Welcome to the Confirmation Instruction Page of the Messiah Web site. Here you find all of the information about our program as well as downloads, schedules and resources associated with the program that you will need to participate in Confirmation at Messiah.
What is Confirmation? Confirmation (sometimes referred to as Catechism) is an intense, two-year program of instruction designed (but not limited to) students in the 7th and 8th grades. As youth mature and progress in their understanding of the faith, it is the responsibility of the Church to provide a program of instruction and discovery that will assist them as they take a greater responsibility for their relationship with God.
In baptism - the parents and sponsors of each child make promises before God that they will provide for the instruction of their child in the Christian faith. Confirmation is, on the one hand, a response to those promises and, on the other, it is the next step in the process of Discipleship in the lives of the students.
Because of this two-fold purpose, Confirmation (in order to realize its fullest potential in the life of the student) takes a commitment from both the parents and student and the Pastor. Parents commit to the time necessary to make sure that their student can fully participate in the program, students commit to fully participate in the program and the pastor commits his time and energy to the program and to each of the students.
What Confirmation is not:
1. A game - confrimation is a serious and intense program of education in our Christian faith.
2. Punishment - confirmation is a time of discovery, as students begin to expereince thier faith on a wider scale.
3. Yucky - confirmation is not intended to be boring. Confirmation is an exciting time as we discover God's purpose and intent for each of us as we live out our faith in day-to-day life.
4. A time for your parents to be alone - we hope that your parents will attend and participate in some of the confirmation sessions.
5. The way that you will become "full members" of the Church - you are already full members of the Lord's Church. Confiramtion is the process whereby you begin to discover what being a member of the Lord's Church means for your life.
6. Just a bunch of memorizing (although there will be some!!)
7. Boring! (unless that is what you want it to be)
8. An hour long lecture - I hope that students will not just sit back in class and pretend to understand what we are talking about, giving the answers that they feel the Pastor wants to hear. For confirmation to be successful, confirmation must be participatory and interactive.
"None of us knows as much as all of us." Dr. Barny McGrain, University of California, Irvine
Confirmation will be a time where we discuss, struggle,debate and argue the question "what does it mean for me today, that I am a follow of Jesus?"
Everything that we do as Christians in the world today hinges on this central question. How we answer this question in our day - to - lives (not just on Sunday morning) will be the single most defining event in our entire life.
Expectations
Any program worth committing to fully communicates its execrations. Since we place a high value on the confirmation program, we also place a high value on the expectations, both of the students and their families, and the pastor.
What we expect of the Students and their Families
1. Confirmation Students and their Families shall attend community worship regularly
2. Confirmation Students shall attend youth group functions as part of their total commitment to the ministry of Messiah.
3. Confirmation Students Shall attend confirmation instruction classes regularly.
4. Confirmation Students commit to filling out sermon notes and signing in at Worship.
5. Confirmation Student commit to assisting the Messiah Community in its various ministries.
6. Confiramtion Students commit to attending scheduled retreats.
What we can expect from our Confirmation Leader
1. My time (I will be prepared for class and I will be available to your for all of your needs)
2. My passion for the centrality of Jesus in our lives
3. My total suport of you and your journey of discovery
4. My challenge to deepen your relationship with Jesus in all facets of your life.
5. My prayers for you and your families.
6. At all times, I will tell you the truth.
7. At all times I will be honest with you about what I think and what I feel about subjects of conversation.
8. I will keep all conversations that we have in the strictest confidence to the extent the sanctity of the confessional allows.
9. I commit to you to never accept mediocrity in life or in faith.
10. I commit to being YOUR pastor 24/7
My hope is that this year will be an exciting year of discovery and deeping of your faith. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the program - please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to discuss the program with you at any time.
God's blessings be yours
Pastor Mike O'Berg