Peace Lutheran Church
2013 Confirmation
Confirmation is not the beginning or the end of the faith journey. Confirmation is an invitation to life-long learning of one who is in Christ.
It is an affirmation of God’s work - through our church body, our families and the community in which we worship - in the life of a young disciple.
Peace Lutheran's confirmation class curriculum is based on three basic educational resources:
· Martin Luther’s Small Catechism
· Bible study
· Peace Lutheran Church’s mission statement (discipleship and small group engagement).
Martin Luther’s “Small Catechism” includes explanations and scripture references of the basics of Christian faith: Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, the sacraments of Baptism and Communion, and Confession and Absolution.
Peace Lutheran’s Mission Statement: God loves us and calls us to love God, love one another,
Grow in Christ and go in Christ, is about discipleship. Discipleship is the process of learning and practicing how to follow Jesus, learning to live the way of Jesus and learning to live by the Holy Spirit. Disciples are members of Christ’s body with a mission.
Our mission statement is expressed through the six marks of discipleship: (1) A heart for Christ alone; (2) A mind transformed by the Word; (3) Arms of love; (4) Knees for Prayer; (5) A voice to speak the Good News; (6) The feet of a servant.
Small groups are essential for Peace Lutheran Church to live out our mission statement and call for discipleship. Small groups are how Christians experience intimate, supportive fellowship while walking together and supporting each other in their faith journeys. Small groups create an environment to foster faith growth through prayer, Bible study, sharing and discussion and application to real life.
Our goal for confirmation is to reinforce and reaffirm and claim the work of the Holy Spirit in one's Baptism. The confirmand says, "yes" to Christ and to a life of Christian discipleship and to live and serve in a loving community of Christian brothers and sisters.
The confirmation program not only includes participation in Sunday school but also engagement in Sunday worship services, youth group participation and special monthly workshops. As we look ahead we hope to include an element of mentorship into our curriculum.
Our Sunday School program, Middle School Youth Group and Confirmation workshops have all been coordinated and integrated to fit together to provide the experience, knowledge, and community that represents a life with God.
We hope that you, as parents, godparents and all family members will support your child by encouraging them to participate in all three of these opportunities. That you might study and pray with them as they engage in classes and ensure that your child might have time, transportation and a good example to follow.
A More Detailed Curriculum Explanation
Sunday School. “Hear We Stand” is a Lutheran based, 3-year rotational confirmation curriculum that includes a year of Old Testament, a year of New Testament and a year of the Small Catechism. You will find attached the scope and sequence for the three years.
Middle School Youth Group … will continue to provide and reflect a supportive environment of peers, learning, and encouragement in Christian relationships. This is offered in a faith-filled community that provides a safe place to apply God’s word to our everyday living.
Confirmation Workshops … consists of 5 workshops to encourage students with a unique sense of opportunity to grow in faith and to provide a deeper awareness of what affirming their baptism means.
The workshops are designed to help the students go “deeper still” ~ deeper in their knowledge, deeper in their understanding and deeper in their connectedness to God and each other. In order to accommodate everyone’s busy schedule, these will be scheduled once a month on the same evenings as Middle School Youth Group so as not to add yet another evening away from home.
Workshops for the year 2013:
Monday January 21st ~ Movie Night: Martin Luther
Monday February 25th ~ Be God’s: God’s Kingdom and Will
Monday March 25th ~ Be Us: Law & Gospel and Sinner & Saint
Monday April 15th ~ Prayer
Monday May 19th ~ My Calling to Fulfill: Sharing your Faith
Each confirmand’s involvement in all aspects of confirmation (Sunday school, youth group and workshops) is highly recommended and will yield the greatest faith foundation.
We have a great program to teach, support, and encourage your child’s growth, faith and connectedness to the church body. If you and your child decide not to participate (or not fully participate) in these opportunities and still wish to be confirmed, regardless of what age or grade, the next step would be conversation with the pastor.
Thank you for supporting your child, supporting your church and being a disciple of Christ. We, Peace Lutheran Church are blessed to have you as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Jennie Carter The Rev. Viktoria Parvin
Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry Interim Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church
This year’s confirmand’s are focusing on key components of the small catechism during the Sunday school hour and have opportunity to be involved in both the middle school youth group and the workshops. The classroom teachers this year are Jason Bauman () and Bob Sobeck (). They both have a heart for Christ and a desire to take part in sharing God’s love with your youth. They welcome your insight and any questions you might have about the classroom material.
This year confirmation celebration will be held on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th, 2013. If your youth is seeking to be confirmed this year and/or you have any questions please contact Jennie Carter by emailing her at or calling the church office at (434) 978 - 4357.
It is such a blessing it is to walk, worship, service and grow with each of you. Thank you for your insight, input, love and patience.