Attend one ministry team meeting and complete and turn in meeting form.
   6. Meet with mentor on a monthly basis including four scheduled group meetings and begin work on personal Faith Statement and choosing a Bible verse.
   7. Last chance to attend and turn in meeting form for one Annual Meeting and one Church Council meeting before Confirmation.

10^th Grade Students:

1. Prayer – pray for your teachers, mentors, peers, parents, and yourself.
2. Meet with mentor as needed to complete Faith Statement and choose a Bible verse.
3. Worship Attendance:
   1. Attend and sign in for five Worship Services before Reformation Sunday.
   2. Attend five Sunday School Classes before Reformation Sunday.
   3. Attend scheduled practice for Rite of Confirmation.

Student Expectations

FAQs about Confirmation

Who do I contact with questions and concerns?

Do I have to complete all my service activities on Sunday?

No you do not.  In fact, you are required to do at least one activity in your home and one in the community.  Please refer to the guidelines sheet for specific requirements.   

How do I know if a service opportunity is appropriate?

You need to be able to thoughtfully answer the questions found on guidelines and reflection pages.  Remember to see the many ways God is working through you, just as you are.

Why is it important to “sign-in” the small white binder on Sunday or Monday?

This is the ONLY record we have that you attended.  Even if we see you at church that doesn’t count.  When you sign-in, this gives us a paper trail so if there is a question of your attendance we have the sign-up sheet with your signature as well as an adult signature.

Why is it important to complete the “Meeting Form”?

Just attending a meeting is not enough to receive credit.  You need to fill in the form completely and TURN IT IN to receive credit.  By completing the form we hope you will reflect about what happened and how it affected or can affect you.  We will also have a paper trail.

Who do I contact with questions regarding record keeping?

You can contact Jessica Zeitler at 429-1224 or email luv2shop4u2@new.rr.com.  She will be doing the recording of attendance for Confirmation and Sunday School.  She will also record any make-up work and meeting forms.

Who do I contact if I need more forms of any kind?

You can contact Ingrid Filcher at 496-8708 or ifilcher@new.rr.com.  Forms are also available on the church website (www.stjohnash.com).

Do I have to be in Confirmation to come to Middle School Sunday School?

Absolutely not.  Sunday school is just that, school on Sunday.  It is a way to learn and discuss many different topics with your peers of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.  If you feel you are not ready to start the Confirmation Program, please still consider attending Sunday School.  If you are in the Confirmation Program, it is a requirement to attend Middle School Sunday School.

What if I don’t get my requirements completed in time?

 The requirements will "follow" you to the next year.  The program is designed to be completed from a student's 3rd-10th grade - but can last as long as it takes the student to complete all the requirements.  Please keep in mind, if by the fall of your sophomore year you have not completed the requirements, you will need to wait for the next confirmation service.

What if I’ve completed all of my requirements and don’t feel I’m ready to be confirmed?

After consultation with the pastor, if the student believes they aren't ready to accept the responsibility of confirmation, they do not need to participate in the Rite of Confirmation service until they feel they are prepared to accept the responsibility of being a confirmed member of St. John. 

What is Confirmation?

The rite of confirmation is officially known as the “Affirmation of Baptism”.  When children are baptized, often as infants, their parents and sponsors make promises on their behalf.  Specifically, parents and sponsors promise to bring their children to God’s house (e.g., come to worship), teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in their hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith.  Essentially, the child’s parents and sponsors are saying “yes” to a life of faith on behalf of their child.  They are agreeing to open up for their child the gift of the promise of salvation and eternal life given in baptism.

During the rite of Affirmation of Baptism the child stands before the congregation and says, “Yes, I believe in the promise God made to me in baptism and I now pledge to take responsibility for my own continued spiritual growth.”  This means that the child, who becomes an “adult” member of the congregation through the rite of Affirmation of Baptism, agrees to continue coming to worship, to continue learning and growing in faith, and to continue playing an active role in the life of the congregation and the larger church.

This is not something to enter into lightly or uninformed!  Because of this, over the centuries the Church developed what we now call confirmation: a period of intense instruction provided over the course of several years.  In the Lutheran Church, the goal of this instruction is to give the student a deeper understanding of what it is we as Lutheran Christians believe and how we can live out those beliefs in our everyday lives.  Ideally, at the end of this intense period of instruction students will be fully prepared to take on the weighty responsibility of continuing to live as Jesus’ disciples throughout their lives.  Our goal is for students on the day of their Affirmation of Baptism to be able to say with confidence, “This I believe and I intend to continue growing in faith from this time on.”

The confirmation schedules for 2011 - 2012 are below. 

Confirmation Schedule 2011 - 2012

Confirmation Sunday School Schedule 2011-2012

Below are the forms needed for Meetings and any missed Mentor Meetings.

 Meeting Form

 Make Up Mentor Meeting Form

Loving Our Neighbor in the Name of Christ Guidelines

The intent of this component of the confirmation program is to help students make the connection between faith (that is, being a called, claimed and beloved child of God) and everyday life.  Luther made much of a doctrine known as “vocation”.  Simply put, this doctrine tells us that God calls us to love and serve him and our neighbor exactly where we are.  One need not be a pastor or a missionary to engage in mission work.  If your present calling or vocation happens to be that of wife and mother, trust that you are serving the Lord when you prepare meals for your family and ensure that they have clean clothes to wear.  If your calling or vocation is that of child, trust that you are serving the Lord when you obey your parents and are kind to your friends.  If one of your callings or vocations is that of baseball coach, trust that you are serving the Lord when you teach the athletes good sportsmanship and enable each child to do the best he or she is able to do.

Likewise, service need not always be done on a grand scale; in most cases it is the simple things that we engage in every day that mean the most to the “neighbors” we are all called to love and serve.  Thus, the “Loving Our Neighbors in the Name of Christ” component of confirmation has been designed to help students see the many ways they are called to love and serve the Lord – exactly where they are – using the unique set of gifts and talents with which God has blessed them.  In thoughtfully answering the questions on this reflection sheet, it is hoped the student will come away with a greater understanding of how their faith in God influenced not only the specific activity in which they engaged, but all of their actions and activities.  Additionally, it is hoped that students will see the many ways God is working through them, just as they are, to carry out his mission in this world.

You are required to complete a minimum of eight activities and reflection sheets.  One activity will need to be from each of the following categories:  home, church worship, non-worship church activity, and community.  The remaining four can be completed in any area that you feel God has called you to use your time and talent.  Reflection sheets must be completed in full sentences and turned in to the confirmation mailbox preferably within two weeks of the activity.

As you go about choosing ways to show love and service to your neighbor, please be able to answer the following questions as well as meaningfully complete the answers on the reflection sheet.

1. Does it respond to a need in the church or community?
2. Was someone else blessed by your actions?

Reflection Sheet Questions:

1. Description of how you served (who, what, where).
2. Why did you choose to serve in this way?
3. How was God served by your actions?
4. How did you share your experience with others?

Click here for

Reflection Sheet for Loving Our Neighbor

Planning Sheet for Loving Our Neighbor

Additional Sunday School Make-Up Forms

Make-Up Work Bible Story

Make-Up Work Headlines

Make-Up Work Interview

Make-Up Work Missed Topic

Make-Up Work Service Project