Expectations for Confirmation Class

• Attendance  

Attendance at Sunday morning classes is very important. Because our class size is so small, it’s imperative that all youth make a concerted effort to attend class regularly.  If a confirmand misses more than three classes, there will be make-up work for the student to do outside of class.  Please note class begins at 9:30am and ends at approx. 10:50am.

• Participation

You get out of this class what you put into it.  Please make an effort to participate.  We often say there are no right or wrong answers.  Every question has value!  

• Journaling

The confirmands are given a journal on the first day of class and expected to use it.  There will be about 5-10 minutes at the end of each class for the confirmands to journal about what they learned that day.  If the confirmand is diligent about journaling, he/she will find the journal very helpful while preparing their statement of faith.

• Two church visits

In order to learn about one’s own tradition, it’s important to have something to compare it to.  We have built in one trip to another local church to attend their Sunday service.  If the confirmand cannot make it on the trip, they must visit another church on their own.

• Worship worksheets

Each confirmand is expected to fill out three worship overviews.  The confirmand will simply attend church and answer the questions on the survey that pertain to worship, such as the title of the sermon and scripture.  It will also ask their thoughts about the sermon and what they liked best in the service.

• Outreach projects

Each confirmand is expected to attend two outreach projects.  There will be an opportunity to serve at both FPC community dinners: Thanksgiving and Palm Sunday.  And there will also be two planned trips to the York Food Bank to serve lunch.  We’d like for each student to choose two out of these four opportunities.  They may also choose an independent outreach project.  We feel service is a part of our Christian faith that cannot be taught in the classroom; it is best learned in the field!

• Statement of faith

The statement of faith is the culmination of all our work during the year.  Each confirmand must write a statement of faith and then present it to the session for approval for membership.  We help the confirmands write their statements by providing a packet of prompting questions.  We review the statements with them and follow up with their drafts via e-mail.

• Meeting with Session

All confirmands must meet with the Session on Sunday, May 26th, at 7:00 p.m. to read their statements of faith.  At that meeting the Session will then vote for them to be confirmed.

• Confirmation Sunday is on Trinity Sunday, June 9th!