2020-21

confirmation 6th-8th grade

Word of Peace offers a 2-Track Confirmation Program.

Look inside to choose which track is right for your family.

WELCOME! We are so happy to have your family as part of the confirmation ministry at Word of Peace Lutheran Church! It is a great time for you and your child to learn, grow in faith, serve others and have fun while forming Christian relationships. Your child was claimed by God through baptism. In confirmation, they will claim those Baptismal promises for themselves to: Believe in God, Live in the covenant of their baptism, Live out their faith, and Be involved in the life of the church. We hope that our confirmation ministry provides a loving, caring and nurturing environ-ment for your child. We also hope that the nurturing of their faith continues at home. We only see your kids a couple hours a week. YOU are your child’s most important faith teacher!

CONFIRMATION IS…. Learning to think more deeply about your faith Being part of a larger faith community through learning, service and fellowship Claiming your faith as your own by affirming baptismal promises A time for parents and their children to grow in faith and spend time worshipping

and learning together

BEING CONFIRMED IS NOT….. A requirement A sacrament Confirmation does not save you. You have already been saved by Jesus.

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION

3 COMPONENTS OF CONFIRMATION MINISTRY Large Group Learning Events take place in the sanctuary and offer a time of laughing and learning from one of the staff members on the theme of the night. All 6th—8th graders attend Large Group together. Large Group takes place during the first 45 minutes of each confirmation session. Small Group Gathering Time follows immediately after Large Group. Upon being dis-missed from the sanctuary, your child will adjourn to a classroom with their small group. Small Groups consist of 9-10 students, their confirmation guide, and possibly a junior guide. Small group time is a time to learn and share. Servant/Fellowship Events take place 4-5 Wednesdays per year with students partici-pating in either a service opportunity (CROSS, Feed My Starving Children, Salvation Ar-my Bell Ringing, calling bingo at a nursing home, etc.) or a fellowship event (pizza party, games, Sky Zone, snow tubing, etc.) Servant/Fellowship events are planned and orga-nized by each individual confirmation guide with parent support! Depending on the event, the beginning and end time may not be the same as your regular learning event session. Please note: guides often need parents to help drive to these events.

WHEN DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN? WEDNESDAY NIGHTS! Early Session: Large Group 5:30-6:15pm and Small Group 6:20-7:00pm Late Session: Large Group 6:30-7:15pm and Small Group 7:20-8:00pm

Servant/Fellowship Events - 5 times per year

Confirmation Ministry at Word of Peace is a 3.5 year program that runs from September of 6th grade to December of 9th grade.

Youth are confirmed in January of 9th grade.

CONFIRMATION TRACK 1

Track 1 results in Affirmation of Baptism in January of 9th grade. What does that mean? Upon being confirmed at Word of Peace Lutheran Church, your child is making a pub-

lic profession of their faith, promising to live among God’s faithful people, hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, proclaim the good news of God in Christ

through word and deed, serve all people following the example of Jesus, and strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Your child becomes a full, voting member of Word of

Peace Lutheran Church.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TRACK 1 6TH GRADE 12 Worship Notes (completed by attending 12 WOPLC worship services between Sept 1-Aug 31) 5 Service Hours (completed by serving WOPLC ministries between Sept 1-Aug 31) Consistent attendance at Confirmation on Wednesdays Positive attitude and a desire to continue working towards Affirmation of Baptism

7TH GRADE 12 Worship Notes (completed by attending 12 WOPLC worship services between Sept 1-Aug 31) 5 Service Hours (completed by serving WOPLC ministries between Sept 1-Aug 31) Consistent attendance at Confirmation on Wednesdays Hunger & Homelessness event in fall Positive attitude and a desire to continue working towards Affirmation of Baptism

8TH GRADE 12 Worship Notes (completed by attending 12 WOPLC worship services between Sept 1-Aug 31) 5 Service Hours (completed by serving WOPLC ministries between Sept 1-Aug 31) Consistent Attendance at Confirmation on Wednesdays Attend Confirmation Weekend Retreat in November Complete a Confirmation Project Due in May Positive attitude and a desire to continue working towards Affirmation of Baptism SUMMER BEFORE 9TH GRADE Confirmation Conversation with a WOPLC Staff Member 9TH GRADE Choose ONE of the Following Options: Attend 3 classes WITH A PARENT at WOPLC (Dates/Times/Topics TBD) Attend Weekend Retreat in November focusing on leadership with follow-up activities at WOPLC

throughout the year Commit to being a Confirmation Junior Guide for their 9th grade year Commit to being a Church School Teacher for their 9th grade year

If it is your child’s desire to be confirmed, but your family has circumstances that prevents your child from fulfilling the expectations listed above, please contact Megan Moen directly. We offer grace for all

people and are happy to work with you individually to set your child up for success.

There are no requirements for Track 2.. Your family is choosing for your child to partici-pate in the confirmation ministry, but your child will not be confirmed at the end of the 3-year program.

GUIDELINES FOR TRACK 2 6TH—8TH GRADE Your child will be assigned to a small group and attendance will be taken, however we will not

follow up with you if attendance is infrequent. Your child is welcome to attend all confirmation events listed under Track 1. No make-up work

will be assigned if they cannot attend. Your child will have folder but there are no requirements and progress is not tracked. 9TH GRADE Your child’s involvement in the confirmation ministry will not go further than the end of their

8th grade year Your child WILL BE invited to participate in all 9th-12th grade youth ministries and activities!

What Does My Child Learn at Confirmation? We use the Here We Stand Curriculum

Year 1: The Lord’s Prayer, The Apostle’s Creed, and the Sacraments

Year 2: The Old and New Testament and The Life of Jesus Year 3: The Ten Commandments and Martin Luther

CONFIRMATION TRACK 2

WORSHIP NOTES/SERVICE HOURS

SERVICE HOURS: are to be done within the Word of Peace congrega-tion. We know that there are lots of opportunities for your child to volun-teer through school, Scouts, sports and the community but the purpose of these 5 service hours is to learn about and become involved in the life of our church. These 5 service hours are also above and beyond what your child may participate in during a Servant/Fellowship event with their small group.

WORSHIP NOTE AND SERVICE HOUR REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1 and AUGUST 31.

TRACKING WORSHIP NOTES and SERVICE HOURS is the responsibility of each family. Each child has a folder outside the Youth Office with a chart on the front. Each time your child completes a worship note, a parent/guardian will initial the folder. Each time your child performs a service hour, they should bring their folder to the church leader in charge of the event and have them sign it. THE FOLDERS STAY AT CHURCH.

THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN CONFIRMATION SERVICE HOURS

You will receive dozens of opportunities to serve via email from the Children,

Youth & Family Staff throughout the year:

-Volunteer at VBS

-Help at Advent Night -Help at Easter Egg Hunt -Help Set Up for Events

-Help with Admin Projects

Contact Jill Smith Event Coordinator

-Peace Fest -The Gala

-Peace Market -Corn Feed

-Women’s Luncheon -Monthly Community Dinner jsmith@wordofpeace.org

763.496.2423

Contact Lydia Svenulski Director of Adult Ministry

-Nursery assistant

-Usher, Acolyte -Serve communion -Scripture Reader

lsvenulski@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2421

12 WORSHIP NOTES 5 SERVICE HOURS

WORSHIP NOTES: Worshipping as a family and participating in a faith com-munity are important building blocks for faith formation! Therefore, 12 required worship notes are to be completed on-site at Word of Peace. The worship note is designed to help confirmation stu-dents think more deeply about what they experience in worship. After com-pleting a worship note, a parent/guardian should fill out and initial their child’s worship note folder.

With nearly 400 confirmation students at Word of Peace, volunteers and parent involvement are essential!! We need approximately 80 volunteers in place to ensure a successful start to confirmation each fall. Please prayerfully consider serving your church.

Parent Needs and Volunteer Involvement

Volunteer Confirmation Guide Approximately 60 needed We need at least 60 adults to lead and prepare small group discussions based on the weekly lesson and homework. Guides also plan and lead Servant/Fellowship events for their small group 4-5 times during the year. Guides are supplied with training, curriculum and other necessary materials to successfully lead their small groups. We encourage you to partner with a friend or spouse to lead your small group. Coordinator Approximately 10 needed We need adults to help on Wednesday evenings with the spiritual and administrative support for the Confir-mation program. coordinators check over and review worship notes and service hours, distribute attendance forms and handouts to classrooms, and assist with miscellaneous administrative tasks. Bouncer Approximately 10 needed Caring adults who roam hallways and aisles during small group and large group time. Bouncers encourage students to have positive, respectful behavior and help enforce rules.

Parent Involvement Worship as a Family. Worship is essential to the Christian life and faith. Your kids need you to lead the way and set an example! Pray. Pray for your child and all of our volunteers, confirmation staff and pastors! Attendance. Ensure your child attends confirmation each week. If your child must miss a week, it is your responsibility to contact your child’s Guide as soon as possible to let them know. Support. Fill in as a substitute whenever your child’s guide is unable to be there. Drive. Guides will need parent drivers for Servant/Fellowship events. Worship Notes/Service Hours. Track your child’s worship notes and service hours and ensure their folder is up to date. *More info on this at the Confirmation Orientation in September.

<MEET THE CONFIRMATION STAFF

Megan Moen Confirmation Coordinator

mmoen@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2406

Dain Swanson Worship & Media Arts Administrator

Leader of Confirmation Band dswanson@wordofpeace.org

763.496.2409

Kari Osmek Director of Children, Youth & Family

kosmek@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2418

Christina Verbick Director of Youth Ministry

cverbick@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2430

Pastor Rick Skare Lead Pastor

rskare@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2400

Pastor Kristin Skare Pastor of Spiritual Care

kskare@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2404

Pastor Tyler Strom Pastor of Faith In Action

tstrom@wordofpeace.org 763.496.2400

Kyia Haebig Youth Administrator

khaebig@wordofpeace.org 763.796.2410

Word of Peace Lutheran Church 21705 129th Avenue North

Rogers, MN 55374 (763) 496-2400

wordofpeace.org