Confirmation (Three Year Program)
Dear Parents of Current 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Students,
The desire of St. John’s Confirmation ministry has been to both teach students our doctrine (specifically the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism), how to follow Jesus in their lives, and how to share the love of Jesus with others through words and actions. For the past two years a team of leaders have been working on improving our middle school Discipleship process in order to best use our resources, equip parents and retain our students for ongoing discipleship training.
For many years, we have had our Confirmation teaching both through our day school for our 7th & 8th grade students as well as Wednesday night for our public-school students. This has been our model and for the past couple of years. Pastor Dan, Elders and I have been discussing the pros and cons of our Confirmation ministry. Two of our greatest concerns is the high number of youths who get confirmed and then do not attend worship regularly and the lack of parent/youth intentional spiritual conversation both before and after confirmation. After two years of researching, gathering data, feedback, and time in prayer, our middle school Confirmation Ministry Team at St. John’s Lutheran Church has elected to try a new approach to our teaching.
Confirmation Church at SJL, as of fall of 2024, will be a three-year ministry for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that teams with parents. This will equip middle-school students to make a confession of faith by developing a deep understanding of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, while engaging students in a deeper understanding of core theological concepts (The Apostles’ Creed, The Ten Commandments, Baptism, Confession & Absolution, The Lord’s Supper and Prayer). Students are prepared to make a confession of faith through participation in regular worship, Confirmation Church, yearly retreats, and special events, acts of service, fellowship, and regular faith conversation.
We wish to share more information regarding this exciting new journey with the parents of 6th, 7th and 8th grade on Thursday August 8th at 6:30pm (church sanctuary).
Questions, contact Pastor Pete Imlah @ [email protected]
ABOUT Confirmation Church at St. John’s beginning in fall of 2024
What do you mean when you say that SJL “teams with parents”?
We believe parents and all home leaders are a key to the success of our Confirmation process. We believe that parents are the most influential people in the lives of kids… and God designed it that way! “Teaming with parents” means that SJL wants to honor a parents’ God-given responsibility to guide, encourage, and be part of their child’s journey with Jesus. Our Confirmation staff “teams with parents” by providing foundational teaching while walking alongside you with resources, tools, and encouragement.
We understand that each family situation looks different and sometimes parents are not the spiritual leader for a child. In these situations, we embrace and team with other home leaders as they encourage and guide a child’s faith development.
Why Parents?
SJL celebrates God's design for parenting. Parents have the privilege and responsibility of discipling and nurturing the spiritual formation of their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:1-4). SJL’s Confirmation Ministry encourages and equips parents and all home leaders to live out this calling
Monthly Confirmation Church
Confirmation Church is a 75-minute once a month interactive worship service for both the confirmand and parents. Confirmation Church begins with a 60-minute experiential worship model that uses Scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism as the foundation for engaging students and their parents in a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ, their relationship with Him as Savior, and their life-long journey of faith. Confirmation Church instructs and facilitates faith conversation which sets the stage for 15-minutes of small group discussion and life-application. Confirmation Church meets September – May, on the second Monday evening from 6:30-7:45pm.
Pastor Involvement at St. John’s School
Pastor Dan and Pastor Pete will still a presence in our 7th and 8th grade classrooms. They will be working with the teachers on a schedule and what topics they will be teaching.
Worship Reflection Sheets
Confirmands are expected to attend worship regularly with their family or another loving adult. As part of your worship routine, we are asking confirmands to complete 14 Worship Reflection sheets per year. These sheets will build upon the pattern of individual and family reflection and conversation modeled in Confirmation Church.
Events And Retreats
Events and retreats are grade-level programs with emphasis on a particular topic connected to Confirmation. Confirmands are expected to attend:
6th Grade Retreat- Lord’s Supper Retreat (Friday, April 11, 2025, 6:30pm-9:30pm)
7th Grade Retreat- Fighting Sin, Temptation, and Peer Pressure (November) & Lord’s Supper Retreat (April 11, 2025)
8th Grade Retreat- Writing my Faith Story (February or March).
Will There Still Be a Rite of Confirmation?
Yes, we will still have an 8th Grade Confirmation Service (please invite baptism sponsors) Saturday, April 26, 2025 – 10:30am.
Service Hours
Scripture declares that believers are the body of Christ, a reflection of His continuing presence in the world. Through His people, Christ continues to extend love, comfort, care and forgiveness to those in need. Biblical “true love” is action based! Because Christ lives in us, we are able to make a difference. We are His eyes, His ears, His hands, and His feet here on earth! Service hours have become an important part of SJL’s confirmation program. Each year students are asked to complete 10 hours of service work. Service hours can be completed at any church, school, or the community event.
Child Care
We will have a group of college and high school students providing childcare for families with younger kids during Confirmation Church.
Please contact the Church Office for more information 630-629-2515 x118 or [email protected].
The desire of St. John’s Confirmation ministry has been to both teach students our doctrine (specifically the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism), how to follow Jesus in their lives, and how to share the love of Jesus with others through words and actions. For the past two years a team of leaders have been working on improving our middle school Discipleship process in order to best use our resources, equip parents and retain our students for ongoing discipleship training.
For many years, we have had our Confirmation teaching both through our day school for our 7th & 8th grade students as well as Wednesday night for our public-school students. This has been our model and for the past couple of years. Pastor Dan, Elders and I have been discussing the pros and cons of our Confirmation ministry. Two of our greatest concerns is the high number of youths who get confirmed and then do not attend worship regularly and the lack of parent/youth intentional spiritual conversation both before and after confirmation. After two years of researching, gathering data, feedback, and time in prayer, our middle school Confirmation Ministry Team at St. John’s Lutheran Church has elected to try a new approach to our teaching.
Confirmation Church at SJL, as of fall of 2024, will be a three-year ministry for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that teams with parents. This will equip middle-school students to make a confession of faith by developing a deep understanding of Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, while engaging students in a deeper understanding of core theological concepts (The Apostles’ Creed, The Ten Commandments, Baptism, Confession & Absolution, The Lord’s Supper and Prayer). Students are prepared to make a confession of faith through participation in regular worship, Confirmation Church, yearly retreats, and special events, acts of service, fellowship, and regular faith conversation.
We wish to share more information regarding this exciting new journey with the parents of 6th, 7th and 8th grade on Thursday August 8th at 6:30pm (church sanctuary).
Questions, contact Pastor Pete Imlah @ [email protected]
ABOUT Confirmation Church at St. John’s beginning in fall of 2024
What do you mean when you say that SJL “teams with parents”?
We believe parents and all home leaders are a key to the success of our Confirmation process. We believe that parents are the most influential people in the lives of kids… and God designed it that way! “Teaming with parents” means that SJL wants to honor a parents’ God-given responsibility to guide, encourage, and be part of their child’s journey with Jesus. Our Confirmation staff “teams with parents” by providing foundational teaching while walking alongside you with resources, tools, and encouragement.
We understand that each family situation looks different and sometimes parents are not the spiritual leader for a child. In these situations, we embrace and team with other home leaders as they encourage and guide a child’s faith development.
Why Parents?
SJL celebrates God's design for parenting. Parents have the privilege and responsibility of discipling and nurturing the spiritual formation of their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-7; Ephesians 6:1-4). SJL’s Confirmation Ministry encourages and equips parents and all home leaders to live out this calling
Monthly Confirmation Church
Confirmation Church is a 75-minute once a month interactive worship service for both the confirmand and parents. Confirmation Church begins with a 60-minute experiential worship model that uses Scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism as the foundation for engaging students and their parents in a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ, their relationship with Him as Savior, and their life-long journey of faith. Confirmation Church instructs and facilitates faith conversation which sets the stage for 15-minutes of small group discussion and life-application. Confirmation Church meets September – May, on the second Monday evening from 6:30-7:45pm.
Pastor Involvement at St. John’s School
Pastor Dan and Pastor Pete will still a presence in our 7th and 8th grade classrooms. They will be working with the teachers on a schedule and what topics they will be teaching.
Worship Reflection Sheets
Confirmands are expected to attend worship regularly with their family or another loving adult. As part of your worship routine, we are asking confirmands to complete 14 Worship Reflection sheets per year. These sheets will build upon the pattern of individual and family reflection and conversation modeled in Confirmation Church.
Events And Retreats
Events and retreats are grade-level programs with emphasis on a particular topic connected to Confirmation. Confirmands are expected to attend:
6th Grade Retreat- Lord’s Supper Retreat (Friday, April 11, 2025, 6:30pm-9:30pm)
7th Grade Retreat- Fighting Sin, Temptation, and Peer Pressure (November) & Lord’s Supper Retreat (April 11, 2025)
8th Grade Retreat- Writing my Faith Story (February or March).
Will There Still Be a Rite of Confirmation?
Yes, we will still have an 8th Grade Confirmation Service (please invite baptism sponsors) Saturday, April 26, 2025 – 10:30am.
Service Hours
Scripture declares that believers are the body of Christ, a reflection of His continuing presence in the world. Through His people, Christ continues to extend love, comfort, care and forgiveness to those in need. Biblical “true love” is action based! Because Christ lives in us, we are able to make a difference. We are His eyes, His ears, His hands, and His feet here on earth! Service hours have become an important part of SJL’s confirmation program. Each year students are asked to complete 10 hours of service work. Service hours can be completed at any church, school, or the community event.
Child Care
We will have a group of college and high school students providing childcare for families with younger kids during Confirmation Church.
Please contact the Church Office for more information 630-629-2515 x118 or [email protected].
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