Confirmation
Messiah Church is commited to the overall development of faith lives. We believe that faith formation needs to incorporate content, community, and service. The Confirmation evenings are facilitated by the Coordinator of Confirmation and Youth Teresa Palumbo palumbo@Waisman.Wisc.Edu, as well as the pastor and other adult mentors.
I. CONTENT:
For the past two years Messiah Church has used the Here We Stand Curriculum for our Confirmation program. Confirmation is intended to be an experiential learning process, and Here We Stand facilitates that goal. Using web based materials, each evening beginns with a BIG IDEA and that idea, scripturally rooted, is explored throughout the evening using large and small group activities. The confirmation evenings are designed to help the middle school/high school students delve ever more deeply into:
- the biblical foundations of faith
- the history of the Christian Church
- our Lutheran understanding of ministry and life
- the liturgical symbols that inform our faith
- the moral demands of belief in Jesus
- reflection on the place of faith in their lives
For more information on Messiah’s curriculum or do view samples of an evening’s gathering please visit their website www.herewestandconfirmation.org
II. COMMUNITY:
Becoming a person of faith is done within the context of the community. We believe that community building is essential to becoming disciples. The Confirmation process strives to build community through fun gatherings as well as instruction. Whether we are beginning the year with an old fashioned Tailgate party or heading out to Culvers for an ice cream Sundae, we are striving to become a community of faith.
III. FAITH IN ACTION:
We believe at Messiah Church that faith formation must be experiential and that all formation must take place in the context of outreach. The Confirmation class has many oportunities throughout the three year process to put their faith into action. Here are some of the activities that the Confirmation youth have participated in:
- Crop Walk for Hunger Awareness
- Planning, Preparing and serving the Homeless Meal at the Madison Men’s Shelter
- Volunteering at the Animal Shelter
- Sorting donated items at St. Vincent de Paul
- Collecting goods for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
- Raking leaves for the homebound
- Volunteering as Sunday School mentor or teacher’s aid
- Helping in the Sunday Nursery
- Working as communion assitants, readers or acolytes
- Participating on our yearly Youth Mission Trip
These along with many other outreach activities help to form our Confirmation students into the people of faith that will make a difference in our church, our city and in our world.
Below are some of the pictures of this year’s Confirmation Ceremony.
