Confirmation 2007-2008: Rivers of Paradise

Confirmation is a faith exploration process that takes dedication and commitment.  A confirmand must be committed not only to his/her own journey, but also to the journey of the whole class.  No matter what the decision about membership at the end of the class, every young adult should spend time thinking about how they want religion to be a part of their lives.  Confirmation is that opportunity at Westmoreland.  Confirmation will be exciting and fun, but it will also be challenging and even difficult.  We ask that you and your families honor the requirements below if you decide to take confirmation.  We will have a covenant for both parents and confirmands to sign before the class starts.

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance:  Participants must attend all confirmation classes.  Each confirmand will be allowed two absences; only one of these may be a retreat.  If a confirmand misses more than two classes, he or she will have to arrange make-up work with the facilitators in order to be confirmed.
2. Worship Leadership: Each confirmand must participate in worship leadership at Westmoreland twice during the year.  This means they must have some leadership role (scripture reading, prayer, music, choir, etc) in a worship service (Sunday morning, Sunday evening or special service like Ash Wednesday) during this year.
3. Community Participation:  During the year, each confirmand will attend at least one youth group activity and one Westmoreland community activity outside of Sunday morning worship.
4. Prayer composition: Each confirmand will compose their own prayer (at least five lines) to share with the class on Dec 16. 
5. Bible Study: Each confirmand will present Bible study questions with a partner for the class.  We will have one pair’s Bible discussion in most classes.
6. Sermon Notes: Each student will take sermon notes on a prepared worksheet for two sermons during the year.
7. Faith Statement:  Participants will each compose a two-part faith statement.  The first part will be their written beliefs about God and religion.  The second part will be an artistic representation of their faith (drawing, song, dance, sculpture, etc).  They should be prepared to share both with the class on May 4.
8. Mentors:  Each confirmand will be paired with a church member to be their mentor.  They must meet together at least three times during the year: once for a Bible study discussion, once for a service project, and once for a fun activity.
9. Service: while further service projects are not required for confirmation, we strongly suggest that confirmands do social service and reflect upon their faith while doing so.

Schedule

Sept 28-30: Opening Retreat (in conjunction with all-church retreat) Faith, trust, covenant; Bible: languages, origins, etc. Introduce Theme, Make Confirmation Notebooks

Oct 14: Creation and Science

Oct 28: Exodus and Ten Commandments

Nov 4:  Psalms, Proverbs, Wisdom, and Prayer

Nov 18:  Stewardship/Fruits of the Spirit, Possible Spiritual Disciplines

Dec 2: Christmas (Who is Jesus and why did he come?), Christology (humanity and divinity)

Dec 16:  Beatitudes and Lord’s Prayer

Jan 6:  Parables and Religious Symbols

Jan 27: How culture shapes our understanding of Jesus, Sermon on the Mount

Feb 10:  Sacraments, Rites, Worship, Liturgy

Feb 24:  Service, Justice, and Advocacy (Faith in the public square) Matt 28:20

Mar 9: Easter (Why did Jesus have to die?)  Sin, Salvation, and Afterlife, Lent and sacrifice

Mar 30:  Paul’s work and Today’s Church Missions, Living out faith in daily life

Apr 13:  Church Governance, structure of the UCC, Westmoreland history and uniqueness, God is Still Speaking

Apr 25-27 (retreat):  Religious tolerance and religious conflict/violence, Faith vs. Relativism (Post-modernism), Creeds, Confessions, and Statements of Faith

May 4: Follow up on faith statements, plan Confirmation service

May 11: Confirmation Service

Leaders

Rick Alfonso and Stacey Fannon, Lay Leaders

Jessica Petersen, Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries

Rev. Rich Smith, Senior Minister

Rev. Robert Maddox, Minister of Discipleship

Last updated Wednesday, February 20, 2008.

1 Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, MD 20816
301-229-7766
Email the church office: churchinfo@westmorelanducc.org
www.westmorelanducc.org

An Open and Affirming Congregation
 

© 2006 Westmoreland United Church of Christ
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