This past Sunday our 8th graders were confirmed which has had me look back on my own confirmation a few years back... ok maybe more than a few. I was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church and I remember it being a lot of work. We had these nice little red books which had the Creed and the Lord's Prayer in it as well as all of the Small Catechism. Now all I remember about my confirmation process was two things: taking test and retreats. Each week would have to right down from memory what ever portion of the material we were on. We then would sit and listen to the pastor talk about stuff which as an adult I have no recollection of.
But then we had retreats. I loved retreats. We would go to the beach and have classes (which I really recall nothing of) and get to hang out with each other. I remember staying up till 3 am talking with the guys talking about the girls. I recall swimming in the ocean in jeans and a long sleeve shirt in the fall and getting REALLY sick. I remember running across the lot to buy soda and candy during our 5 minute break. These were the cool parts of confirmation.
As an adult small group leader, I realize how good our kids have confirmation. The focus is not on trying to memorize each and every word of the Small Catechism and scaring you into being good. We have videos and skits and music. We have small group discussions where real community is built and kids have an opportunity to share what's going on in their lives. We have a pastor and volunteers who share their lives and their understanding of their faith in concrete, real life ways. It's amazing and I hope the students realize it. The focus here at Living Lord is to help the youth truly understand THEIR beliefs and to be able to understand what God intends for his children.
I love confirmation. I was talking with my parents the other day was just going on and on about what we had talked about the previous week. They kind of laughed and said, "Sounds like you are getting as much from confirmation as the kids'. The funny thing is they may be right, but I hope they are wrong. I really hope you can look back at your three years in confirmation and know how you have grown in your faith. You have an amazing opportunity which most people don't get. Embrace it. Learn as much as you can. Ask questions. Grow.
You will wish you had when you are older.
But then we had retreats. I loved retreats. We would go to the beach and have classes (which I really recall nothing of) and get to hang out with each other. I remember staying up till 3 am talking with the guys talking about the girls. I recall swimming in the ocean in jeans and a long sleeve shirt in the fall and getting REALLY sick. I remember running across the lot to buy soda and candy during our 5 minute break. These were the cool parts of confirmation.
As an adult small group leader, I realize how good our kids have confirmation. The focus is not on trying to memorize each and every word of the Small Catechism and scaring you into being good. We have videos and skits and music. We have small group discussions where real community is built and kids have an opportunity to share what's going on in their lives. We have a pastor and volunteers who share their lives and their understanding of their faith in concrete, real life ways. It's amazing and I hope the students realize it. The focus here at Living Lord is to help the youth truly understand THEIR beliefs and to be able to understand what God intends for his children.
I love confirmation. I was talking with my parents the other day was just going on and on about what we had talked about the previous week. They kind of laughed and said, "Sounds like you are getting as much from confirmation as the kids'. The funny thing is they may be right, but I hope they are wrong. I really hope you can look back at your three years in confirmation and know how you have grown in your faith. You have an amazing opportunity which most people don't get. Embrace it. Learn as much as you can. Ask questions. Grow.
You will wish you had when you are older.