2024 Youth Confirmation Journal

2024 CONFIRMAND JOURNAL

Dear Confirmand, What a tremendous joy it is for me, on behalf of Centenary United Methodist Church, to welcome you into our Confirmation journey! You are holding in your hands an invitation that will change your life. We have been praying for you and trust that God has tremendous blessings waiting for you in this incredible adventure of faith.

Confirmation by definition is faith formation. Forming one’s faith is an ongoing journey throughout life. Our hope is that the Confirmation process will give you the opportunity, tools, support and inspiration you will need to build your faith on a firm foundation.

Tammy Pollock Director of Youth Ministries tpollock@centenary-ws.org (336) 399-7263

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” ~ Matthew 7:24-25 Starting on January 3, 2024, we will meet together each Wednesday night from 6:00pm—7:30pm to learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the spiritual life and how they form us and cause us to change the way we live our lives.

You will not go through this class alone; you will each choose a “Shepherd” (an adult spiritual guide from our church who will walk beside you in faith).

There will be several field trips and two amazing retreats to help you along this process as well. We hope that you will come to encounter Jesus in a very real way through these experiences.

Use this journal to read, answer questions, take notes, doodle and journal in, pray with, and share your faith with your Shepherd. Our prayer is that in these pages you will discover faith in a whole new way and that the encounters you have with Jesus will teach you how much you are loved and how fully you belong to the Body of Christ.

Living in His Grace,

Tammy Pollock

Confirmation Journal and curriculum written by Tammy Pollock.

Journal designed by Doug Peninger.

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2024 CONFIRMATION SCHEDULE

Each class will begin with dinner in the Youth Commons on the 4th Floor of the Central Building at 6:00pm.

Confirmation will end at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted.

Parents are asked to provide dinner and can find a SignUp Genius link at registration.

DECEMBER □ 6 6:00pm Confirmation Parents Orientation (@ youth commons) JANUARY □ 3 Confirmation Student Orientation □ 4 Confirmation Shepherd Orientation □ 10 SHEPHERD NIGHT — Get Acquainted □ 17 Apostles Creed: God the Father & Jesus Christ His Only Son □ 19-20 Camp Hanes Retreat: Baptism & Communion □ 24 Apostles Creed: The Holy Spirit □ 31 The Story

FEBRUARY □ 7 The Church and John Wesley □ 14 SHEPHERD NIGHT — ­­Stuff & Ash Wednesday Service □ 21 Worship □ 28 Creation & Bodies

MARCH □ 6 SHEPHERD NIGHT — Jewish Temple with Rabbi □ 13 Creativity & Work □ 20 Time & Choices □ 27 SHEPHERD NIGHT — Play - Bowling

APRIL □ 3 NO CONFIRMATION HOLY WEEK & SPRING BREAK □ 10 Forgiveness & Justice □ 17 Grieving □ 24 SHEPHERD NIGHT — Funeral Home visit

MAY

□ 1 Truth & Prayer & Practice □ 3 & 4 Blowing Rock Conference Retreat: Pilgrimage □ 7 - 9 Confirmation Interviews □ 15 Confirmation Rehearsal & Dinner □ 19 Confirmation Service & Reception

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“Confirmation / Faith Formation: A History of...”

Henry Nouwen, a great Christian contemporary, offers an understanding of the body of Christ when he writes in his book Reaching Out that the church confirms persons by offering a supportive space in which each can develop his or her relationship with God. When the Christian Church provides this sort of hospitality, it confirms its members by supporting their journeys of faith and providing a context in which that faith can be examined, tested and strengthened.

Some of our most noted and respected spiritual forefathers and mothers spent a great deal of time examining every aspect of their lives - where God seemed present and distant, and where God seemed to be moving in the world. Based on these spiritual practices, we can glean a great deal of understanding regarding the Confirmation process and why the early church found Confirmation so important.

Confirmation seemed to have its greatest meaning in the third century. This was the period when initiation into the Christian Church “was carried out with the greatest seriousness and intensity.” Knowing that, since the third century, Confirmation has increasingly lost its importance and significance in protestant churches, how should we think about Confirmation today?

Confirmation has been and still is a continuation of the Baptismal Covenant.

This is not to say that Holy Baptism has something missing, nor does baptism depend upon confirmation for a second dose of grace. Rather, Confirmation is the response of the people to God’s transforming grace. Therefore, the faith formation process begins with Holy Baptism, continues with Confirmation, and then stretches onward into adulthood in community. It also needs to be said how important it is for all people to recognize they belong to Christ and are a part of the Body of Christ before they join the Church. Becoming a member of the Church is an outward sign of an inward change in ones heart and the way one lives their life. Joining the Church is not the beginning of the journey, but a response to a change in one’s life. This is why, at the end of the Confirmation experience, we ask our Confirmands, “Have you said, ‘yes’ to Jesus? And if so, “Do you want to profess your faith and become a member of the Church?”

A congregation with a vital faith formation process will offer a wide variety of spiritual and intellectual experiences. It will offer hospitality that supports a person’s faith in a context in which it can be examined, tested, and strengthened. The approach needs to include teaching of spiritual disciplines, retreat experiences where the youth can step aside from distractions & immerse themselves in a spirit-filled community, class time & time with a mentor, and reminders for all members of the church that the fire of the Holy Spirit dwells within us as a gift from our baptism. The end result? We provide youth with opportunities to confront the cost of their baptism and awaken the transforming power of God’s presence and love in their lives, gently inviting them to decide whether they would like to make an outward profession of their faith.

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A Personal Note...

Confirmation is a time to invite youth into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Historically speaking, Confirmation has always been linked with the sacraments of Baptism & Communion, but has lately been unfortunately associated with ‘graduation’ from the church. Confirmation is of utmost importance! It is a holy and sacred time in the life of adolescents to begin to own their faith. It should help youth ‘practice the presence of God.’ It gives them tools which they can use for the rest of their lives to encounter the living, loving Jesus. If we do this well, then no matter where they are or how old they get, they will recognize that they are never separated from the presence and love of Jesus Christ.

“You don’t need to be in church all the time to be with God. We can make a prayer chapel in our hearts where we can go from time to time to talk with Him peacefully, humbly, and lovingly.” ~ Brother Lawrence

What is Confirmation? □ Confirmation has as its goal discipleship ~ the formation of people who resemble the first disciples of Jesus in their lifestyle, beliefs, and values.

□ Confirmation is nothing less than equipping people to be disciples. □ Christianity is a way of life together. Education for this life must therefore be

experiential, personal, and engaging, suggesting that the faith formation process doesn’t end our growth as Christians. Faith formation builds on Christian growth that has already begun and continues throughout one’s life.

□ Confirmation must have Christian guides (Shepherds). The manner in which most of

us learned of the Christian faith was by looking over someone else’s shoulder, emulating some admired older Christian, taking up a way of life that was made real and accessible through the witness of someone else. These guides will become faith partners for the next 5 years of their young person’s life and beyond.

What’s the difference between a traditional Confirmation and this one?

The book that we are using is different from any other “Confirmation” material out there.

Most curriculum focuses on the church and church living instead of ‘faith forming.’ The book, Way To Live, by Bass & Richter, is written by teens and adults for teens. It is a guide to living one’s faith in everyday life, helping us to understand that at the core of one’s faith is a changed life.

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EXPECTATIONS A CONFIRMAND’S RESPONSIBILITIES □ Attend all Wednesday evening classes. □ Attend Sunday school. □ Attend Worship on Sunday morning (if you attend worship at another

church, you will need to bring the bulletin to class so you can share about your experience). □ Attend another youth ministry event during the week (Youth Group, Sunday school, Love Thy Neighbor, etc.). □ Serve the church through torch bearing, ushering, serving as Crucifer, and/ or participating on Sunday mornings during worship (reading scripture, singing or playing an instrument). □ Meet once a week with your Shepherd. □ Memorize the Apostles’ Creed. □ Read the Gospel of Luke with your Shepherd, working through your journal and commit to praying together. □ Attend one Church Council or Ministry Team meeting during the next 5 months. □ Attend the two Confirmation retreats.

A SHEPHERD’S RESPONSIBILITIES □ Attend worship and actively nurture your own relationship with God. □ Commit to meet with your Confirmand once a week and to pray for him/he

daily. □ Work on the weekly assignments together (readings, workbook, prayers, etc.) □ Attend the Shepherd Nights during class time once a month. □ Read the Gospel of Luke together and commit to filling out your journal together. □ Attend Sunday services together (when possible). □ Together attend a board meeting of our church. □ Spend time volunteering somewhere together. □ Attend the Confirmation retreats. □ At the end of Confirmation write a letter to the class expressing your wishes for them. □ Most importantly, understand that this is a 5+year commitment to shepherd this young person through their adolescent years. As with any relationship, you must continue to tend to it for it to grow and flourish. We entrust the Shepherd to take seriously their newfound relationship with this young person.

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THE APOSTLES' CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

(The Apostles’ Creed taken from the United Methodist Book of Worship)

What is Confirmat

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SHEPHERD NIGHT GETTING AQUAINTED CHECK IN You both will be spending a great deal of time together over the next few months and in the years to come. You need to get to know each other well: what you like, what you don’t like, what’s important to you, etc. Below are some questions to help get you started. Interview one another and record your partner’s answers.

□ NAME □ PHONE □ EMAIL □ BIRTHDAY

� Tell me about your family.

� What is it like growing up?

� What are some of your best memories?

� How about one of your saddest memories?

� What is one thing you really like about your life today?

� Describe a day in your life.

� What is your favorite TV show? Your favorite movie? Your favorite snack?

� On Sunday mornings, which service do you attend? Do you go to Sunday School?

Do you eat breakfast before you go to church or do you eat a doughnut at church once you get there? If so, what do you like to eat?

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� Have you always been a churchgoer? Have you always attended Centenary or did you attend somewhere else before you attended here?

� What is important to you about being part of the church?

� When did you first know you were a Christian? Do you ever wonder about whether you are really a Christian?

� Where do you feel God’s presence most strongly in your life?

� What do you hope will happen during this Confirmation journey?

� Are you worried about anything regarding Confirmation?

� Together choose a time that you will meet together during the week to pray for one another, read the Gospel of Luke, and do journal work.

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LIFE...

CHECK IN How are you today? What was one great thing that happened to you this week?

What was one thing that you wish had not happened this week?

SHARE Share what you thought about the ‘Shepherd Night’ on Wednesday. Finish your ‘Getting Acquainted’ interview if you haven’t already. What did you think about the chapter this week? Was there anything that stood out to you in the chapter?

On page 3 in your book, Way to Live, there is a question about a ‘mountaintop experience?’ What does that mean to you and do you feel you have ever had one?

READ → Read John 10:10b aloud.

Read it again. Spend a few minutes quietly pondering and meditating on this passage of scripture and paying close attention to any word or phrase or image that may stand out to you (this way of reading scripture is known as Lectio Divina).

RESPON D

RESPOND Look up the word “abundant” in the dictionary. What might it mean to say that life itself could be abundant? What do you think Jesus meant by inviting his disciples to live “abundant lives?”

→ Read these passages: □ John 3:1-21 □ Matthew 4:6-21 □ Matthew 6:19-21 □ Luke 17:11-19 □ Luke 19:1-10 □ John 9:1-41 □ Luke 8:4-18 □ Luke 8:8-40 When you put all these scriptures together, what can you see about what “abundant life” meant for Jesus? What might it mean for us today? How would it affect our families, our schools, our churches, our world?

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PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down. Make sure to ask God to help one another to live a life that is more ‘abundant.’ Take a moment to pray for each other (either out loud, or silently).

SEEK If you want to seek out a new way to pray, a way of prayer that reflects life, you’ll want to "pray a Labyrinth." The Labyrinth is an archetype: a divine imprint found in all religious traditions in various forms around the world. The labyrinth has only one path so there is no “trick” to it and no dead ends (this is what distinguishes it from a maze, which has dead ends). The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives; it touches our sorrows and releases our joys.

Labyrinths are found in all religious traditions. The oldest known labyrinth is a sevencircuit labyrinth at Knossos in Crete; it dates from the first millennium B.C. The most famous is the eleven-circuit labyrinth in the Cathedral of Chartres, France, a cathedral even more famous for its stained glass rose window. The Chartres labyrinth, in the west end of the nave, was laid sometime between 1194 and 1220.

The labyrinth can awaken us to, or deepen, our spirituality. There is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is an “outward manifestation, a container,” with liturgy and teachings. The hope is that religion nurtures and encourages spirituality, while spirituality enriches, deepens and stretches religion.

THE PRACTICE OF THE LABYRINTH

Each of you has been given a finger labyrinth (pg. 12). You may "walk" the path of the labyrinth with your finger, crayons, pencil or pen. You choose which you would like to use.

THERE ARE THREE STAGES OF THE WALK

1. Purgation – walking into the labyrinth. A releasing, a letting go of the details of your life.

This is an act of shedding thoughts and emotions. It quiets and empties the mind.

2. Illumination – is when you reach the center. Stay there as long as you like. It is a place of meditation and prayer. Receive what is there for you to receive.

3. Union – leaving the center, walking with God, the Holy. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul reaching for.

The labyrinth invites you to clear your mind and become aware of your breath. Allow yourself to find the pace your body wants to go. If you are taking your walk on a large labyrinth (there is one located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church here in downtown Winston), you may pass people or let others step around you whichever is easiest at the turns.

The path is two ways. Those going in will meet those coming out. Do what feels natural.

Reflect on a question, a prayer, a concern. Enter the labyrinth and seek the Spirit.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA What is the first book in the Bible?

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THE APOSTLES' CREED: GOD & JESUS CHRIST

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.* The third day he rose again from the dead. he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen. *(included in the traditional version of the creed, but not included in the creed we use in our church.)

CHECK IN How are you today? What are some of the things that happened to you today that you would like to talk about? (How was school? How are things at home? How are your friends?)

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. What is a creed? What is the Apostles’ Creed? What were some of the things we did in class to understand the Apostles’ Creed?

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READ → Read the Apostles’ Creed together.

Spend a few minutes quietly pondering & meditating on the words in the creed. What do they mean to you? Why do we say this creed at Baptisms & Communion & each Sunday as we reaffirm our faith in worship?

REFLECT Why is it important to have a solid understanding of what we believe?

How are the three sections of the Apostles’ Creed (Creation, Redemption, Sanctification) similar to the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)?

What does something like the Apostles’ Creed have to do with our everyday lives at home, school, and church?

RESPOND → Read John 11: 25-27 together.

How does this scripture speak to you?

What truths can we put into practice from this passage?

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down. Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.S

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA How many days did God take to create the world?

Six

THE APOSTLE'S CREED: THE HOLY SPIRIT CHECK IN How are you today? Was there a moment this week in which you felt God’s presence? Was there a moment that you felt void of God’s presence?

→ Read Psalm 139:7

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. What is the Holy Spirit? What were some of the things we did in class to understand what the Trinity is, especially the Holy Spirit?

Share your notes with your Shepherd.

READ → Read Acts 2:1-21 aloud.

Read it again. Spend a few minutes quietly pondering & meditating on this passage of scripture paying close attention to any word that may stand out to you (this is known as Lectio Divina or “Holy Reading”, an ancient spiritual practice/discipline).

RESPOND Share what stood out to you in the passage of scripture. What images did you notice? How were people aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence that day? How are people aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the world today?

Reread what the Apostles’ Creed has to say about the Holy Spirit. Does the Apostles’ Creed make any more sense to you now that you have a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is?

Make a bookmark for one another using one of the symbols commonly representing the Holy Spirit (a dove, flame, or wind). Exchange the bookmarks and keep them in your Bibles as a reminder to pray for one another.

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Where did Adam and Eve live at the beginning of the world?

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CONFIRMATION RETREAT NOTES SACRAMENTS Definition: A formal act or rite celebrated by the church. “An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”

BAPTISM “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3 Baptism literally means “washing.” In the United Methodist Church, we believe that baptism is a special means of God’s grace and the doorway into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

COMMUNION “After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” - Luke 22

By celebrating communion, we remember Christ's sacrifice and God's abundant and gracious love for us. It is through this holy meal where we find common-union with God and with one another.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Who did God tell to build an ark?

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THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT I

□ HOLY BAPTISM □ CONFIRMATION □ REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH □ RECEPTION INTO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH □ RECEPTION INTO A LOCAL CONGREGATION To make it easier to determine which parts of the service to use on any given occasion, this service is divided into the following sections: 1) Introduction to Baptism 2) Introduction to Confirmation and Reaffirmation 3) Presentation of Candidates 4) Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith 5) Parents’ and Sponsors’ Vow to Nurture the Child 6) Vows by Candidates Able to Speak for Themselves 7) Vows by Sponsors of Candidates 8) Congregation’s Vows 9) The Apostles’ Creed 10) Thanksgiving over the Water 11) Baptism with Laying on of Hands 12) Confirmation or Reaffirmation of Faith 13) Congregational Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant 14) Reception into The United Methodist Church 15) Reception into the Local Congregation 16) Commendation and Welcome Sections 14, 15 and 16 include the new language adopted by the 2008 General Conference.

At every occasion of baptism or first public profession of faith (confirmation), sponsors should be present and the congregation should reaffirm the baptismal covenant.

If there are no confirmations or reaffirmations of faith or receptions by transfer, and if the only persons being baptized are (1) children who cannot take their own vows or (2) youth or adults who have not reached the developmental stage of making such commitments themselves, Baptismal Covenant II should be used.

If there are only confirmations or public professions of faith and no baptisms, section 11 is omitted.

Each candidate receives either Baptism with Laying on of Hands (section 11) or Confirmation (section 12), but not both.

If persons are transferring their professing membership from another United Methodist congregation, sections 5, 11 and 14 are omitted. Section 7 is used when there are sponsors. Sections 10 and 12 may also be omitted.

If persons are being received from another denomination into professing membership in a local congregation, only sections 5 and 11 are omitted.

If persons are being received into baptized but not professing membership in a local congregation, only sections 14–16 are used for those coming from another denomination, and only sections 15–16 are used for those transferring their baptized membership from another United Methodist congregation.

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If the whole congregation is reaffirming the Baptismal Covenant, and there are no individuals to be baptized, confirmed, or received into membership, Baptismal Covenant IV should be used.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE As persons come forward, an appropriate baptismal or confirmation hymn may be sung.

1 A deacon or pastor addresses the congregation: Brothers and sisters in Christ: Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ’s holy Church.

We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit.

All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.

2 If there are confirmations or reaffirmations, the pastor continues: Through confirmation, and through the reaffirmation of our faith, we renew the covenant declared at our baptism, acknowledge what God is doing for us, and affirm our commitment to Christ’s holy Church.

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES 3 A representative of the congregation presents the candidates with the appropriate statements: I present Name(s) for baptism.

I present Name(s) for confirmation.

I present Name(s) to reaffirm their faith.

I present Name(s) who come(s) seeking baptized membership from the ________ Church.

I present Name(s) who come(s) seeking professing membership from the ———— Church.

If desired, Thanksgiving over the Water (section 10) may precede the Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith.

At this or some later point in the service, persons may add to their vows a personal witness to their Christian faith and experience.

RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH 4 Since the earliest times, the vows of Christian baptism have consisted first of the renunciation of all that is evil and then the profession of faith and loyalty to Christ. Parents or other sponsors reaffirm these vows for themselves while taking the responsibilities of sponsorship. Candidates for confirmation profess for themselves the solemn vows that were made at their baptism.

The pastor addresses parents or other sponsors and those candidates who can answer for themselves: On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?

I do.

Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?

I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?

I do.

5 The pastor addresses parents or other sponsors of candidates not able to answer for themselves: Will you nurture these children (persons) in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life?

I will.

6 The pastor addresses candidates who can answer for themselves: According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy Church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?

I will.

7 The pastor addresses the sponsors: Will you who sponsor these candidates support and encourage them in their Christian life?

I will.

8 The pastor addresses the congregation, and the congregation responds: Do you, as Christ’s body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?

We do.

Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include these persons now before you in your care?

With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ.

We will surround these persons with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others.

We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.

9 The Apostles’ Creed in threefold question-and-answer form appeared at least as early as the third century as a statement of faith used in baptisms and has been widely used in baptisms ever since. The candidate(s), sponsor(s), and local congregation join with the universal Church across the ages in this historic affirmation of the Christian faith.

A deacon or pastor addresses all, and the congregation joins the candidates and their parents and sponsors in responding: Let us join together in professing the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, [who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.]

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

I believe in the Holy Spirit, [the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.]

THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER 10 A deacon or lay leader may pour water for baptism and reaffirmation into the font at this time in such a way that the congregation can see and hear the water.

This prayer is led by the pastor and joined by the people. It recalls scriptural images and meanings of Holy Baptism and is comparable to the Great Thanksgiving at Holy Communion. All may stand.

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The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

The pastor may raise hands in the ancient Christian posture of prayer, and invite the congregation to do likewise.

Eternal Father: When nothing existed but chaos, you swept across the dark waters and brought forth light.

In the days of Noah you saved those on the ark through water.

After the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow.

When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt, you led them to freedom through the sea.

Their children you brought through the Jordan to the land which you promised. **Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Tell of God’s mercy each day.

In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the water of a womb.

He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit.

He called his disciples to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection and to make disciples of all nations. **Declare Christ’s works to the nations, his glory among all the people.

The pastor may place hands in or over the water, stir the water, or lift the water.

Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that, dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory. **All praise to you, Eternal Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever. Amen.

BAPTISM WITH LAYING ON OF HANDS 11 In all services of the baptismal covenant, water should be used generously as a living sign of the abundance of God’s grace, cleansing, and life-giving power.

Each candidate is baptized and receives the laying on of hands individually. The pastor uses the first (Christian) name(s), but not the family name: Christian Name(s), I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Immediately after the administration of the water, the pastor places hands on the candidate’s head and invokes the work of the Holy Spirit. Persons nearby, including baptized members of the candidate’s family, may join the pastor in this action. Others present may join by extending their hands toward the candidate. All say the Amen.

Pastor, laying hand on the newly baptized: The Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit, you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen.

One or more of the following acts may be added at this time: a) The pastor may trace on the forehead of each newly baptized person the sign of the cross in silence or with the words: “Name, child of God, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever.” Olive oil may be used in this action, following the biblical custom anointing prophets (1 Kings 19:16), priests (Exodus 29:7), and kings (1 Kings 1:39). Jesus’ titles Christ and Messiah both mean “Anointed One,” and the New Testament repeatedly calls Christ our High Priest and King. Christians in baptism become members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), which is a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Anointing at baptism is a reminder that all Christians are anointed into this royal priesthood. b) New clothing is sometimes presented to those just baptized, particularly in the case of infants, as a symbol that we “have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27) as one would put on new clothing. Such clothing is traditionally white, suggesting the “white robes” in Revelation 7:9 –14. Words such as these may be used: “Receive these new clothes as a token of the new life that is given in Christ Jesus.” c) A lighted baptismal candle may be presented to the newly baptized, with such words as: “Let your light so shine that others, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father in heaven.” The candle may be presented to the parents or sponsors of baptized children, in which case “others” may be changed to “this child” or “these children.” It is appropriate to light the baptismal candle in the home each year on the anniversary of baptism as a reminder of the grace of God offered through baptism. A baptismal candle bears either a Christian symbol or no decoration at all; it should not be confused with ornate birthday candles sold commercially to mark a child’s birthdays. The candle may be lighted from the paschal candle or from one of the candles on or near the Lord’s table. d) A certificate of baptism may be presented to the newly baptized. If the certificate is not given at this time, the pastor should ensure the candidate or family receive it promptly.

When all candidates have been baptized, the pastor invites the congregation to welcome them: Now it is our joy to welcome our new sisters and brothers in Christ.

Through baptism you are incorporated by the Holy Spirit into God’s new creation and made to share in Christ’s royal priesthood.

We are all one in Christ Jesus.

With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you as members of the family of Christ.

CONFIRMATION OR REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH 12 Acts of confirmation or reaffirmation of faith are not acts of rebaptism. Here water may be used by the candidates as the pastor says: Remember your baptism and be thankful. Amen.

In services of the baptismal covenant, water should be used generously as a sign of the abundance of God’s grace, cleansing, life-giving and life-renewing power. Appropriate ways persons being confirmed or reaffirming their faith may use the water include the following: a) They may touch the water and make the sign of the cross on their own foreheads. b) They may scoop up the water and let it fall back into the font. c) They may use it on their heads, or hands, or to refresh their faces.

As the pastor, and others if desired, place hands on the head of each person being confirmed or reaffirming faith, the pastor says to each: Name, the Holy Spirit work within you, that having been born through water and the Spirit, you may live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Amen.

13 Acts of reaffirmation are not acts of rebaptism. When there is a congregational reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant, the congregation may be invited to use or receive the water as, or after. the pastor says: Remember your baptism and be thankful. Amen.

Appropriate ways persons may use the water include: a) Touching the water and making the sign of the cross on their own foreheads; b) Scooping up the water and letting it fall back into the font; c) Scooping it over their heads, or hands, or to refresh their faces. d) Or, a deacon, the pastor, or other assistants may use an asperges, evergreen branch or other means to sprinkle small amounts of water toward the congregation. This parallels sprinkling with hyssop for purification (Exodus 12:22 ; Psalm 51:7) and sprinkling as a sign of renewal (Ezekiel 36:25 –26).

RECEPTION INTO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 14 If there are persons coming into baptized or professing membership in The United Methodist Church from other denominations who have not yet been presented, they may be presented at this time.

The pastor addresses all those transferring their baptized or professing membership into The United Methodist Church, together with those who, through baptism or confirmation, have just professed their own faith:

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As members of Christ’s universal Church, will you be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?

I will.

RECEPTION INTO THE LOCAL CONGREGATION 15 If there are persons joining this congregation as baptized or professing members from other United Methodist congregations who have not yet been presented, they may be presented at this time.

The pastor addresses all those transferring baptized or professing membership into the congregation, together with those who, through baptism or confirmation, have just professed their own faith: As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?

I will.

COMMENDATION AND WELCOME 16 The pastor addresses the congregation: Members of the household of God, I commend these persons to your love and care.

Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.

The congregation responds: We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love.

As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

The pastor addresses those baptized, confirmed, or received, using an appropriate gesture of blessing: The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, establish you and strengthen you that you may live in grace and peace.

One or more laypersons, including children, may join the pastor in acts of welcome and peace. Baptized children may be welcomed by a kiss of peace or other acts or words immediately following Baptism with Laying on of Hands.

An appropriate hymn, stanza, or response may be sung.

The service continues with prayers including appropriate thanksgivings and intercessions for those who have participated in these acts.

Services of the baptismal covenant most appropriately lead into the celebration of Holy Communion, in which the union of the new members with the body of Christ is most fully expressed. The new members, including children, may bring the bread and wine to the Lord’s table, receive first, and assist in serving.

A SERVICE OF WORD AND TABLE I & INTRODUCTIONS TO THE OTHER FORMS

This service is found in the United Methodist Hymnal pages 6-11. A congregation may use this text for the entire service. It is desirable that during the course of the year the prayers in services of Word and Table be varied; see A Service of Word and Table II and III (UMH 12-16), the Great Thanksgivings for various occasions and resources for the Christian year available on this website or in the print or full electronic editions of The United Methodist Book of Worship.

ENTRANCE GATHERING GREETING The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

HYMN OF PRAISE OPENING PRAYER The following or a prayer of the day is offered: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[ACT OF PRAISE] PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

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SCRIPTURE LESSON [PSALM] [SCRIPTURE LESSON] HYMN OR SONG GOSPEL LESSON SERMON RESPONSE TO THE WORD I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

CONCERNS AND PRAYERS Brief intercessions, petitions, and thanksgivings may be prayed by the leader or spontaneously by members of the congregation. To each of these, all may make a common response, such as: Lord, hear our prayer or UMH 485, 487, 488, or 490.

Or a litany of intercession and petition may be prayed.

Or a pastoral prayer may be prayed.

INVITATION Pastor stands behind the Lord’s table.

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.

Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

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CONFESSION AND PARDON Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have failed to be an obedient church.

We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy.

Forgive us, we pray.

Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All pray in silence.

Leader to people: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

People to leader: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Leader and people: Glory to God. Amen.

THE PEACE Let us offer one another signs of reconciliation and love.

All, including the pastor, exchange signs and words of God’s peace.

OFFERING As forgiven and reconciled people, Let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God. A hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung as the offering is received.

The bread and wine are brought by representatives of the people to the Lord’s table with the other gifts, or uncovered if already in place.

A hymn, doxology, or other response may be sung as the gifts are presented.

If a Great Thanksgiving other than that which follows here is to be used, the service proceeds following the order and rubrics of A Service of Word and Table III (UMH 15-16). Otherwise, the service continues as follows:

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THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION TAKING THE BREAD AND CUP The pastor, standing if possible behind the Lord’s table, facing the people from this time through Breaking the Bread, takes the bread and cup; and the bread and wine are prepared for the meal.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING* One of the musical settings may be used, the pastor using the following text: The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through the prophets.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: The pastor may lower hands.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The pastor may raise hands.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people.

He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church,

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delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The pastor may raise hands.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

The pastor may raise hands.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER* The pastor’s hands may be extended in open invitation.

And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

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The pastor may raise hands.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

BREAKING THE BREAD The pastor, still standing behind the Lord’s table and facing the people, breaks the bread in silence, or while saying: Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The pastor lifts the cup in silence, or while saying: The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP The bread and wine are given to the people, with these or other words being exchanged: The body of Christ, given for you. Amen.

The blood of Christ, given for you. Amen.

The congregation may sing hymns while the bread and cup are given. Many hymns, songs, and choruses in UMH in addition to 612–41 and others listed under Holy Communion (943) are effective in expressing the people’s loving communion with God and with one another. The day or season of the Christian year and the people’s knowledge and love of particular hymns are important considerations in the selection of appropriate hymns. It is particularly effective if the people can sing from memory.

When all have received, the Lord’s table is put in order.

The following prayer is then offered by the pastor or by all: Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us.

Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SENDING FORTH HYMN OR SONG* DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING* Go forth in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

GOING FORTH*

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THE STORY CHECK IN How are you today? Share one story that you have from the week. It can be anything: something good, something funny, something sad, anything.

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. How did the Bible come to be as we know it today? How does ‘The Story’, as told in the Bible, affect your life?

Share your notes with your Shepherd.

READ → Read Luke 6:12-19, 27-31 aloud.

Read it again, but this time read it using the Ignatian Deep Reflection/Meditation (an ancient spiritual practice/discipline found on page 26 of your “Way to Live” book).

RESPOND Share what it was like to experience this practice. Did you like it?

Where did you find yourself in this scripture?

Use the space below to draw what you saw in your mind/heart while this scripture was read. Use crayons or markers or a pencil. This isn’t an art project but a response

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA What does the word gospel mean?

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REVELATION

APOCALYPTIC

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GENERAL LETTERS PHILEMON

TITUS

II TIMOTHY

I TIMOTHY

II THESSALONIANS

I THESSALONIANS

COLOSSIANS

PHILIPPIANS

EPHESIANS

GALATIANS

ACTS

JOHN

LUKE

MARK

MATTHEW

THE GOSPELS

JUDE

3 JOHN

2 JOHN

I JOHN

2 PETER

I PETER

JAMES

HEBREWS

2 CORINTHIANS

I CORINTHIANS

ROMANS

New Testament Books of the Bible HISTORY

LETTERS ATTRIBUTED TO PAUL

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DANIEL

EZEKIAL

MALACHI

JEREMIAH

ISAIAH

LAMENTATIONS

THE BOOKS OF MINOR PROPHETS

ZECHARIAH

HAGGAI

ZEPHANIAH

SONG OF SONGS

ECCLESIASTESS

PROVERBS

THE BOOKS OF POERTY

HABAKKUK

NAHUM

MICAH

JONAH

OBADIAH

AMOS

JOEL

HOSEA

PSALMS

JOB

ESTHER

NEHEMIAH

EZRA

II CHRONICLES

I CHRONICLES

II KINGS

I KINGS

2 SAMUEL

I SAMUEL

RUTH

JUDGES

JOSHUA

DEUTERONOMY

NUMBERS

LEVITICUS

EXODUS

GENESIS

Old Testament Books of the Bible THE BOOKS OF LAW

THE BOOKS OF HISTORY

THE BOOKS OF MAJOR PROPHETS

OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE BY BOOK OLD TESTAMENT: 39 BOOKS A collection of divinely inspired books written between 1450 B.C. and 430 B.C., the Old Testament is a historical record of God's people, laws, sayings and promises that function as a model for moral living and conduct.

□ GENESIS

Meaning "the beginning or origin of something", Genesis is the first book of the Bible, recording Creation, the fall of man and the early years of the nation of Israel.

□ EXODUS

God appoints Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, establishing a special relationship with them on the way to Mount Sinai.

□ LEVITICUS

God gives Israel rules to live by and instructions to present themselves holy before Him.

□ NUMBERS

A sequel to Exodus, Numbers takes its name from two censuses (or "numberings") of the people of Israel, following their journey through the wilderness for forty years.

□ DEUTERONOMY

A farewell speech from Moses to the people of Israel shortly before his death, Deuteronomy recaps the promises of God and provides instructions to obey Him in the Promised Land.

□ JOSHUA

A book of conquest, Joshua details the Israelites' invasion and eventual occupation of the Promised Land through faith and action.

□ JUDGES

Israel enters a cycle of sin, suffering defeat and oppression, only to cry out to God for deliverance, who sends leaders (called "judges") to help them.

□ RUTH

Occurring during some of the darkest days in Israel's history, Ruth follows the journey of two widows who lose everything, but find hope through God.

□ 1 SAMUEL

Israel rejects God's chosen leader, Samuel (a judge), and demands a king despite God's warnings.

□ 2 SAMUEL

The life and career of King David, who subdues Israel's enemies and doubles the size of the kingdom, but is not without failings.

□ 1 KINGS

Israel enjoys a period of peace and prosperity under King Solomon, but later splits in two after Rehoboam (his son) takes the throne.

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□ 2 KINGS

The kings of Israel and Judah ignore God and His prophets, eventually falling captive to invading nations and are exiled to foreign lands.

□ 1 CHRONICLES

Written to encourage the people returning from Babylonian exile, 1 Chronicles recaps the history and genealogy of Israel, emphasising the spiritual significance of David and future Messianic King.

□ 2 CHRONICLES

A continuation of the previous book, 2 Chronicles focuses on the kings of Israel, from King Solomon and the building of the temple, to subsequent division, exile and return from captivity.

□ EZRA

Fulfilling the promises of God, the Israelites return from exile after seventy years and rebuild the temple.

□ NEHEMIAH

Despite local opposition, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem from exile, rallying the people to rebuild the city walls and gates in just fifty-two days.

□ ESTHER

Occurring during the exile of Israel, Esther is a Jewish queen to a Persian king, who intercedes on behalf of her people to save them from a genocidal plot.

□ JOB

A righteous man named Job loses everything and suffers greatly, but remains faithful to God and is blessed abundantly.

□ PSALMS

A collection of 150 songs of worship and praise to God that includes prophecies of the coming Messiah.

□ PROVERBS

The book of Proverbs contains God's divine wisdom, covering a variety of topics for every area of life.

□ ECCLESIASTES

Solomon's analysis of life, which is meaningless and empty without God.

□ SONG OF SONGS

A poem about human love­—both physical and emotional­—and an allegory of God's unconditional and everlasting love for us.

□ ISAIAH

The first book of the Major Prophets, Isaiah contains warnings of God's coming judgement and detailed prophecies about the Messiah.

□ JEREMIAH

Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah passionately pleads with the people to repent before the coming Babylonian captivity, but is ignored.

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□ LAMENTATIONS

Lamentations is a book of sadness that reflects on the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity of Israel.

□ EZEKIEL

Ezekiel is called by God to preach a message of judgement and deliverance for the captives living in Babylon.

□ DANIEL

Like Ezekiel, Daniel has been taken to Babylon in captivity and receives prophetic visions while serving in the courts of the king.

□ HOSEA

The first book of the Minor Prophets, Hosea is a tragic love story that demonstrates God's unending love for His people despite their unfaithfulness.

□ JOEL

Joel warns the people to repent and turn back to God before judgement falls upon them.

□ AMOS

A shepherd named Amos prophesies to the northern kingdom which has become self-sufficient and indifferent towards God during a time of great prosperity.

□ OBADIAH

Only one chapter, Obadiah demonstrates God's ongoing protection of His people and coming judgement on the nation of Edom, which was indifferent during the Babylonian plunder of Jerusalem.

□ JONAH

A reluctant prophet, Jonah is sent by God to Nineveh, but refuses and learns the futility of it in the belly of a giant fish.

□ MICAH

Micah warns of the coming judgement that will eventually exile the nation, and includes some of the clearest predictions of the Messiah.

□ NAHUM

Nahum is the second prophet sent to Nineveh (Jonah being the first) to preach God's judgement on the Assyrian city and empire.

□ HABAKKUK

God answers Habakkuk's complaints of wickedness and injustice in the land.

□ ZEPHANIAH

Written shortly before the fall of Judah (Southern Kingdom of Israel) to Babylonian conquest, Zephaniah warns the people and the surrounding nations that the day of the Lord is near.

□ HAGGAI

Written after the Babylonian exile, work to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem had halted due to opposition and spiritual apathy, so Haggai motivates the people to finish.

□ ZECHARIAH

Zechariah ministered with Haggai after the 70-year exile, encouraging the remnant to return to God.

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□ MALACHI

The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi is a beautiful expression of God's love for a nation that continues to disobey Him.

NEW TESTAMENT: 27 BOOKS The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven sacred books that centre on the life, death, resurrection and teachings of Jesus Christ.

□ MATTHEW

The first book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew was primarily written for the Jews and references many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus.

□ MARK

Mark is the shortest Gospel, which emphasises Jesus' servanthood and miracles.

□ LUKE

Unlike the other Gospel writers, Luke was a Gentile who wrote an account of Jesus' life for those outside the Jewish faith.

□ JOHN

The last of the four Gospels, John is an eyewitness account of Jesus' ministry that focuses on the deeper meaning of events surrounding Christ's life, death and resurrection.

□ ACTS

A historical narrative of the early church which was empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Good News.

□ ROMANS

An epistle to the believers in Rome (hence the name) where Paul planned to visit. Romans sets a theological foundation for faith through Jesus.

□ 1 CORINTHIANS

The first of two letters from Paul to the believers in Corinth, 1 Corinthians was written in response to divisions and problems facing the local church.

□ 2 CORINTHIANS

The second and final letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, 2 Corinthians deals with persisting problems facing the believers there and warns against false teachers.

□ GALATIANS

A letter from Paul to the church in Galatia, the book is a foundational study that addresses the problem of Jewish legalism and the fullness of salvation found in Jesus.

□ EPHESIANS

Written to the church in Ephesus during Paul's first imprisonment, Ephesians covers a variety of subjects including the gift of grace, love and how to walk as fruitful followers of Jesus.

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□ PHILIPPIANS

An encouraging letter from Paul to the church in Philippi explaining the attitude and outlook believers must have to experience the joy of the Lord.

□ COLOSSIANS

In this letter, Paul refutes certain false teachings that are impeding the church in Colossae, reaffirming the deity and superiority of Jesus Christ.

□ 1 THESSALONIANS

The first of two letters to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul writes to encourage and strengthen the church, emphasising the principles of holy living through faith, hope and love.

□ 2 THESSALONIANS

A follow-up letter of encouragement to the persecuted church of Thessalonica, Paul reaffirms Jesus' second coming and matters preceding that event.

□ 1 TIMOTHY

A letter from Paul to a young pastor named Timothy, offering guidance and important principles for church leadership that still apply today.

□ 2 TIMOTHY

The second of two letters to Timothy, the book is probably Paul's final chronological epistle, urging his protégé to remain strong and faithful to Jesus.

□ TITUS

A letter of guidance from Paul to Titus to address challenges facing his leadership of the churches on the island of Crete.

□ PHILEMON

Consisting of only one chapter, the book is a short but profound letter from Paul to Philemon requesting forgiveness for a runaway slave named Onesimus.

□ HEBREWS

A letter urging Jewish believers not to return to their former traditions, summarising key Biblical characters and events to emphasise the hope of salvation through Jesus.

□ JAMES

A hard-hitting letter from James, encouraging believers to have a genuine faith with an emphasis on results.

1 PETER

The focus of Peter's first letter is persecution, sharing inspiring words of comfort for Christians living as an oppressed minority in the Roman Empire.

□ 2 PETER

Peter's second letter warns against false teachers and reaffirms important spiritual truths.

□ 1 JOHN

Written to oppose heretical doctrine, the first letter from John echoes the Gospel, encouraging Christians to love one another and keep Jesus' commands.

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□ 2 JOHN

A brief letter from John to "the chosen lady", urging believers to love one another and to be on guard against false teachings.

□ 3 JOHN

The shortest book in the Bible, 3 John commends Gaius and Demetruis for their faithful service.

□ JUDE

A letter from Jude to address false teachings and urge Christians to defend the truth of the Good News.

□ REVELATION

Written during John's imprisonment on the island of Patmos, Revelation is an apocalyptic book that contains prophetic visions of the Spiritual Realms and Jesus' return to Earth.

SOURCE https://city.org.nz/kit/bible-overview

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THE CHURCH AND JOHN WESLEY CHECK IN How are you today? What is your favorite memory of church? What’s your least favorite? Have you ever been a member of another church besides Centenary?

If so, what was it like?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. What was one new thing you learned about the United Methodist Church? Who was John Wesley? Why is he significant to the United Methodist denomination?

READ → Read the following passages, taking turns reading them and listening carefully to what we can learn about ‘Church:’ □ Joshua 24:14-15

□ Amos 5:21-24

□ Matthew 7:24-27

□ Matthew 18:20

□ Acts 1:8

□ Galatians 3:26-38

What did you learn about the church?

Who is important to the church?

What do you have to do to belong to a church?

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RESPOND Methodists are known for their personal holiness (strong desire to know God more), prayer, good works (outreach to others & mission work), and strict discipline (dedication to practicing our faith & beliefs). The United Methodist Church has a Social Creed that details what we believe. Read the Social Creed together:

□ We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends.

□ We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind.

□ We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.

□ We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the

aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

□ We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress.

□ We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world.

□ We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.

What is a creed? (Turn back to the first lesson if you need to get the answer).

How is our United Methodist Social Creed like the Apostles’ Creed?

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

SEEK If you are interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church, its history, its beliefs & social principles, scan the QR code below or check out www.umc.org.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Who were the first apostles called to follow Jesus?

Peter and Andrew YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 49 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

WORSHIP CHECK IN How are you today? You had an extra opportunity to worship this week at the Ash Wednesday service. What was that like for you? What did you experience?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday.

Did you learn anything new about Lent, Ash Wednesday, and this High Holy time of the year that you didn’t know before?

Share any notes you may have taken with your Shepherd.

What are some images that come to your mind when you think of worship?

READ → Read aloud Numbers 6: 24 – 26.

This time, when you read your passage of scripture, each of you take a turn reading.

When the first person reads, the other simply closes their eyes and listens. Then sit for a moment reflecting on the passage & how it sounded in your partner’s voice.

Then change partners, the one who read, listens, the one who listened, reads.

Again, sit for a moment in silence allowing your partner’s voice to resonate with the passage of scripture.

Share what stood out to you in the passage of scripture.

What was it like to hear it in a different voice?

RESPOND Images have always been an important part of worship.

When you enter into Centenary’s sanctuary, what images are there?

Icons (the Greek work for “image” is icon) have been a part of worship since the late second century. The first icon that we know of (according to legend) was made by Jesus himself. It seems that King Abgar of Edessa was dying of leprosy in North Africa and sent an emissary, Ananias, to ask Jesus to come and heal him. Ananias was instructed to paint a picture of Jesus if a visit to Edessa was not possible. Jesus declined the visit to Edessa – he was only days away from his Passion, but when he saw Ananias trying to paint his picture through the heavy crowds, Jesus took pity on him. After washing his face, Jesus dried his face with a square of linen, leaving a near perfect imprint of his image on the cloth. Ananias took the linen back to Edessa and King Abgar was healed immediately upon seeing it. (Story taken from "Soul Shaper" by Tony Jones.)

There are many stories like this that help us understand iconography. Over the centuries pictures have been drawn & painted, mosaic and carved wood representations of Jesus and Mary still exist today.

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Icons represent “the Word made flesh” so that we may imagine God in human form. They stand before us on the frontline of faith; they stand and fall on the truth of Christianity itself. Putting yourself in front of an icon is allowing yourself to be looked upon by ‘holy’ eyes. The icon you were given was ‘prayed’ by a hermit woman named Doreen Kostynuik.

She has been ‘praying’ (painting) icons for years. A couple of years ago, Doreen visited my church and gave me an icon she had ‘prayed’ just for me. The icon is of the Holy Face. She has allowed me to make a copy for you, and what you have before you is her gift to us.

Treat this icon as you would any sacred object. It is the face of Jesus that heals us, holds us, listens to us, and watches us carefully.

PRAY THE PRAYER OF GAZING Place your icon in front of you.

Clear your mind of all the distractions around you.

Allow yourself to gaze at the icon.

Look into Jesus’ face, look at his eyes, his mouth, his face.

See the halo around his head. See Jesus.

As you gaze upon him – know that He is gazing back at you.

He carries all the energy, love, and grace of God. As he looks at you, allow that love to pour over you and to remind you over and over of God’s love for you.

Trust that God knows your heart and all that is in it.

He is looking upon you with compassion & love.

Simply offer your prayer to him during this time.

SEEK If you are interested in learning more about icons and researching ways to pray them check out: □ www.liturgica.com A web site specializing in the art and music of Orthodox (scan QR code below) □ Mary, Mother of all Nations by Meagan McKinna □ Praying with Icons by Jim Forest

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY 9am • Casual Worship in Memorial Auditorium 11am • Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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SHEPHERD NIGHT: JEWISH TEMPLE CHECK IN How are you today? Where did you experience the greatest sense of God’s love this week? Where did you feel its absence?

SHARE What was one thing that you learned at the Synagogue? What was one thing that you will remember and keep with you? Was there anything that the Rabbi said that shocked you about the Jewish faith? How do you think the Jewish and Christian faiths can go together/work together better?

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Luke 2:41-52 Read it again, but this time, read it using the Ignatian Deep Reflection/Meditation (found on page 26 of your “Way to Live” book).

RESPOND Share what this practice was like for you. Who were you? Did you simply watch or did you engage in the scripture? What do you think it was like for Jesus to be a young boy growing up in the Jewish faith & culture?

Use the space below to draw what you saw in your mind/heart while this scripture was read. Use crayons, markers, or colored pencils. This is not an art project but a response to the reflection. When you are done, share it with your partner.

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA What is the shortest book in the New Testament?

2 John YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 55 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

STUFF & FOOD CHECK IN How are you today? Share with each other about a special meal you had this week.

What did you eat? Who was with you? What made it special?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. Summarize the video clip we watched and the exercises we did as we thought about stuff and food.

Share any notes you may have taken with your Shepherd.

READ → Read aloud together the following passages: □ Psalm 62: 1-12 □ Psalm 104: 10-18, 27-30

What do these passages say to you? Have you ever thought about giving God thanks for the things we have or the food we eat?

RESPOND 1. In the Stuff chapter, we read how Mark and Alex took inventory of the stuff they own and committed to giving something away each day during Lent (see page 48 in your “Way to Live” book). Do you think you could do this? On the next page make a list, following the same rules they used, and see if you can do this, too. Maybe you can’t come up with 40 items, maybe you can just come up with 7 (one for each day of the next week). Try it and see…

2. Plan a meal together. Maybe your families would like to come together for that meal, maybe you would like to cook a meal together, maybe you would like to go out to your favorite restaurant. Whatever you decide to do, approach this meal together as “holy” time just as Jesus did when he ate with his followers and disciples. See what you notice in each other and in the people around you. Does it change the way you think about a meal when you eat it this way?

PRAY Look over your list and think about the meal that you will share. Ask God to help you be generous with your stuff; after all, it is a gift from him. Ask also that he help you be mindful of the food you eat. With each meal you eat or snack you get to remember those who have no food and no stuff.

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SEEK If you are interested in talking about this some more and researching ways for simple living check out: □ Get the book by Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation, (Houghton Mifflin 2001) and learn what makes French fries taste so good. □ Watch the documentary (public school edition) Super Size Me together.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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BODIES CHECK IN How are you today? What are two things that you really like about your body and two things you wish you could change. Why?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. Summarize the video for your Shepherd: did you relate to the teenagers that were on the video? Ask each other what you think about how God wants us to treat our bodies? How does your conversation partner honor God with their body?

READ → Read Psalm 139 aloud.

Read it again, using either of the practices that we have used before (Lectio Divina or Ignatian Reflection/Meditation). Share what stood out to you in the passage of scripture.

RESPOND Gather some magazines; any kind will do, or scroll through Instagram, Snapchat, or any subscription you have. Take some time to go through them & identify pictures, words, or images that illustrate what our culture tells us about our bodies. What is the overwhelming point that magazines try to make about our bodies?

Now look up the following scriptures: □ Luke 8: 26-3 □ Luke 8: 40-48 □ John 9: 1-7 What does Jesus do in these passages that teaches us how to care for our bodies and the bodies of others? Have you witnessed people living these things out? Share those experiences with each other.

How might you honor your body?

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PRAY Sit across from one another and read the prayer aloud. You may touch each body part as it is named in the prayer as a blessing: God, who knit us together in a mother’s womb, help us honor what you have made.

Let us touch this masterpiece gently, with reverence, with delight, blessing what you have blessed.

The face for the housing of our thoughts, for the muscles of emotion.

The arms for embracing what is sacred, for grasping, then releasing, your gifts.

The belly for taking in nourishment, and, in some, for the nurture of new life.

The thighs for carrying another’s burden, for pushing off from the ground.

The feet for walking your paths of peace, for standing on holy ground.

God, who formed these inward and outward parts, fill us with wonder at such knowledge, knowledge that we are wonderfully made.

Amen.

SEEK If you are interested in talking about this some more and researching ways our culture defines our bodies and how God calls us to respond, check out the following links, documentaries and movies: □ Documentaries: Miss Representation (about girls and women) Prime Video □ Watch "In & Out" on Disney+ (Pixar) □ The Mask You Live In (about boys and men) Prime Video □ New Moon Publishing (for girls) http://www.newmoon.org □ Merchants of Cool Documentary of Youth Culture, a video (www.PBS.org) □ Movie Pretty in Pink (1986) about a teenage girl and how she feels about her body.

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THE FEELINGS WHEEL The Feelings Wheel, created by Dr. Gloria Willcox, can help us put words to emotions and care for our mental health.

At times feelings may be murky, elusive, and confusing. Some times big and intense and other times quiet, buried away and hard to recognize.

While words may fall short in fully capturing the essence of emotion, they serve to identify and then communicate our experience.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA According to the Beatitudes, who will be filled?

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 63 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

CREATION CHECK IN How are you today? What is one good thing that happened to you in the last week?

What is one thing that you wish wouldn’t have happened?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. What was the conversation we had about creation? Share what item you found that symbolized life and any notes you may have taken with your Shepherd.

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Genesis 2:15 – 20 What does this say about why God created animals and birds (verse 18)? When Adam named each of the creatures, he began a relationship that led to his caring for them. How does naming a pet or child initiate a relationship of accountability and care? How does learning the given name of a person, plant, or animal help us to feel differently about it?

RESPOND Go outside for a walk. It can be anywhere: around the neighborhood, the woods, around the parking lot of wherever you are meeting. Walk around in silence and find a comfortable place to sit in silence. Share with one another one time when each person felt especially close to nature. (Where were you? What were you doing?

Remember the specific experience: what did you see, hear, smell, touch? In what ways did this experience draw you closer to other people? To God?)

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Make sure to ask God to help one another to recognize and live in the beauty of God’s incredible creation. Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

SEEK If you are interested in talking about this some more and researching ways to honor God’s creation: □ Prepare a report on how well our congregation cares for the earth and bring it back to confirmation. □ Make a commitment to recycle & go get the bins you need to do that. □ Plant some spring flowers and learn how to take care of them. □ Walk, ride a bike, or rollerblade whenever you can instead of driving a car. □ Volunteer at the Food Bank Garden.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Who baptizes Jesus?

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CREATIVITY & WORK CHECK IN How are you today? When did you feel the most alive this week? When did you feel the life draining out of you this week?

SHARE Share what it is that we learned in class on Wednesday. Share any notes you may have taken with your Shepherd. Show your Shepherd what you created & why you created that particular thing.

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Luke 1: 39-55 What does this passage say to you? Have you ever thought about Mary, the mother of Jesus, as an artist? What about Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a worker?

RESPOND 1. In the Creativity chapter, in your “Way to Live” book, we read about how God ‘got his hands dirty first’ and how he invites us to do the same. On page 102 in the book there is an exercise To-Doodle. Go outside and find an object and try it. Talk about the object you used. It is amazing to think that the God that created the whole universe and everything in it (remember the Apostles’ Creed – We believe…

Maker of Heaven and Earth) thinks of us and knows us each one by name.

2. Remember what your five-year-old self wanted to be when you grew up? Share what that was and what influenced your ideas of work at the age of 5. Has that changed or is it the same?

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Make sure to ask God to help one another to recognize and live in the beauty of God‘s incredible creation. Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

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SEEK This week, or when you get a chance, watch the 1986 film "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off." Discuss what Ferris and his friends learn about life and work while skipping school. How would you spend a day off from school or work? This would be a great activity to do with another pair of Shepherd and Confirmand or more… have a Ferris Bueller party! Pop popcorn, have some drinks and have a great discussion after the movie! (FULL disclosure, this movie, although not by today’s standards, has some uncomfortable situations…however, it is a chance to really have to take a look at the long, loving, and real decisions that teenagers make and the consequences of those decisions.) (**This is completely optional! This movie is PG-13 **)

NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Which Gospel is written by a doctor?

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SHEPHERD NIGHT: PLAY

CHECK IN How are you? When did you feel the most alive this week? When did you feel life draining out of you this week? Did you have fun bowling? If you did not go, what did you do for fun this week?

SHARE What was a favorite toy of yours when you were little? Why was it special to you?

What are some of your favorite memories with that toy?

READ → Read aloud Matthew 18:1-5.

This time, when you read your passage of scripture, each of you take turns reading.

When the first person reads, the other simply closes their eyes and listens. Sit for a moment reflecting on the passage and how it sounded in your partner’s voice.

Then change partners, the one who read – listens, the one who listened – reads.

Again, sit for a moment in silence allowing your partners voice to resonate with the passage of scripture.

What does this passage mean to you? How does it relate to play? Do you ever feel like you are too grown up to play?

RESPOND In our book, Way to Live, we learn that when little kids play, they open themselves to learning important new things about the world. Do you think that is true? Do you think God approves of us playing? Why? Look up the following passages of scripture & think about what they say about play: □ 2 Samuel 6:5 □ Isaiah 55:12 □ John 15:10-11 □ Luke 15 □ Mark 10:14-15 Go to triadmomsonmain.com and pick a game to play together with another pair or with your families. And… have a great time laughing out loud! (I’ll ask you next Wednesday what game you played!!!)

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PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down. Make sure to ask God to help one another to live life with the innocence of a child this week. Take a moment to pray for each other (either aloud, or silently).

NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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The first Christian martyr YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 69 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

TIME & CHOICES CHECK IN How are you today? When were you happiest this week?

When were you the saddest?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. Share your calendar and your “Know Thyself” sheet, and any notes you may have taken with your Shepherd.

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Genesis 1: 1-5 What stands out to you in this passage of scripture? When does day begin? Does it begin at sundown? So, does our day start with rest? Would beginning each day at sundown change your attitude about the start and end of each day? How?

RESPOND In the TIME chapter we focused on our schedules and all that we have to do… what about Sabbath? What is Sabbath? (If you don’t know, look it up!) Do you know people who keep the Sabbath? Read Deuteronomy 5:12-15. What is radical about this commandment to keep the Sabbath day? Here are some radical ideas for marking the special-ness of Sabbath: □ Don’t buy stuff (making and selling it requires the work of other people; remember the STUFF chapter!) □ Don’t make to-do lists or do other things that get you thinking about work. □ Don’t work! (remember our WORK chapter?!) □ DO enjoy being part of creation. Go outside! Don’t pollute! Practice caring for creation. □ DO spend time with your family – without the TV/iPad/PlayStation on, just be together.

(Pick one or two of these and try to practice them this week.)

We are able to make so many choices during the day (which is the beauty of God’s gift of freewill to us!) but we need to remember that the choices we do make have a lasting impact on us. Every choice we make has a consequence – either positive or negative. Make an agreement with one another that you will spend 10 minutes every day for the next week in silence (but not asleep). You choose what to do in that time (read a book, take a walk, write a poem, pray, journal, etc). Keep a record of what you chose to do and what happened during that time.

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PRAY There are many prayers that we have from great spiritual mothers and fathers who have gone before us. Together, pray a portion of the Saint Patrick’s Breastplate prayer (a prayer that will help us to remember as Christians, we choose Christ.)

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead, an eye to watch, the might to stay, an ear to harken to my need; the wisdom of my God to teach, a hand to guide, a shield to ward; the word of God to give me speech, the heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me; Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in the quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

Amen.

SEEK If you are interested in doing more things that will remind you about TIME, try these things: 1. Rest your eyes. Napping in our culture is considered being unproductive (unless you are a person under the age of 3!) Commit to resting each day. Together you could make eye pillows and fill them with flax and lavender. You can buy flax seed and lavender in bulk at health food stores. Choose a fabric that is soothing and restful. Cut two pieces of fabric in the same shape (just big enough to lay across your eyes), put the right sides together, and sew around the edge, leaving an opening two inches wide. Turn the pillow inside out and fill it with the seed and blossoms. Stitch the opening shut. When you are ready to nap, simply lay your little pillow over your eyes. It will smell amazing and help to relax you. Imagine the fragrance is Christ, engulfing you and holding you as you nap.

2. Don’t wear your watch or look at your phone. Some weekend, try not to look at the clock all day long. When you go to church on Sunday, just go to worship and Sunday school. You’ll have no idea how long the service or class went – just be in it. At the end of the weekend call each other and talk about how it went. What did it feel like to not have to worry about time?.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA What does Simon Peter do for a living before he becomes an apostle?

He was a fisherman.

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GRIEVING

CHECK IN How are you today? Share one good thing that happened to you today. As you think about this week, where did you experience the ‘most life’ this week? Where did you feel the greatest sense of ‘loss’?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. Share your picture that you painted.

Tell about what you painted and why you chose the colors you did to express yourself.

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Psalm 22: 1-2, 11-19, 21b-24

RESPOND Have a discussion around these questions: □ With which line or image from the Psalm do you most identify? □ Have you ever lost a loved one? What emotions did you experience? □ In your own words, how do you describe how your body or spirit feels when you are depressed, in deep sadness, feel despair, or are threatened by others? □ Do you call out to anyone when you feel this way? To whom do you call? □ Why do you think Jesus remembered and said this Psalm as he was dying on the cross? Is it comforting to know that Jesus understands exactly how we feel when we are grieving? □ Describe a time when God was with you in despair or deep sadness. → Read together 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. What hope do we get from this passage?

PRAY A PRAYER FOR THOSE WE MISS

Each of you think of someone you grieve for in some way (because of death, moving away, growing apart, and so on.)

Think of one thing you miss about that person and one thing you still cherish.

Share these things with each other.

Pray for one another and for God to comfort you in your grief and help you to remember the joy!

SEEK An excellent book to read on dying and how we can learn to live with death is The Will of God by Leslie Weatherhead. I strongly recommend it!

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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Benjamin YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 77 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

SHEPHERD NIGHT: FUNERAL HOME CHECK IN How are you today? Where did you experience the greatest sense of God’s love this week? Where did you its absence?

SHARE What was one thing that you learned at the funeral home this week? What was one thing that you will remember and keep with you? Was there anything that the funeral director said that shocked you or scared you about death?

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: John 14: 1-14 Does this passage offer you hope?

RESPOND Use the space below to write some thoughts about what you hope your funeral might be like. Would you like it to be a celebration of life? Do you want certain scripture passages read? Certain songs sung? Would you like it to be at the church or at the funeral home? Do you think you might want to be buried or cremated?

When you are done, share your thoughts with your partner.

SEEK Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Take a moment to pray for each other, either aloud or silently.

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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Tax collector YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 79 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

FORGIVENESS & JUSTICE

CHECK IN How are you today? Can you name a moment this week that you received forgiveness? Where did you offer forgiveness? Where did you see injustice? Where did you see justice?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday.

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Matthew 7: 1-5.

What does this passage say to you? Take a piece of paper and make two columns headed by the words ‘speck’ and ‘log’. List examples of ‘specks’ we see in the eyes of others while having ‘logs’ in our own eyes. Think about this not only on a personal level – but also a national level.

→ Read aloud together the following passage: Micah 6: 6-8.

What does this passage say to you? How might you try to live out this scripture in your daily life?

RESPOND 1. In the chapter on FORGIVENESS we read about Denise, Eric, and Michele (in your “Way to Live” book pages 218 – 220). Discuss their stories using the following questions: □ How have relationships been damaged? □ What are obstacles to forgiveness? □ How can the relationship be healed?

2. In the chapter on JUSTICE we read about how justice (or injustice) is lived out in the world. Spend some time looking in magazines and newspapers. Put together a collage of current justice issues (i.e. racism, economics, gender justice, etc.)

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PRAY Pray together this prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi: Lord, make me a instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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TRUTH CHECK IN How are you today? For what moment this week are you most grateful?

For what moment this week are you least grateful?

SHARE Share what it is that we learned in class on Wednesday. Have you ever talked about TRUTH in this way? Have you ever really thought about why TRUTH is important?

We are told to tell the TRUTH all the time…what does that mean to you?

READ → Read aloud together the following passage: Exodus 1: 15-21 What does this passage say to you? How were these women serving a ‘higher standard of truth’? Also consider other contemporaries such as Anne Frank or Corrie Ten Boom who held a ‘higher standard of truth’ in order to shelter others from danger by withholding information from the Nazis.

RESPOND Truth is about living a life that is honest, even when no one else is watching.

Reflect on this observation by a popular sportscaster: “When I am calling a game, I want to be as transparent and uninhibited as possible.

That’s why I’m careful never to use profanity when I’m on the golf course. I’m afraid if I use foul language in private, even when playing alone, it will seep into my public sports casting as well”

PRAY Ask one another what your prayer needs are for this week and write them down.

Make sure to ask God to help one another to live life in truth and integrity this week. Looking for moments in which to speak the truth to others and to oneself.

Take a moment to pray for each other, either out loud or silently.

SEEK Spend a few moments watching TV together. Especially watch the commercials.

Advertising is the platform for much of the public testimony we experience today.

Talk about: □ What is being sold, and to whom? □ What is the ad saying or claiming in order to sell the product? □ What do you suspect this product will in fact do? □ What testimony does this ad give to the values and priorities of our society? □ In what sense does this ad “tell the truth” - and not?

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have _________________________________________________________________________________ about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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PRAYER CHECK IN How are you today? What are the things you are praying for this week?

Who are you praying for? What do you hope God will do with the prayers you are praying?

SHARE Share what we learned in class on Wednesday. The class shared the first prayers they ever learned. Ask your Shepherd what their first prayer was? Who taught it to them? Do they still pray it? Share what yours was.

READ → Read aloud together the following passages and talk about the prayers these people of the Bible are praying. What are they praying for and for whom? How did they pray? Did they use their bodies, voices, did they speak or not? How did God respond to their prayers? Do you recognize your own prayers in theirs? □ Exodus 32:7-14 (Moses) □ 1 Samuel 1:9-18 (Hannah) □ 2 Samuel 6:1-5 (David) □ Daniel 9:1-6, 17-19 (Daniel) □ Judges 5:1-9 (Deborah & Barak) □ Matthew 27:45-50 & Psalm 22:1-5 (Jesus & David)

RESPOND “Night Prayer” in A New Zealand Prayer Book (HarperCollins, 1997) includes this alternative version of the prayer Jesus taught: Read this prayer aloud.

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

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Now pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

[From the Ritual of the Former Methodist Church, #895 in The United Methodist Hymnal.]

How does the New Zealand prayer differ from the version of the Lord’s Prayer you know? How is it the same? What images of God does it evoke? Does it open the more familiar version to you in a new way?

PRAY INTERCESSORY PRAYER is praying on behalf of others. This means lifting someone else up to God when they are sick or going through a difficult situation. It is why we share joys and concerns with one another each week, so we can lift one another up in prayer!

Sometimes we don't know what to say when we pray. Sometimes our prayers sound more like sighs of disappointment or groans of frustration. We are promised in Romans 8:26 that the Holy Spirit intervenes on our behalf when we don't have the words to say to God; "In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don't know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans.

"SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES (OR SPIRITUAL PRACTICES) are other ways we can connect with God. Just like athletes work to discipline and train their physical bodies, Spiritual Disciplines help strengthen your spiritual life and bring you closer to God. Besides prayer, other spiritual disciplines include: □ Solitude and Silence: Solitude means spending time alone so that you can be with God without distraction. This may look like turning off our phones, spending time in nature, or going to a quiet place in your house. Practicing silence helps us to better listen to God's voice. □ Sabbath: Sabbath is actually a commandment from God where we are to stop working and take time to rest in God's presence. It could include setting aside time where you refrain from doing homework or chores to spend time with God. □ Fasting: To fast means to go without food or something else for a set period of time. Fasting takes our focus off of material things and helps us rely fully on God. You might fast from certain foods (like chocolate) or from certain habits (like logging on to social media). □ Worship: This is the practice of taking time to go to church and worship God alongside other Christians. □ Study: This means spending time studving the Bible or reading other Christian books to help you grow in your knowledge and faith.

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□ Meditation: Focusing on a certain passage of Scripture (like in Lectio Divina) or silently repeating a certain prayer over and over again are both forms of meditation. □ Accountability: Meeting with other Christians one-on-one or in a small group and challenging each other to become more like Christ in your words, thoughts, and actions.

A PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled a to console. to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE PRAYER Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Salvation is of the Lord.

Salvation is of the Christ.

May your salvation, Lord, be ever with Us. A PRAYER BY ST. TERESA OF AVILA Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you in the way you will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve you; let me live to you who are life itself. Amen.

SERENITY PRAYER BY REINHOLD NIEBUHR God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonable happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

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A PRAYER BY THOMAS MERTON My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and I in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

SEEK Spend the next week taking time to explore each of these prayer practices: □ Take a walk with Jesus.

Before you go for your walk, ask Jesus to walk with you and to quietly have a conversation with him as you go. It’s no different than taking a walk with any other friend! At the end of your walk, make sure to say thank you for your time together. □ → Read Matthew 5:43-48 (you could also read Luke 23:32-34).

Jesus calls us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” It is perhaps the most radical teaching and practice of Jesus. Consider those who you consider to be an ‘enemy’ as a nation, as a people, as a community. Then, think about who comes to mind when you think of your personal enemies. Now, imagine all those “enemies” you have thought about to be standing before you and pray for them. If you can’t find the words to pray, simply pray the Lord’s Prayer over those you have named. □ Start a prayer journal.

Find a beautiful journal that you love (you’ll be more likely to want to write in something you love). At the end of every day answer two questions: 1. When did I feel most close to God today?

2. When did I feel furthest from God today?

This prayer practice comes from one of my favorite books, Sleeping with Bread: Holding What Gives You Life, by Dennis, Sheila, and Matthew Linn. It is a sweet book that introduces us to the Awareness Examen (one of the Spiritual Practices we have practiced before in Confirmation.)

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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Turning water into wine.

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PRACTICE CHECK IN How are you today? What are some things you practice…baseball, piano, dance, drawing, singing, etc? How much time do you spend practicing each week?

Do you think practicing helps you do better?

SHARE We have spent the last five months together as a covenant community of faith. We have talked, learned, played, prayed, and reflected on so many things on this Confirmation journey. Of the topics we discussed (use your Journal & book to remember) what were your favorite? Why? What were your least favorite? What did you find to be the most challenging part of Confirmation?

READ Go back in your journal and book to the chapter on “Life.” How has your perspective on life changed during this process of Confirmation?

On your journal page for “Life” you were asked to read John 10:10b. Read it again.

How has this ‘abundant life’ that Jesus speaks of been realized in this Confirmation journey? How will you hold on to that joy and goodness as you move forward in faith?

RESPOND We have covered a wealth of topics in Confirmation, from the Apostles Creed, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Bodies & Creation, Food & Stuff, and Grief. What is the one practice that isn’t in this book that you wish was? Spend some time together creating a new chapter for our Confirmation process. Create a lesson and a journal page to go with it.

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PRAY Read together Psalm 103 as your prayer together: Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. Amen.

SEEK Spend some time considering Teresa of Avila’s (a Spanish mystic who lived about 500 years ago) statement: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion is to look out to the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which Christ is to bless all people now.”

How might this powerful sentiment help us to move forward practicing our faith in the days, weeks, and years ahead?

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NOTES You are invited to write down any thoughts or ideas or questions you might have about this week's lesson. This is your space to express whatever feelings you may be having.

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RANDOM BIBLE TRIVIA Where was Jesus born?

Bethlehem YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 93 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

CONFIRMATION RETREAT NOTES PILGRIMAGE

noun: a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion: any long journey, especially one undertaken as a quest or for a votive purpose, as to pay homage: verb (used without object), pilgrimaged, pilgrimaging. to make a pilgrimage.

A PILGRIM IS A PERSON WHO TRAVELS TO A SACRED PLACE A WANDERER “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him, but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ~ Luke 24:18-32 □ What has Confirmation meant to you? As a Confirmand? As a Shepherd? □ How has Confirmation been like a journey to you? How can you, as a Confirmand, parent, Shepherd, continue to grow in faith throughout the next part of your journey? □ During Confirmation, we talked about how our faith changes the way we live our lives. How will you live your life differently because of your faith in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? □ Together practice the Apostles’ Creed. Why is knowing this creed (our statement of faith) important to your faith? □ → Read this passage from Hebrews 11 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” □ What is faith? What do you hope for now and in the years to come? How is God calling you to live your faith?

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CONFIRMATION FINAL REVIEW YOUR NAME _____________________________________________ PARENTS INITIAL HERE AFTER YOU HAVE READ OVER THE REVIEW ___________ This review is designed to see how much of the material we have covered in class has stayed with you. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper or do it on the computer and print it out, staple it to this cover sheet. Work with your parents and Shepherd if it will help. All the answers can be found in the notes you have taken from class, the Bible, and your journal pages. Please make your papers neat and easily readable and please bring them with you to your Confirmation interview.

□ Tell us about your Shepherd. What was it like to have a special mentor over this journey? How do you plan to keep your relationship up with them over the next 5 years? □ What new insight to your faith did you gain by reading the Gospel of Luke?

What was one story that stood out to you the most? □ Why is the Apostles’ Creed so important to our faith? What does it teach us?

You were asked to memorize this important creed. Were you able to do that? □ What are some names that we call God? What are some ways that you experience God? One of the spiritual practices we learned in Confirmation was Lectio Divina. How does this practice help us to experience or hear God? □ Who is Jesus Christ? Why did you answer in this way? What are the four spiritual laws and how do they help you understand your relationship with Jesus and God? □ Who is the Holy Spirit? What are the three parts of the Trinity? □ We talked about the Bible as a story. What do you believe the Bible is? How did we get what we know as the Bible today? □ How do we honor our bodies as an act of faith? □ In our chapter on Stuff, you were challenged to give away ‘stuff’ that cluttered up your life. Did you do it? What was it like? How can you make sure to not let your stuff control you? □ Write a paragraph on what worship means to you. □ What did you learn about our responsibility to creation? Why is it important to honor the creation God has given us? □ What were the two sacraments we discussed during our first Confirmation retreat? How do these sacraments fit into your faith journey? □ What are spiritual disciplines (remember the different ways you reflected on scripture and different ways you prayed - look through your journal)? How do they help us encounter Christ? What is your favorite spiritual discipline that you learned during Confirmation?

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CONFIRMATION FINAL REVIEW □ What was your experience of the Jewish Temple? Write a paragraph about one thing you learned. □ What’s the difference between a job and a vocation? Why is this important as you consider what you might be when you grow up? □ Why is play so important to our life? Do you play? How can you make sure to keep play important as you get older? Did you have fun bowling with our shepherds? □ When we went over our calendars, many of you realized how busy you are.

How does time dictate your choices? How can we stop being so busy and make our lives a little more peaceful? □ How has your view of death been affected due to what you have learned about Christ? Write a paragraph about something you learned at the funeral home. □ We see a lot of injustice in the world - as Christians how should we respond to this? Forgiveness is one of the things that Jesus calls us to offer people who have hurt us. Do you find it easy to forgive others? □ We are told to tell the TRUTH all the time…what does that mean to you? □ How do you pray? Why is praying so important to your relationship with God? □ Why is it important to practice? How can you practice your faith? □ How was the Confirmation retreat to Blowing Rock? How is your faith like a journey? What was it like to take the pilgrimage with your shepherd? □ Have you said “yes” to Jesus? If so, what does that mean to you? Have you already or would you like to receive him as your Savior? □ Would you like to confirm your faith and be received as a professing member of Centenary United Methodist Church? Please answer all these questions separately.

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NOTES Before your interview...what questions might you have?

Please use this page to write your questions so we can discuss during your interview.

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RESOURCES & REFERENCES The following is an extensive list of books and videos used in this curriculum.

1. William H. Willimon, Making Disciples Coordinator’s Guide, (Logos Productions, 1989) 2. William H. Willimon, Making Disciples Confirmand’s Journal, (Logos Productions, 1989) 3. William H. Willimon, Making Disciples Mentor’s Guide, (Logos Productions, 1989) 4. Follow Me: Student Magazine, (Cokesbury, 1993) 5. Michael Yaconelli, Dangerous Wonder the Adventure of Childlike Faith, (Navepress, 1998) 6. Dennis Linn, Sheila F. Linn, & Matthew Linn, Sleeping with Bread, Holding What Gives You Life, (Paulist Press, 1995) 7. Richard J. Foster & James Bryan Smith, Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups, (HarperSanFrancisco, 1993) 8. Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, (Barbour Publishing, Inc.) 9. Marjorie J. Thompson, Soul Feast An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, (Westminster John Knox Press, 1995) 10. Peter R. Monkres and R. Kenneth Ostermiller, The Rite of Confirmation Moments When Faith is Strengthened, (United Church Press, 1995) 11. Mark D. Taylor, The Complete Book of Bible Literacy, (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1992) 12. Don & Katie Fortune, Discover Your God – Given Gifts, (Chosen Books, 1987) 13. Bill Bright, Have You Heard About the Four Spiritual Laws?, (New Life Publications, 1994) 14. The United Methodist Hymnal, (The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989) 15. Patricia Hendricks, Hungry Souls, Holy Companions Mentoring a New Generation of Christians (Morehouse Publishing, 2006) 16. Re:Form (Sparkhouse Publishing, 2010) 17. Colaborate Methodist Confirmation (Sparkhouse Publishing, 2016) 18. practicingourfaith.org

NOW WHAT? SO YOU GOT CONFIRMED...

AS A CONFIRMED MEMBER OF OUR CONGREGATION, YOU HAVE TAKEN A VOW TO FAITHFULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE CHURCH'S MINISTRIES THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR GIFTS, YOUR SERVICE. AND YOUR WITNESS.

PRAYERS

WITNESS

PRESENCE

VOWS OF MEMBERSHIP GIFTS

SERVICE

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PRAYERS WHY?

HOW?

□ Honest Expression to God (thanks, praise. contession. ete □ Position of Surrender □ Invitation to hear from God □ Opportunity to support needs of others (especially when there Is no tangible way to serve)

□ Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) □ Breath Prayers □ Lectio Divina □ lgnatian Prayer of Examen □ Pray with your Body

TO CONSIDER □ → Read a Book of Common Prayer □ Find a Prayer Partner □ Commit to continue to pray for your Shepherd. □ Take a Prayer Walk □ Write names, things, places, needs praises on a stack of notecards and rotate through them during your intentional prayer time

@ CUMC □ Take note of prayer joys and concerns lifted at Sunday school or youth group and pray for them □ Join our CUMC Lay Prayer Team □ Pray over our worship bulletin, especially the annoucement section, that people might come to know Jesus through our church □ As you scroll, through social media, use it as a chance to pray for the people you follow

□ Journal your prayers

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I am deeply convinced that the necessity of prayer, and topray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire forGod as on God's desire for us.

It is God's passionate pursuit of us that calls us to prayer.

— Henri Nouwen

YOUTH CONFIRMATION | 103 | CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST

PRESENCE

Allowing ourselves to see and be seen, to know and be known.

WHY?

HOW?

□ God desired for us to be in community

□ Invite someone to go on a walk.

Payattention to what you see and experience.

□ Loneliness is an epidemic and no one should do life alone

□ Practice holy listening

□ Presence cultivates empathy

□ Hold space for others □ Participate in the life of our church □ Show un and cheer on the people in your circles (go to their games, plays, etc.)

TO CONSIDER

@ CUMC

□ Pay a visit to an elderly community

□ Attend services and programming; Connect with our congregation as you are able

□ → Read "Between the Listening and the Telling" by Yaconelli and Lamott □ → Read "Wholehearted Faith" by Rachel Held Evans

□ Grab coffee with someone new and listen as they share their story □ Join CUMC's Hospitality team □ Ask Rev. Craig Ford to connect you with our homebound congregation and make a visit

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"More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress.

But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn't be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you donot simply like them, but truly love them."

— Henri Nouwen

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GIFTS WHY?

HOW?

□ God has uniquely gifted us to contribute to the Body of Christ

□ Collect your spare change and use it to be a changemaker in your area

□ It is our calling as Christians to give out of the overflow of what God has given to us.

□ Adopt a Blessing Box in your neighborhood and make sure it stays stocked □ Write a note of encouragement to someone □ Read 1 Peter 4:10-11

TO CONSIDER □ Take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory help you Identity and utilize your gifts □ Reflect on areas of abundance in your own life and consider how vou might use your "more than enough" to provide for someone else's lack. □ Read "The Five Love Languages for Teenagers" by Gary Chapman as a means of understanding yourself, the language you speak, and the languages others speak

@ CUMC □ Join our Youth Leadership Team and share your gifts with us! □ Help at Love Thy Neighbor □ Volunteer with our Children's Ministry □ Spend a Saturday morning or a vacation day at the Food Bank Garden heloing to harvest the crops

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"They reminded me that Christianity isn't meant to simply be believed; it's meant to be lived, shared, eaten, spoken, and enacted in the presence of other people.

They reminded me that, try as I may, I can't be a Christian on my own.

I need a community. I need the church."

— Rachel Held Evans

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SERVICE

"... doing good of every possible sort- as far as possible, to all people"

— John Wesley

WHY?

HOW?

□ Because Christ's humility compels us! □ To honor and worship God

□ → Read Phillipians 2 □ Commit to to volunteering □ Mow a neighbors lawn

□ To exercise our role as one part of God's whole body

□ Offer to take out the trash, clean out the car (without being asked)

□ To share God's love with the world

□ Prepare a meal for your family and your parents a night off □ Open the door for others!

TO CONSIDER

@ CUMC

□ Pay a visit to an elderly community

□ Attend services and programming; Connect with our congregation as you are able

□ → Read "Between the Listening and the Telling" by Yaconelli and Lamott

□ Grab coffee with someone new and listen as they share their story

□ → Read "Wholehearted Faith" by Rachel Held Evans

□ Join CUMC's Hospitality team □ Ask Rev. Craig Ford to connect you with our homebound congregation and make a visit □ Go on a summer mission trip

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"One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasionof serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he receives as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us."

— John Wesley

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WITNESS WHY?

HOW?

□ The way we live and express ourselves shows other the grace and love of God.

□ Acting with Integrity at school and work

□ God commands us to love God and love our neighbor

□ Honoring and advocating for the needs of others □ Showing compassion and forgiveness, even when Its difficult □ Use your witness to help those onpressed, vulnerable, or marginalized □ Be kind, always

TO CONSIDER

@ CUMC

□ → Read "Iresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne

□ Share vour stories of God's faithfulness Youth Group

□ Listen to "The Bible Binge" podcast

□ Invite friends to hang out at our youth events. All are welcome!

□ Choose music you listen to to be music that glorifies God and fills your heart with love

□ Consider volunteering on our communications team to help us share stories of all God is doing in our congregation.

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"You can bear witness to the power of love.

It is not for you to know the future, or to be ascendant or in power, or to control things.

It is for you to be a witness to love even when things are not restored.

This is not second best: it is true power, whose waves ripple through the world.

The center of the universe is not on the throne.

It is in vour heart.

Receive love.

Trust the power.

Bear witness.

— Steve Garnass Holmes

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“With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ.

We will surround these persons With a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others.

We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life.”

(From the Baptismal Covenant of the United Methodist Church)

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