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September 6, 2011
Dear Confirmation families,
Welcome back to fall! With all the activities in the air this time of year, you no doubt have lots to focus on. And hopefully one of the most exciting things on your list is confirmation at The Reformed Church!
This year will be a great opportunity to grow in your faith, learn about the way of Jesus, make new friendships, deepen old ones, and make a difference in the world.
Unless you attended the informational meeting in the spring, we’ll expect to see you (the student and at least one parent) at the informational meeting on Sunday September 25th, from 4-5pm in the Edwards room.
The kick-off retreat day is Thursday September 29th, at Addison’s parents’ place in Connecticut. Meet at the church at 10am, and you’ll return there by 7pm. Parents: please let us know if you can help drive and chaperone, as the church mini-bus will not hold everyone. I plan to be at all the classes and overnight trips, but this is the one event that I have a conflict during, and will be out of town. Addison and Anne (assistant) will be leading this, but we need additional parent support.
Make sure you’ve selected and asked someone to mentor you, by the end of September. The meeting for mentors is Sunday October 2nd, 4-5pm in the Edwards room.
Attached is the updated calendar for the year, with a few changes to note:
- Due to our large class size (26), all classes will be held in the Edwards room (where we have coffee hour after church), instead of in the downstairs Fellowship room
- The MLK weekend in January (13-16) with Center for Student Mission (NYC), is open to high school students only (didn’t realize this rule of theirs earlier), so this will be a special trip just for the 9th graders. This is a three-night trip that I cannot commend to you highly enough. The cost is an additional $200, and includes all meals, transportation, lodging, etc.
- The 8th grade trip equivalent will be Nightwatch, at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (NYC), on December 9-10. It’s from 5pm on Friday, through 11am on Saturday (one night). We have done this trip for the past several years, and students have enjoyed it. The cost is an additional $50, and includes lodging and transportation (you bring packed food).
The booklist has been updated, and we’ve ordered the books for you. Make sure to read the entire of Gospel of Mark (may take about 1-2 hours) before you come to the first class on October 16th. It gives you the basics of Jesus’ birth, life, teaching, death, and resurrection.
- Please write down all the calendar dates, as the actual number of classes is small, and every event is essential.
- At each class we’ll need two parent helpers, so please e-mail me which class you can assist with.
- We’re looking for 1-2 parents to serve as mission-outreach coordinators, which involves working with Dawn Ravella to set up service opportunities for the confirmands to take part in. Please let me know if you’re interested.
- We’ll need between 3-6 parent or mentor chaperones on each trip. Let me know which one you’d like to join us for.
Further questions? Call me at 914-337-6776, ext. 115, or e-mail cari@reformedchurch.org. Thanks in advance for helping make this confirmation year a meaningful, fun, and enriching one for your student.
In Christ,
Cari |
