Youth Confirmation Preparation: AParent/GuardianGuide 2022-2023
1| Confirmationis... 2| ElementsoftheProcess 3| JourneyingwithYour Confirmand 4| SelectingaMentor 5| AdditionalRequirements/ Opportunities 6| Outreach:FaithinAction 7| ContactInformation 8| Notes&GoogleClassroom 9| CalendarofEvents
Accordingly,Confirmationhasbeenincreasinglyunderstoodintermsofamature,public reaffirmationoftheChristianfaithandthebaptismalpromises.Confirmationisnot graduationfromfaithformation,butrathermarksthebeginningofmatureparticipationinthe missionandministriesofthechurch.
TheEpiscopalChurch’stheologyofConfirmationhascontinuedtoevolvealongwithits understandingofBaptism ConfirmationisnolongerseenasthecompletionofChristian initiation/membership,norisConfirmationaprerequisiteforreceivingHolyEucharist(or Communion) BaptismisnowunderstoodasfullinitiationbywaterandtheHolySpiritinto Christ'sbodytheChurch(BCP,p.298).
(TheBookofCommonPrayer,hereafterBCP,p 860)
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Asacramentis"anoutwardandvisiblesignofaninwardspiritualgrace."Episcopalians recognizesevensacramentalrites:thetwogreatonesbeingHolyBaptismandHolyEucharist. Individualswhowerebaptizedatanearlyagearegiventhechancetomakeamature,public affirmationoftheirfaith,recommitthemselvestotheresponsibilitiesoftheirbaptism,and receivealayingonofhandsbyabishopatConfirmation(BCP,p.412).Baptismprecedes confirmationforyouth;butasanadult,baptism,andconfirmationcanoccuratthesametime.
Confirmationis...
asacrament,orasacramentalrite,inwhichthecandidates“expressamature commitmenttoChrist,andreceivestrengthfromtheHolySpiritthroughprayer andthelayingonofhandsbyabishop”.
AnOverviewofConfirmationintheEpiscopalChurch
BeforeyoureceivethesacramentofConfirmation,it’simportant,andrequiredbychurch canons,that“confirmands”(someoneseekingConfirmation)gothroughapreparationprocess PreparationforconfirmationallowscandidatestodiscoverthemeaningofChristian commitmentintheirlives,andexplorewaysthattheirChristiancommitmentcanbelivedout. Thecandidatesreaffirmtheirrenunciationofevil,andrenewtheircommitmenttoJesusChrist. TheyreaffirmthepromisesmadeforthemattheirinfantBaptism.Thosepresentinthe congregationalsopromisetodoallintheirpowertosupportthecandidatesintheirlifein Christ.
Thedesignteamis:JillBonn,LeslieLewis,AlisonHastings,JonesyLerch,andEmilyGiven.
ElementsoftheProcess
YouthMinistryEngagement
GroupLearning
Confirmationistrulyawholefamilyendeavor Parentsarethe#1influenceontheir children'sfaithformation Howyoutalkaboutthisexperiencematters Restassured,the churchdoesn'texpectyoutonavigatethisroadalone Wearehere Makethemostofthis yeartogether-attendchurchregularly,prayatmeals,andtalkaboutwhatisbeinglearnedin thesessions. Considerhowyoumightaddprayer,study,andserviceintoyourownschedule.
Beingofservicetothechurchandthewider communityisthetraitofagrowingfaith. Confirmands,families,andmentorswillhave opportunitiestoputtheirfaithintoactionthrough serviceattheSt David'sFairandwithother outreachpartners Seepage6formoredetails
MiddleSchoolYouthGroup(Grade68)meetsonSundayeveningsfrom6:307:30pm intheYouthLounge.Weaskconfirmandstocheckitoutatleasttwiceinthefall. Elliot VanHoy,thenewDirectorofYouthMinistry,isexcellentandhascreatedamuchneeded senseofcommunityforyouthatSt.David'sChurch. YouthChoirisanotheroptionfor meaningfulconnection. Visitstdavidschurch.org/musicformoredetails.
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andthe movementof theHoly Spirit!
Theteachingteamis: TheRev W FrankAllen,TheRev JosephA Szczerba,Jr, ElliotVanHoy,andEmilyGiven
Mentorship
FamilySupport
Seethementorinformationpage4formoredetails
SelectingamentorisanimportantpartoftheConfirmationprocess. Thisrelationshipis nurturedthroughparticipationinplannedactivitiesprogrammedintothecalendaraswell asindependentmeetupsfordiscussion,service,andfaithsharing. Anidealmentoris someonelocalwhotakesaninterestinthefaithlifeoftheconfirmandandiswillingtoshare theirownfaithstories. Thementorshiprelationshipworksbestwhentheconfirmand selectsthementor,withparentalsupport.
Service
Discoveringandstrengtheningfaithisbestdoneinrelationship.Throughouttheyear, confirmandsinteractwithclergy,staff,andlayleaderstoexploretopicscentraltofaithandlife. Classesareheldapproximatelytwicepermonth. Thestyleoflearningisactiveandparticipatory. Seethescheduleonpage9
3 JourneyingwithYour Confirmand Empoweryourconfirmandinthementorselection process Listentowhattheyarelookingforinamentor andassisttheminextendingtheinvitationtothatperson themselves Makefaithsomethingyoutalkaboutinyourhome ShareyourunderstandingofGod/Jesus/faith/church andasktohearmoreabouttheirs Worshiptogether Ifyoualreadyattendchurch regularly,wonderful Keepcoming!Ifyouareless regularinyourattendance,thisisagreatopportunityto reengagewithbeinganactivepartoftheworshiping community Gatheringtogethermatters Findwaystoincorporateprayerintoyourfamilylife Easywaysincludemealtime,bedtime,andbeforea sportingeventoractivity Evenaquickcarpoolline blessingcanchangethewholeday! Nurtureyourownfaithsoyourconfirmandseesthata relationshipwithGodisalife-longandlife-widejourney Talkaboutyourdoubtsandquestions Forgingan authenticfaithexpressionisessentialtoagrowing relationshipwithGod Whendoingnormaldailycheckins,considerasking questionslike, 'WheredoyouseeGodinthat?"or"How doesthatlineupwithyourfaith?" Holyconversations don'tneedtobebig,heavy,orscary! BesureeveryonehastheirownBible(andreadit) There isadailylectionary(setofreadings)fortheEpiscopal Churchthatcanbefoundatwwwdailyoffice2019com (Don'tbeconfusedbythetitle. Itiscurrent.) Checkyour appstoreforotheroptionsfordailyscripturereading ThereisoftenastrongdesiretogetConfirmation"done".As parents,wemaythinkitensuresthatourchildrenconsider themselves"Christian" Itisrighttoplaceapriorityonitbut whatismoreimportantisthatConfirmationisintegrated intothelifeofyourchild andyourfamilyasawhole Asyouenterthisyeartogether...
(sometimescalledasponsor)whoiswillingtosupportthem throughouttheConfirmationprocess Theintentionisto provideaspacefortheconfirmandtosharetheir experiencesandfosterarelationshipwithanotherperson offaith Thebestwaytodothisistoconnectinpersonina consistentway Duringthesemeetings,weencourageconfirmandstotell theirmentorabouttheirConfirmationexperience,ask theirmentorabouttheirfaithlife/spiritualjourney,and discussanyquestionsconfirmandsmayhave Themeetings aremeanttoberelaxedandfun perhapsmeetingfora cupofcoffeeortogeticecream Attendingworshipor participatinginoutreachtogetheraretwootherwaysto meaningfullyfostertheconfirmandmentorrelationship Anidealmentorissomeonewho... Ifyouwouldlikeassistancewithselectingamentor,please contactEmilyGiven egiven@stdavidschurch.org. Forinformationonhowtofilloutclearances,pleasevisit www.stdavidschurch.org/getinvolved. Forquestions,pleasecontact clearances@stdavidschurch.org.
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Eachconfirmandwillselectanon-parentadultmentor
SelectingaMentor
willencourageyourconfirmandtoexpresstheirfaith openly. listensandrecognizesthattheyarestillgrowinginthe faith,ratherthanan“Ihavealltheanswers”kindof adult. worshipsatSt.David'sChurchoranotherlocalfaith community.
pm)andConfirmationservice(June4,11:30am)
isinterestedinestablishingameaningfulrelationship withtheconfirmandthatcouldextendbeyond confirmationpreparation. iscommittedtoprayingfortheirconfirmandandall whoarepartoftheConfirmationprocess. iswillingtosubmitthenecessarybackgroundchecks andcompletethesafeguardingonlinevideoseries. isabletoattendtheConfirmationVigil(June3,6:00
AdditionalRequirements/Opportunities
Confirmationandschool servicerequirementshavea naturalpartnershipintheir opportunityforcommunity service.Gettingconnectedwith anoutreachministrythrough St David'scanaddadeeper dimensiontotheexperienceof servingothers Inplaceofan inward-facingministryofthe church,youmaychooseto exploreoutreachoptionsasa waytoexpressfaithinaction. Seepage6formoredetails.
Thissummer,St.David'swelcomedanew(andamazing!)memberoftheministry team.ElliotVanHoyistheDirectorofYouthMinistryandheislookingforwardto connectingwiththeconfirmands(andyou).Elliotwillserveaspartoftheteaching team.Wealsowanttoencourageparticipationinyouthgroup.Pleaseplanfor yourconfirmandtoattendtwiceinthefall Friendsarealwayswelcome
Oneofthebestwaystofeelconnectedtothechurchisthroughministry participation. DuringtheNovember13thsession,avarietyofministrieswillbe introducedandexplained. Theintentionisforeachconfirmandto"tryon"a ministryfortheyear. Themostcommonoptionsareacolyte(carrytorch), crucifer(carrycross),lector(reader),usher,greeter,andaltarguild(setup/cleanup). Begintotalkaboutwhichministryyourconfirmandmightbeinterestedinand observethatministrybeforemakingaselection.EmilyGivenwillsendanemail whenitisdecisionmakingtime
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Makearrangementsforyourconfirmandtovisitthefaithcommunityofafriend.Itisagreatopportunityfor youtogoasafamilyandthentalkabouthowthecommunitiesaresimilar/differenttoSt.David's. Thisfaith communityneednotbeChristian. Alongwithregularattendancefortheprogramsessionsanddevelopingaconsistentconfirmandmentorrelationship, pleaseplanto:
ElliotVanHoy DirecrorofYouthMinistry evanhoy@stdavidschurchorg
St.John’sFeedingMinistry-CookatHome(Anytime)
St.Gabriel’sFeedingMinistryandClothingCloset (Saturdays,9:30am-12:30pm)
Formoreopportunities,visit stdavidschurch.org/outreach orcontactLeslieLewis brantpoint1@msncom
Casseroles(summer)orsoup(winter)canbemadeatanytimeanddeliveredtothe freezersinSt.David'skitchen.Thechurchkitchencanbereservedifyouwouldlike togatherinalargergroup.
Outreach FaithinAction
RedeemedforaCauseandNoMoreSecrets(Anytime)
ProjectEnsonga
SingleEventOpportunity:
Asafamilyorwithagroupofconfirmands,therecipescanbefound stdavidschurch.org/outreach/communityministries.
Contact:LeslieRoy-lroy456@comcast.net
Contact:AlisonHastingsamchastings@yahoo.com
FamilyPromiseoftheMainline(3/1217,5/2128,7/308/6,10/1522)
Contacts: LeslieRoy-lroy456@comcastnet,EileenKraut-eileenkraut@yahoocom
FeminineHygieneProductCollectionandDelivery
Contact:VincentDixonvincedixon@me.com
FoodCollectionandDeliverytoSt.Mary'sChurch,Chester(anytime)
Contact:LizzyWhiteelizabethmhlwhite@gmail.com
Contact:LeslieLewisbrantpoint1@msn.com
St.John’sFeedingMinistrywithFamilyMinistry (FirstSunday,9:30aminNorristown)
ExploringaministryfortheyearandbeyondStDavid'sisgratefultopartnerwith anumberofministrypartnerslocally,nationally,andglobally.Hereisasmallsample ofonesyourconfirmandmightconsidergettinginvolvedwithduringtheyear.
St.David’sChurchWorkDay(MayTBA)
MakeSustainableFeminineHygieneKits
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Contact:LeslieLewisbrantpoint1@msncom
St.Gabriel’sChurchMittenTreeDelivery&MealPrep(JanuaryTBA)
Contact:LeslieRobertshawlrobertshaw@stdavidschurchorg
OngoingOpportunity:
Setupsleepingareas,cook,orplaygameswithchildrenstayingatStDavid's.
DuringtheNovember13session,therewillbeanopportunitytohearmoreabout theseoutreachministries.Weaskthatconfirmandscommittooneministryonan ongoingbasisorexperienceavarietyofthreeoptionsoverthecourseoftheprogram year.Moredetailstofollow.
7 TeachingTeam TheRev.W.FrankAllen Rector fallen@stdavidschurch.org 610.688.7947x217 EmilyGiven ConfirmationCoordinator/ DirectorofChristianFormation egiven@stdavidschurch.org 610.688.7947x216 TheRev.ThomasSzczerba,Jr. AssociateRector tszczerba@stdavidschurch.org 610.688.7947x303 ElliotVanHoy DirectorofYouthMinistry evanhoy@stdavidschurch.org 610.688.7947x220 DesignTeam JillBonn EmilyGiven AlisonHastings LeslieLewis JonesyLerch ChurchAddress: 763South Valley ForgeRoad Wayne,PA19087 stdavidschurch.org Contact Information
8 Notes GoogleClassroom ConfirmationdocumentswillbeavailableonGoogleClassroom Aninvitationwillbesentviaemail. Theclasscodeis:pb3kcvy EmilyGivenwillserveasthe ConfirmationCoordinatorthis year. Pleasecontactherwithany questionsorifyouneedadditional information. Sheishappyto connectwithyou! EmilyGiven DirectorofChristianFormation egiven@stdavidschurchorg
Strengthen,OLord,yourservantswithyourHolySpirit;
stdavidschurch.org/lifeevents/confirmation/
empowerthemforyourservice;sustainthemallthedaysoftheirlives.Amen. BCP,page418
