CONFIRMATION OVERVIEW
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF CONFIRMATION?Confirmation is a two year program in which students 1) discover who they are (identity), where they fit (belonging), and what they do (purpose) as they 2) become strategic, integrated members of OSLC.
We strive to accomplish these goals by providing and encouraging intergenerational experiences and informal faith conversation. These experiences are the two most important factors in people to have an enduring and growing lifelong faith. Traditionally, Confirmation has been used to help Christians identify with the life and mission of the Christian community. While cultural contexts change, the truths of our faith are constant and continually transforming to all generations. Confirmation can be started at any age, but most typically start with Orientation in the spring of their 6th grade year and concludes in the fall of their 9th grade year. It's never too early and never too late. |
WHARE ARE THE ROLES OF PARENTS AND STAFF?We use a parent-led model with staff instruction because we believe that parents are the most influential people in their kids’ lives and God designed it that way. We use multiple settings including home, quarterly sessions, volunteer projects, weekly youth Life Groups, and weekly worship.
Parent-led means that we honor parents’ God-given responsibility and authority to disciple their kids in the ways of Jesus. Our team provides foundational teaching during quarterly sessions and comes alongside you with resources, tools, and encouragement help you lead your sons and daughters through the process of considering, wrestling with, and understanding their faith as their own. We also recognize that everyone has unique family contexts and dynamics. We start with ideals and apply them contextually to each student. Our model for Confirmation has been influenced by the by the biblical calling for parents to disciple their kids (Deuteronomy 6:4-25; Ephesians 6:1-4) and the research Fuller Youth Institute has conducted along with our discipleship team’s 40+ years of youth and family ministry experience. To learn more about the research, check out the Sticky Faith, Growing Young and Growing With research studies. |
Confirmation Timeline
Here is a timeline for Confirmation. This is designed to help give parents and students an overview of deadlines and how the experience progresses over the two years. As always, students can work ahead of the due dates on the timeline if preferred.
EXPERIENCES OF CONFIRMATION
Weekly Rhythms
Weekly involvement as the Body of Christ is vital in the lives of all Christians and provides the space to learn more about the God of all Creation and we expect Confirmands to make every effort to be part of it each week.
- Worship – The most important behavior to develop a lasting faith is intergenerational worship. We worship at 9:00am and 10:30 am on Sunday.
- Wednesday Night Youth Life Groups – Small group time for discovering who we are and where we fit.
- Faith in Action – These are times we gather together as an intergenerational church to serve our community together (generally quarterly, from 8:30am-12, check church calendar for dates.)
Self Guided Video Modules
These self-paced modules focus on two major topics: The Big Story of God and Us and How to Read the Bible. These modules students and parents develop a general understanding of the biblical storyline and how to read the Bible before students begin their Bible reading plan. These interactive video posts include short teaching videos and space for students to share interactive responses. These are completed between the September and January sessions of first year students. Contact Deborah to get started.
Bible Reading
God speaks to us through His Words, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We believe this is true for everyone including our teens and children and this happens as we develop the habit of reading and discussing Scripture. As part of Confirmation, we ask students and their parents to commit to Bible reading together starting in January of their first year and concluding in June of their second year. The goal of this is to help students learn to listen for God's voice as they read Scripture. We work together with families to establish a suitable reading goal for their student at a 1-on-1 meeting in February of their first year (here are some plans others have used). The deadline is to be finished by the June session of their second year ( June 2nd for class of 2024, June 1 for the class of 2025, and June 7 for the class of 2026).
Students submit a Bible Reading Form the first Sunday of even months, which are read and interacted with by our team. We know that the God who has spoken to people since we were created will speak to you as you read through the Scriptures. Students often have questions while reading the Bible. Here is our folder with past questions and answers.
Students submit a Bible Reading Form the first Sunday of even months, which are read and interacted with by our team. We know that the God who has spoken to people since we were created will speak to you as you read through the Scriptures. Students often have questions while reading the Bible. Here is our folder with past questions and answers.
Sessions
These are required for both parents and students to check-in on progress, gather for prayer and encouragement, and provide staff-led teaching on the main content of Confirmation. Themes for these include knowing God, 10 Commandments, Apostles Creed, Lord's Prayer, baptism, and communion. We meet at 11:45am - 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall on the following Sundays (class completion dates of participants). The pre-readings in Luther's Small Catechism Visual Edition (students receive this upon registration) are required to be completed before the session. These dates need to be a priority because they are where the main content of Confirmation is taught.
- September 22, 2024 (2024-26) - Catechism/Knowing God - Read LSC p. 330-34
- November 17, 2024 (2025-26) - Apostles Creed 1 - Read LSC p. 121-124, 131-133, 139-141
- February 2, 2025 (2025-26)- Apostles Creed 2 - Read LSC p. 147-149, 157-160, 167-169
- April 27, 2025 (2025-26) - Apostles Creed 3 - Read LSC p. 175-178, 183-187, 195-196
- September 21, 2025 (2025-27) - Sacraments - Read LSC p. 258-262, 267-268, 273-274, 279-280, 285-287, 293-295, 301-303, 309-310, 315-316, 321-32
- November 16, 2025 (2026-27) - 10 Commandments 1 - Read LSC p. 38-46, 53-55, 59-61
- February 1, 2026 (2026-27) - 10 Commandments 2 - Read LSC p. 67-68, 73-75, 81-84, 91-92, 97-99, 103-10
- April 26, 2026 (2026-27) -Lord’s Prayer - Read LSC p. 202-208, 213-214, 219-221, 225-227, 231-233, 237-239, 243-245, 249-250, 255-25
- September 20, 2026 (2026-28) - Catechism/Knowing God - Read LSC p. 330-34
Storying
Storying help students understand and communicate the themes and story of Scripture conversationally in our own words. There are 8 required stories (they mimic self-guided module #1 on the Story of God and Us). Parents must complete a Storying form for each of the 8 stories their student tells and submit them online. These are due by the September session of their second year. (September 22nd for the class of 2024, September 21st for class of 2025, and September 20th for the class of 2026).
Elements of storying include:
Elements of storying include:
- 1-3 minute in length
- Clear distinctions of Law and Gospel
- What are we doing or being asked to do in this story?
- What is God doing in this story?
- Elements that help the hearer understand the context of the story.
- Creation - Genesis 1-2; John 1
- The Fall – Genesis 3; Romans 1
- The Promise – Genesis 3:15; Genesis 15; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Galatians 3:15-29
- Jesus’ Life – Any instance from the life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
- Jesus’ Death – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John each have an account of his death
- Jesus’ Resurrection – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John each have an account; 1 Corinthians 15
- Transformed by the Spirit – Romans 8; Ephesians 4-5; Philippians 3:12-4:1; there are many other examples in the New Testament Epistles (1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Timothy, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Peter, 1,2,3 John, Hebrews, Jude)
- Eternal Life Starts Now – Romans 6:23; John 10:10; Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 21; Many of the New Testament Epistles speak of this in the first couple chapters.
Faith In Action Project
We want students to not only learn how to help others, but to be able to identify a need, develop a solution, and lead a team of people to meet that need. Students must lead 1 Faith in Action project. This can be done in connection with OSLC's quarterly Faith in Actions or independently. The goal is to finish your project by the June of their second year (June 4th for the class of 2023, June 2nd for the class of 2024, and June 1 for the class of 2025).
In preparation for the project, students must fill out a Faith in Action Pre-Worksheet which will submit their idea. Following the completion of their project, they must turn in the Faith in Action Report for the project they lead. Here is the process for leading a project:
4 weeks out
In preparation for the project, students must fill out a Faith in Action Pre-Worksheet which will submit their idea. Following the completion of their project, they must turn in the Faith in Action Report for the project they lead. Here is the process for leading a project:
4 weeks out
- Complete the Faith in Action Pre-Worksheet and contact Kristi (always CC Matt & Deborah) with a project that has a low skill level, 4 hr. completion, $200 budget (this is provided by OSLC).
- Identify an adult co-leader (a parent, an adult relative, a coach or mentor). Your co-leader is someone who has the skills and resources to help you complete the task. If you cannot find an adult to help you plan and organize materials, Kristi will recommend a FIA mentor.
- Visit the job site with your co-leader site to assess materials, tools, and contact the client.
- Work together to finish up gathering tools; last week to make adjustments on planning.
- Introduce project to group and lead your team.
- Complete the Faith in Action Report.
Capstone Expression
This is the culmination of what you believe about God and what you have learned throughout your Confirmation experience. Your expression can utilize any expression (song, dance, painting, essay, poetry, video presentation with graphics & pictures, digital art, and more). Your expression should include the teachings you believe, who you are in Jesus Christ, how you relate to God, how you plan to be part of OSLC in the coming years, how you see people who don’t know Jesus, and your Confirmation verse. This worksheet will help you process your thoughts with leading and reflective questions.
Students do have one final session time that we call the Capstone Discovery. This is required for all students (not parents) and occurs during the September session for other Confirmation students.
The goal is to start this after the June session of their second year and be finished with your rough draft by the Capstone Discovery session (September 22nd for class of 2024, September 21 for the class of 2025, and September 20 for class of 2026). The final draft and due by the first Sunday of October.
Students do have one final session time that we call the Capstone Discovery. This is required for all students (not parents) and occurs during the September session for other Confirmation students.
The goal is to start this after the June session of their second year and be finished with your rough draft by the Capstone Discovery session (September 22nd for class of 2024, September 21 for the class of 2025, and September 20 for class of 2026). The final draft and due by the first Sunday of October.
Online Forms
Printable Forms
Confirmation Weekend
Confirmation Day for the Class of 2023 is on October 15, 2023 at the 10:30am service and the Confirmation Capstone Expressions and rehearsal is on October 14, 2023 at 4:00pm.
Confirmation Day for the Class of 2024 is on October 13, 2024 at the 10:30am service and the Confirmation Capstone Expressions and rehearsal is on October 12, 2024 at 4:00pm.
Confirmation Day for the Class of 2025 is on October 12, 2025 at the 10:30am service and the Confirmation Capstone Expressions and rehearsal is on October 11, 2025 at 4:00pm.
For more detailed information and further questions, contact Matt Cario.
Confirmation Day for the Class of 2024 is on October 13, 2024 at the 10:30am service and the Confirmation Capstone Expressions and rehearsal is on October 12, 2024 at 4:00pm.
Confirmation Day for the Class of 2025 is on October 12, 2025 at the 10:30am service and the Confirmation Capstone Expressions and rehearsal is on October 11, 2025 at 4:00pm.
For more detailed information and further questions, contact Matt Cario.