Confirmation
Confirmation @ SST
Why do we encourage Confirmation?
If you do an in-depth study of the Bible, you will not find “confirmation” listed in it. So, why do we encourage it? As Christians, we are followers of Jesus; we are His disciples, called to grow closer to God. And, as disciples (ie: His students) we are learning what it means to be a baptized child of God. During our 3-year confirmation program, students are beginning the process to a life long journey of growing closer to God, gaining a better understanding of His Word, and learning more about the Church as a whole. Confirmation is a place where students can ask hard questions, learn new information, gain new habits and practices in life, and be challenged in their perceptions. All which is done in the frame set of God’s Word, and His Will for us as we follow Him.
What do we teach in Confirmation?
We use the colaborate confirmation curriculum to frame our lessons.
We chose this curriculum because it reaches students right where they are at! It combines important scriptural lessons and themes, confessional Lutheran theology, and hard questions that youth are searching for the answers to. Through this curriculum, students are called to open their Bibles, and Small Catechisms to search for the answers, while having each other and our teachers to have conversation with. We recognize that once students graduate and enter adulthood, they will encounter a world with many opinions in full force, while working to establish their own faith community. We believe in equipping students to know which tools they can use to get the answers they need. We believe this curriculum aids well in facilitating this while also teaching the important cornerstones of Christian and Lutheran faith. To see all the lesson topics we teach, click the button below.
What are all the logistics?
Confirmation is offered to students once they hit 6th grade and lasts through 8th grade. (If a delayed start until 7th grade is desired, we can accommodate that.) We meet on Wednesdays during the school year from 7-8pm. We have other youth programming as well before that, so make sure to check that out here.
Each year, Confirmation students are required to attend 70% of classes, participate in 10 hours of community service, memorize 4 scriptural/catechism pieces (testing of these occurs during class), and acolyte 12 times. Confirmation retreat is offered each year and attendance is strongly encouraged. Lastly, they cap off their 3rd year with a Capstone project.
First Communion classes are offered to students once they hit 5th grade and can be taken at any point during the following years according to when you as the parent would desire for them to do so. Most students have completed First Communion by the time they are Confirmed.
For any further details or questions regarding our Confirmation programming, please reach out to Pastor Bob at pastorgehrke@gmail.com or by calling the office at 651-429-4293