The following information is shared with you so that you might have a good idea as to what the Confirmation experience will be like during the coming school year. Hopefully, this information will answer the vast majority of the questions you might have. If, however, you should have other questions don't hesitate to speak with me.

The Purpose of Confirmation

      There are actually several reasons in back of our Confirmation program at St. Paul. First and foremost is this:

      1. We offer confirmation classes so that the young person will be both ready and willing to confirm her/his faith!

      In most cases, when the confirmation student was baptized, parents and godparents spoke on his/her behalf. The young person had no choice in the matter. Now, however, it is different. When Confirmation Sunday arrives, the confirmation students will be asked to speak for themselves. They will be asked to ‘confirm’ the fact that they are indeed followers of Jesus - not because someone forced them -but rather because they want to. The Confirmation experience at St. Paul, therefore, seeks to help each individual student come to grips with his/her own faith relationship with the Living God.

      Related to this first purpose is this:

      2. We offer confirmation classes so that the young person will have the opportunity to review the basics of the Christian faith.

      Before you can confirm your allegiance to the Christian faith, you have to know what the Christian faith is all about. So... during the years of Confirmation, a great deal of time is spent looking at what Christianity is all about. Throughout the Confirmation experience we ask questions such as: What does the Bible teach and how is it relevant to today? What do Christians believe and why is it important? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus and to live like a follower of Jesus? How are Christians to be different from others? The point is that we want the kids to really wrestle with these questions and come to thoughtful and God pleasing conclusions.

      A third purpose in back of our Confirmation program is this:

      3. We offer confirmation classes so that the young person will be ready to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

      In our congregation, First Communion is coupled with Confirmation. Other churches have different practices, which are equally valid. We link the two together because we think it's important to view Holy Communion within the context of the entire Christian faith. Once that context is taught (through the confirmation classes) then Holy Communion is offered to the young person.

      4. We offer confirmation classes so that the young person is prepared for full communicant membership at St. Paul.

      Confirmation does represent a 'rite of passage' in the life of the young believer. By being confirmed the young person is recognized as a fellow member of the Church, with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with that membership. During the years of confirmation, we hope to instill within the young people an understanding of what it means to be an active and involved partner in a Christian congregation. Christianity is not a “spectator sport.” And we certainly are not interested in adding inactive members to our congregation. Rather, we want the young people to accept the challenge to active and exciting participation in the work, worship and ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The Confirmation Process

1. Confirmation is primarily a two-year program here at St. Paul, taking place during the 6^th and 7^th grade years of the confirmand – though the 8^th grade year also contains elements of the confirmation process. For those students enrolled in our school, confirmation is taught as part of the regular religion classes. For those students not enrolled in our school, confirmation is taught on Tuesdays at 6:00 P.M. (tentative time).

(It should be noted that all students enrolled in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades of our school are required to participate in the confirmation instruction. This is because the confirmation instruction is part of the Bible Study curriculum of our school. Certain requirements, however, will be waived for those students not planning to be confirmed at St. Paul.)

2. In our school’s confirmation program, Mr. Chris Lingel is responsible for instruction in the 6^th grade while Pastor (during this transitional year) is responsible for teaching the 7^th & 8^th grade classes during the regular religion periods. I (Pastor) will teach the 8^th grade class. For the Afterschool Confirmation Program that meets on Tuesdays, I will be teaching a combined 7^th and 8^th grade class (starting September 4^th at 6:00 P.M.)

3. In our school, each year of confirmation is dedicated to specific faith-building goal. In the 6^th grade, we review - in depth - New Testament History. This year, in the 7^th & 8^th grade we study Basic Christian Teachings which show the students the fundamental, Biblically based doctrines of our Lutheran faith. (Please note that the study of Old Testament History will be taught next school year to the 8^th grade.) The goal of these courses is to give our students a firm Biblical foundation. We believe that this is essential for an active and involved Christian.

      For those enrolled in the Afterschool Confirmation Program, we follow a two year cycle, alternating between Bible History and Basic Christian Teachings. This year is the Basic Christian Teachings part of the cycle.

4. The 6^th grade class uses the following material: The Holy Bible (NIV translation), and A Bible History (textbook/workbook) - along with supplemental materials.

      The 7^th & 8^th grade class uses the following materials: The Holy Bible (NIV translation), Martin Luther's Small Catechism (1991 edition), and Keeping the Faith (main textbook/workbook).

5. “Two Thumbs Up!” Two or three times during the school year, the 8^th grade class will be watching a feature-length movie, analyzing it from a Christian point of view. In the past, we’ve watched such movies as The Mission and Chariots of Fire. The purpose of this is to help the kids to be more discerning as they encounter our society and its culture. You can rest assured that we will show only those movies that we feel have value and a good message to learn.

6. For the 7^th grade class. With the implementation of the new confirmation program, there will be some meetings of confirmands –that will take place during the Fall of the confirmands’ 8^th grade year.

The Requirements of Confirmation

1. Grades. We grade the work that the students do in confirmation. Hopefully, this will not come as a surprise to anyone. The grades (for school students) appear on the student's report card under Religion and Memory Work, and are of equal (if not greater) importance with all the other grades a student receives. The standard grading scale of the school is used for both the school and Afterschool programs.

2. Memory work. Memory work will be required of each year of confirmation. The memory work will be from the Bible, the hymnal and the catechism.

3. Sermon quizzes.  During the two years of confirmation students will be required to take quizzes on sermons preached here at St. Paul. During each of the two years 25 quizzes must be taken and passed. That adds up to 50 Sermon quizzes during the two years of junior high. Quizzes usually should be taken within 48 hours after a sermon has been preached. (Some exceptions will be allowed - such as during school vacation or if the student is sick.) No quizzes will be assigned over the summer months between the 6^th & 7^th grade year; however, a student going into the 7^th grade may use the summer to make up for missed sermon opportunities by filling out sermon report forms made available to them.

(Please note that students are allowed to submit a written report on a sermon they heard at another church as long as they include the bulletin of that church for the Sunday they heard the sermon. They may submit as many as five such reports/essays per school year.)

(It should also be noted that those students who are not going to be confirmed at St. Paul are not required to take or pass sermon quizzes.)

4. Worship attendance. Students desiring to be confirmed at St. Paul are expected to be in worship every Sunday. I will 'keep tabs' on the worship attendance. If the worship attendance of a student is low, I will contact both the student and parent(s) concerning the issue. Obviously, things like illness, etc. are always taken into consideration.

5. Attendance. Perhaps this doesn't really need to be said, but it should be understood that in order to be confirmed at St. Paul one has to be present for the instruction.

6. Quizzes, tests, written work, projects, etc. Mr. Lingel will set the 6th grade confirmation expectations. In the 7^th & 8^th grade class, I often have ‘surprise’ quizzes on the reading assignments that are given. Tests are scheduled in advance giving the students time to study. Tests are given the equivalent “grade weight” of three quizzes. At times writing assignments are given. These will usually carry the same weight as a quiz. Finally, during the course of the year, certain written projects may be given - some of which may involve the students working with their parent(s). Unless otherwise noted, these projects will be given the same 'weight' as a test.

7. Service Projects. During the course of the two years, confirmation students are required to participate in 12 hours worth of service projects in each of their two years. Half of these service projects must be for the church and half must be for the community. There will be a variety of service opportunities offered - some taking place at church, some off the church property. The idea is to encourage our young people to see that serving others is a major part of Christian discipleship. (Please note that this requirement is also only for those desiring to be confirmed at St. Paul.) Special service projects for this year’s 7^th & 8^th graders only may also be planned. (Attending a mission trip during the summer will be given credit for both years of community service.) To help with achieving the congregational service hours, confirmands will be required to choose at least two activities from the following: ushering, acolyting, serving as a reader, serving on the Altar Guild, helping with childcare during worship hours or helping with childcare during the Sunday evening Bible class.

8. 6^th Grade Comprehensive Bible Knowledge Final Exams. Toward the end of the school year all 6^th graders will be expected to pass a comprehensive Bible Knowledge final in the area of New Testament history. The minimum passing grade is 85%. Any student unable to pass will retake the test until he or she meets this requirement. Again, this requirement is expected of all students in the class - not just those wishing to be confirmed. A similar Bible knowledge exam will be given to the Afterschool students.

9. The 7^th & 8^th Grade Comprehensive Catechism Final Exam. As the 8^th grade class prepares for Examination Sunday they will simultaneously prepare to take the Comprehensive Final Exam. This exam (which takes place in April) will be administered to the entire class. This test is strictly pass/fail - with an 85% being the minimum requirement for passing. Those students not passing will be allowed to retake different versions of the test until they pass.

10. Examination Sunday (or Saturday). All 7^th & 8^th grade students desiring to be confirmed are required to prepare for and participate in a congregational examination, the Sunday (or Saturday) prior to confirmation itself (both services if it’s on Sunday). This examination will consist of me asking questions of the class on basic Christian teaching. For the current 8^th grade class the Examination will take place the weekend of April 26-27, 2008. For the current 7^th grade class, since we’re switching to a Fall Confirmation, their examination will take place October 18-19, 2008.

11. The Private Examination. One final confirmation requirement is that each individual confirmand meets with me for a 30 minute private 'exam'. This takes place in pastor's office a week or so before Confirmation Sunday.

12. Faith Essays. Each confirmand will write a 200-word essay expressing their faith based upon a topic that pastor gives them several weeks before their confirmation. These essays will be published and read – either at the Confirmation worship or as part of the examination weekend. Details concerning this will follow.

13. Additional plans & requirements. During the course of the school year there will be some other things happening. There may be a Confirmation Lock-in sometime during the winter months. This will be a Friday evening into Saturday morning. Those desiring to be confirmed will be required to attend. Any other 8^th grader from the school may attend, but is not required to (most of them do).

      We will again participate in the Junior High (7^th & 8^th grade) Retreat at Walcamp. This will take place in sometime after the first of the year. (This is not a requirement - but it is well worth attending!) There will be further information given about this on a separate sheet.

      Finally, we would like each of the confirmands to make a Banner (with their name on it) that reflects their confirmation Bible verse. The confirmation verses will be chosen about 2 months before Confirmation Sunday. Ample time will be given for the kids to work on their banner. The finished products will hang in the Church on Confirmation Sunday.

An Important Note. The above requirements for confirmation are just that: requirements. We understand that confirmation is more than 'book learning'. It is a process of growth and maturity in one's relationship with God that goes beyond grades, assignments and memory work. At the same time, however, the above requirements will not easily be waived. Confirmation is not automatic here at St. Paul! We take it seriously. If a student does not meet the requirements (and does not have a valid reason), that student will not be recommended for confirmation.

      This is probably all the information you need right now for the beginning of this year's confirmation experience. For the 8^th graders let me share this additional information: Confirmation will be Sunday, May 4th. First Communion will take place at that same service. For the 7^th graders Confirmation will be October 26^th with First Communion taking place on November 2^nd.

      Again, as I said before, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach me at church (708-867-5044) or at home (708-867-8216). May God bless you and your child during the exciting things that will be happening this year in Confirmation.

Yours in Christ,

Walt Schoenfuhs

Pastor

P.S. Reminder: This year is a transitional year in how we conduct confirmation ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church. For the current 8^th grade class it’ll be the same as other years. For the current 7^th graders, the actual date of their Confirmation Sunday will switch to the October of their freshman year in high school – the last Sunday of October (Reformation Sunday).