Confirmation 2007-08
CONFIRMATION 2007-2008
Letter of Invitation
Confirmation Registration Form
Your Contact for Confirmation: Rev. Rick Wilkerson, rwilkerson@fumc-cary.com
Meets:
9:45 in the Small Dining Room
7:00 p.m. in Room 231
Claim the Name for Middle School Students
September 9, 2007 – April 27, 2008
We encourage every middle school student at FUMC to join the confirmation journey!
Confirmation makes firm our baptism and is foundational to the life of faith in Christ. By Confirmation Sunday, each student is ready to confirm his or her faith and confidently claim the name Christian.
As we at FUMC prepare our students to make this life-transforming decision there are several elements of the confirmation class that are vital to its effectiveness:
- Family orientation session with the pastor for confirmation, Rev. Rick Wilkerson, Aug. 12 – Sept. 6 and a Parent Orientation Meeting Aug. 26 or 29.
- Plenty of time for preparation and building friendships from the Kickoff on Sept. 9 to Confirmation Sunday on May 4. (Older youth tell us that Christian family members and friends are the two most important influences in keeping strong in their faith.)
- Fall Retreat at Rockfish Outdoor Center – On the weekend of November 9-11 to get away from it all and get to know one another and take a side trip to Pilgrimage, the big NC Conference youth event.
- Monthly mentor and parent sessions – A trusted adult meets monthly with the student for a structured conversation and keeps in touch weekly. Parents also have a monthly session. “TalkPoints for Mentors” and “TalkPoints for Parents” guidebooks are provided. “Safe Sanctuaries” guidelines for mentors TBA.
- Visits to three places of worship - We visit Beth Shalom synagogue October 12th and 19th (half of the class each time), St. Michael’s Catholic Church Nov. 18, and Duke Chapel Dec. 9, for “hands-on” learning about our Judeo-Christian heritage.
- Service Project - We meet a human need with Christian love in action through a service project chosen by the students put into action by February 2008.
- Interviews with Rev. Rick – Each student will have 40 minutes with Rick between March 16 and April 7 to review some of the highlights of the entire journey, and make the final decision about confirming their faith.
- Great Optional Events: Junior Fellowship - 6th graders have their own group for JF, which meets once a month 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, starting Sept. 9. Celebrate Life at Discovery Weekend for middle schoolers March 7-9 at the church.
Faith Exploration for High School Students
February 7 – May 4, 2008
This 12 week version of the confirmation journey is specially designed for high school students may have missed confirming their faith during their middle school years and now are ready. It is also for those who wish to reaffirm their faith.
Participants will discover:
- How to read the Bible and life changing Christian books in ways that shapes their life,
- The many ways to pray,
- How to have a group of Christian friends,
- How to reach out to meet human needs with God’s love
- Ways to worship God alone and in the faith community
- The basics of the Christian life, United Methodist style