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Confirmation

What is Confirmation?

Confirmation is a Rite within the Lutheran church, where baptized youth participate in a process of instruction, discernment, and growth in their faith. It ends with the Affirmation of Baptism, which is a youth’s opportunity to say “yes” to a God who said “yes” to them in their baptism and to commit themselves to the church and its mission. At Nativity, youth participating in the confirmation process will grow in their understanding of the Scriptures (both Old and New Testaments) as well as Lutheran history and theology, and they will be given regular, intentional, and supported opportunities to discern their own identity as a Child of God and their calling in the church and to the world.

Who participates in Confirmation?

Currently at Nativity, a youth will, typically, begin the confirmation process in November of 7th grade and will affirm their baptism in October of 10th grade. (PLEASE NOTE: this is the “typical” process, and the Nativity staff is willing to work with a youth who would be starting the confirmation process later or coming back after a break; though a youth cannot start confirmation earlier than 7th grade.)

When is Confirmation?

Confirmands in 7th – 9th grade will meet on various Wednesday evenings between the months of November and May. 7th & 8th graders will meet together from 7 – 8 pm, and 9th graders will meet from 7:30 – 8:30 pm.

(Please reference your Confirmation Schedule for more details.)

What are the expectations of Confirmation?

PLEASE NOTE: Confirmation is NOT an expectation of membership at Nativity. A youth doesn’t have to participate in the process if they are unwilling and/or unable. This is not a “have to” but a “get to”.

Confirmands are able to miss 3 of the 12 Wednesday evenings throughout the year, and are encouraged to attend their annual retreat to Luther Park in Danbury, WI. If a confirmand does miss more than 3 Wednesday evenings during the year, they will be expected to go through a missed lesson at home with a parent/guardian.

Confirmands are expected to complete 10 Service Experiences and 10 Growth Experiences throughout the program year.

  • Service Experiences can be acquired by volunteering within or outside the Nativity community (so long as they are deemed appropriate and do not satisfy expectations of another organization). Service opportunities will be made known to confirmands on a regular basis. After the Service Experience, confirmands should fill out a Service/Growth Experience Form, available on Wednesday evenings and at the Welcome Desk. Turn these forms in to Pastor Ben personally or his box in the church office.
  • Growth Experiences can be acquired in two ways:
    1) Participation in a Nativity Growth Opportunity and filling out a Service/Growth Experience Form.
    2) Participation in worship and the completion of a Worship Experience Form; available at the Ushers’ Tables at the Sanctuary entrances. Turn these forms in to Pastor Ben personally or his box in the church office.
  • NOTE: Service and Growth Experience reports can also be submitted electronically to Pastor Ben at ben@nativitychurch.org with “Service Experience” or “Growth Experience” in the subject line.

PLEASE NOTE: All yearly Service and Growth Experience expectations will be satisfied when a confirmand participates in one of Nativity’s summer Youth Service and Learning Trips.

Thank you, and if you have any questions regarding Confirmation at Nativity, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Peace & Blessings,
Ben Shori, Pastor of Faith Formation
ben@nativitychurch.org

7TH – 9TH GRADE

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10TH GRADE

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