| CONFIRMATION/COMMISSIONING |
Confirmation is an opportunity for youth (targeted at 9th graders) to affirm for themselves the
meaning of their baptism. To be confirmed is to choose to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord
and Savior. To be commissioned is to commit yourself to being a responsible member of
Christ’s church.
To help youth make this commitment, they are invited to participate in a sixteen session
program that develops personal faith and service. Pastor, mentors, parents, and classmate
support the youth in making an honest and informed decision.
The class meets every other Wednesday.
9/16 TRAVELING LIFE AS A JOURNEY Hebrews 12:1-2
Orientation for Confirmands and Parents
Biblical basis; WPC Mission Statement;
Journey – Choosing your Companions, Dealing with Detours, Knowing the Way,
Showing others the Way, Celebrating the Steps
Election – God choosing us
Assignment: Foot Prints; Fill out “Start Up” and “Journey” to share with Mentors
9/30 SHARING THE WORD IN GOD’S GLOBAL FAMILY
Matthew 28:16-20;Luke 4:16-21
Read Marj Carpenter articles and/or
Research Internet for Presbyterian Mission
View DVD Invitation: Prayer Partners with Guatemalan Presbyterians
Assignment: Invite someone to worship with you on October 4, World Communion
Sunday
Set up individual appointment with mentor
10/11-17 Individual appointments for REVIEWING FAITH WITH MENTOR
Phil. 3:12-14
Sharing assignments with Mentors; Mentors share “When I Was Young” and “Life
Beyond Confirmation”
Reflections on Baptism Renewal Service; Calvin’s comments on baptism and
confirmation
Assignment: Examine campaign materials, Attend 10/18 Stewardship Dinner,
Discuss with family, Make an Estimate of Giving
10/28 SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:7
Review campaign materials
Building a church – Mission statement, goals, activities, budget
or Video: “Ever Expanding Circles” VT1100 from IRMS
Assignment: Write prayer and do a Worship Reflection after participating in another
church’s worship service
11/11 WORSHIPING GOD John 4:21-24
Explore acts and attitudes of worship; “Our faithful response to God’s gracious reach”
Video: “Growing Edge: Youth Encounter in Worship” VT1620 for IRMS
Share “Worship Reflections” of our and other church’s worship services
Assignment: Discuss meaning of sacraments and relationship to confirmation with
Parents
11/18 EXPERIENCING GOD IN THE SACRAMENTS
Acts 2:38-39; I Corinthians 11:23-34
Review steps in Faith Journey
Explore meaning of Baptism and Lord’s Supper including Calvin’s comments
View Video: “The Meaning of Mystery”
Assignment: None
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
12/2 PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS John 20:24-31
Explore the purpose of a gospel: Justification and Sanctification
Look at who needs the good news at school
Assignment: Create Christmas cards proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
12/16 PARTYING WITH MENTOR (Christmas Gathering)
Assignment: Examine and fill out “The Chapters in God’s Story and My Story”
1/6 UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE’S WITNESS II Timothy 3:14-17
Read “Thanksgiving Over the Water” and recall Biblical events
Review “Connections” and “Get Over Your Troubles”
Calvin’s principles of interpretation; Write Prayer for Illumination
Assignment: Reformation Story and choices of what needs to be changed today
1/20 STANDING FIRM (Presbyterian Heritage) Matthew 16:13-20
View Video: “Who Are We Presbyterians”
John Calvin’s Key Concepts – “Reformed and always being reformed”
“On Being Presbyterian” “Litany of the Names of the Church”
Assignment: Examine themes and resources to lead Ash Wednesday Service
2/3 PREPARING TO LEAD WORSHIP Romans 12:1-2
Preparations to lead worship on Ash Wednesday 2/17
Assignment: Interview Elder (could be your mentor)
2/17 LEADING WORSHIP – Ash Wednesday
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
2/24 DECIDING FAIRLY/FIGHTING RESPECTFULLY I Peter 5:1-4
Explore Presbyterian governance and characteristics of leadership
“Priesthood of All Believers” “Doing thing decently and in order”
Play “The Presbyterian Game”
Assignment: Read and reflect on “A Brief Statement of Faith”
3/10 EXAMINING PRESBYTERIAN BELIEFS Philippians 2:5-11
Examine Creeds & Confessions; View Video: “Presbyterians – Belief and Doctrine”
“My Beliefs and Thoughts about Jesus”
Salvation = restoring image of God service (free from sin; free for service)
Assignment: Read “So What is Confirmation?” and “Saying Yes”
Begin writing a personal statement of beliefs
3/24 EXPRESSING PERSONAL BELIEFS Personally selected verses
“Jesus Counts” and share personal statements of beliefs
“God alone is Lord of the conscience”
Reflections on “Saying Yes” and “My Belief” and “So What is Confirmation?”
Assignment: “Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King”
“Following Jesus”
4/7 FOLLOWING JESUS Matthew 16:13-20
“Jesus the Man who Changed History”
Discuss assignment: “Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King” & “Following Jesus”
Faith expressed in grateful obedience
Review selected picture of Jesus and it’s implication for your living
Assignment: Complete a Timothy Task (service project with Mentor)
*Can be helping serve at the Banquet in Sioux Falls 5/5
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
4/19-23 INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES WITH PASTOR (AND MENTOR)
4/21 SERVING OTHERS John 13:1-20; Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus’ Example and Teachings
Calvin – “God is known where humanity is cared for”
Modified NETWORK – passion and gift identification
Assignment: Prepare for examination before Session
*5/5 Help Serve at the Banquet in Sioux Falls
For those who choose to confirm the Christian faith & be commission for Christian
service:
5/12 Examination before Session
5/19 Rehearsal for Confirmation/Commissioning Service and Pizza Party and a
celebration and evaluation of the Journey to this point
5/23 Pentecost Service of Confirmation/Commissioning
meaning of their baptism. To be confirmed is to choose to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord
and Savior. To be commissioned is to commit yourself to being a responsible member of
Christ’s church.
To help youth make this commitment, they are invited to participate in a sixteen session
program that develops personal faith and service. Pastor, mentors, parents, and classmate
support the youth in making an honest and informed decision.
The class meets every other Wednesday.
9/16 TRAVELING LIFE AS A JOURNEY Hebrews 12:1-2
Orientation for Confirmands and Parents
Biblical basis; WPC Mission Statement;
Journey – Choosing your Companions, Dealing with Detours, Knowing the Way,
Showing others the Way, Celebrating the Steps
Election – God choosing us
Assignment: Foot Prints; Fill out “Start Up” and “Journey” to share with Mentors
9/30 SHARING THE WORD IN GOD’S GLOBAL FAMILY
Matthew 28:16-20;Luke 4:16-21
Read Marj Carpenter articles and/or
Research Internet for Presbyterian Mission
View DVD Invitation: Prayer Partners with Guatemalan Presbyterians
Assignment: Invite someone to worship with you on October 4, World Communion
Sunday
Set up individual appointment with mentor
10/11-17 Individual appointments for REVIEWING FAITH WITH MENTOR
Phil. 3:12-14
Sharing assignments with Mentors; Mentors share “When I Was Young” and “Life
Beyond Confirmation”
Reflections on Baptism Renewal Service; Calvin’s comments on baptism and
confirmation
Assignment: Examine campaign materials, Attend 10/18 Stewardship Dinner,
Discuss with family, Make an Estimate of Giving
10/28 SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE CHURCH Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:7
Review campaign materials
Building a church – Mission statement, goals, activities, budget
or Video: “Ever Expanding Circles” VT1100 from IRMS
Assignment: Write prayer and do a Worship Reflection after participating in another
church’s worship service
11/11 WORSHIPING GOD John 4:21-24
Explore acts and attitudes of worship; “Our faithful response to God’s gracious reach”
Video: “Growing Edge: Youth Encounter in Worship” VT1620 for IRMS
Share “Worship Reflections” of our and other church’s worship services
Assignment: Discuss meaning of sacraments and relationship to confirmation with
Parents
11/18 EXPERIENCING GOD IN THE SACRAMENTS
Acts 2:38-39; I Corinthians 11:23-34
Review steps in Faith Journey
Explore meaning of Baptism and Lord’s Supper including Calvin’s comments
View Video: “The Meaning of Mystery”
Assignment: None
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
12/2 PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS John 20:24-31
Explore the purpose of a gospel: Justification and Sanctification
Look at who needs the good news at school
Assignment: Create Christmas cards proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ
12/16 PARTYING WITH MENTOR (Christmas Gathering)
Assignment: Examine and fill out “The Chapters in God’s Story and My Story”
1/6 UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE’S WITNESS II Timothy 3:14-17
Read “Thanksgiving Over the Water” and recall Biblical events
Review “Connections” and “Get Over Your Troubles”
Calvin’s principles of interpretation; Write Prayer for Illumination
Assignment: Reformation Story and choices of what needs to be changed today
1/20 STANDING FIRM (Presbyterian Heritage) Matthew 16:13-20
View Video: “Who Are We Presbyterians”
John Calvin’s Key Concepts – “Reformed and always being reformed”
“On Being Presbyterian” “Litany of the Names of the Church”
Assignment: Examine themes and resources to lead Ash Wednesday Service
2/3 PREPARING TO LEAD WORSHIP Romans 12:1-2
Preparations to lead worship on Ash Wednesday 2/17
Assignment: Interview Elder (could be your mentor)
2/17 LEADING WORSHIP – Ash Wednesday
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
2/24 DECIDING FAIRLY/FIGHTING RESPECTFULLY I Peter 5:1-4
Explore Presbyterian governance and characteristics of leadership
“Priesthood of All Believers” “Doing thing decently and in order”
Play “The Presbyterian Game”
Assignment: Read and reflect on “A Brief Statement of Faith”
3/10 EXAMINING PRESBYTERIAN BELIEFS Philippians 2:5-11
Examine Creeds & Confessions; View Video: “Presbyterians – Belief and Doctrine”
“My Beliefs and Thoughts about Jesus”
Salvation = restoring image of God service (free from sin; free for service)
Assignment: Read “So What is Confirmation?” and “Saying Yes”
Begin writing a personal statement of beliefs
3/24 EXPRESSING PERSONAL BELIEFS Personally selected verses
“Jesus Counts” and share personal statements of beliefs
“God alone is Lord of the conscience”
Reflections on “Saying Yes” and “My Belief” and “So What is Confirmation?”
Assignment: “Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King”
“Following Jesus”
4/7 FOLLOWING JESUS Matthew 16:13-20
“Jesus the Man who Changed History”
Discuss assignment: “Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King” & “Following Jesus”
Faith expressed in grateful obedience
Review selected picture of Jesus and it’s implication for your living
Assignment: Complete a Timothy Task (service project with Mentor)
*Can be helping serve at the Banquet in Sioux Falls 5/5
PROGRESS REPORT TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
4/19-23 INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES WITH PASTOR (AND MENTOR)
4/21 SERVING OTHERS John 13:1-20; Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus’ Example and Teachings
Calvin – “God is known where humanity is cared for”
Modified NETWORK – passion and gift identification
Assignment: Prepare for examination before Session
*5/5 Help Serve at the Banquet in Sioux Falls
For those who choose to confirm the Christian faith & be commission for Christian
service:
5/12 Examination before Session
5/19 Rehearsal for Confirmation/Commissioning Service and Pizza Party and a
celebration and evaluation of the Journey to this point
5/23 Pentecost Service of Confirmation/Commissioning
| 2009-2010 Class Schedule |