Why Confirmation?

The Confirmation year is a chance for students to explore the Christian faith, learning about it from various educational modes: hands-on experiences, small group discussion, lectures/presentations, audio-visual media, reading the Bible, mentors.

The Confirmation year is also a chance for students to connect personally with God, each other, and the wider church. The program offers students a chance to give to and receive from the community, in deeper ways than they have before.

Additionally, confirmation is a centuries-old practice in the Christian tradition, whereby those who were baptized as babies have an opportunity to learn about Christianity and accept/reject it for themselves.

The Vision for Confirmation Class is:

• To give you the opportunity to seek God, know Christ, and be led by the Holy Spirit!
• To learn about Christianity, the Bible, Prayer, the Church, Mission, & what it all has to do with your life!
• To get to know and enjoy great other people your age in this community!
• To explore the Reformed Christian faith, toward the option of confirming your baptism next spring and becoming a member of this church!

To further the work God has already begun in you, and help you in the next leg of your spiritual journey!

The 4 "C"s of Confirmation:

Some students probably don't want to do this, and are here because their parents made them come. Goal for you = to become curious about God, Christianity, faith, & life's ultimate questions.

Some students are curious, but nothing more. Goal for you = to become connected to other 9th graders, to adult Christians (mentors and parents), and to this church community.

Some students are already connected to the community, but aren't aware of much connection to God. Goal for you = to become convinced. Not necessarily convinced of every doctrine and verse, but convinced that God is real, that God is for you, that Jesus is God come to us in the flesh — and that he died and rose again for the world. That his forgiveness, justice, and love are real, and that knowing God and living for God matters!Are we all going to be convinced at the same time, of the same things, in the same way?  No!The idea here is to be convinced that Christ matters, and that you can have hope of new life—both in this world and the next.

Some students are already curious, connected, and convinced, but not doing a whole lot about it.The goal for you = to become committed. Committed to worship, to teaching and sharing your faith with others, to serving those who need your love and help, to growing in your relationship with God and others. Commitment includes our time, money, attitude, prayer/Bible-reading, and more. It's a life-long pursuit.

Is this a linear chart, where you move clearly from one stage to the next? No way! It's a circular wheel that you may move around many times in your life.You may feel connected at some points, but then later feel discouraged.You may be convinced in some seasons, but later have doubts.And then go back to curious.But it's a journey worth taking!

For more information about confirmation please contact Cari Pattison Riley at cari@reformedchurch.org.