What is “Confirmation?”

Confirmation is a time when a student confirms the faith that was begun in them at their baptism. It is a time when a student takes ownership of the faith that was passed down to them from their parents.

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Why are we at Trinity talking with and preparing parents instead of just teaching students directly?

God has always designed for faith to be passed down from one generation to the next. God speaks to His people in Deuteronomy 6: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Martin Luther understood this direction from God to His people and so he wrote the Small Catechism as a tool to help parents teach their children. He even frames most of the lessons with the direction: “As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.”

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How do we equip and prepare parents?

Pastor Duerr will meet with parents every week to review previous week’s lessons, and to present the material for the next week’s lesson. During the meeting time each week, parents will be able to ask questions and get clarification about the lessons.

Then parents will spend time developing ways they can teach the lesson in their own home, with an eye towards living differently as a response to this information.

It is our goal to equip and prepare parents to be effective in the task of teaching their children. It is our sincere hope that parents will feel comfortable speaking with their children about faith and the Christian life. If parents do not feel comfortable, we wish to take the time to work with them to help them get to a place where they’ll enjoy such times of study and growth with their children.

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What do we teach?

The six chief parts of Luther’s catechism: The Ten Commandments, The Apostle’s Creed, The Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. We will also explore the Biblical narrative and understanding as well as living a Godly life.

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When can I start the Confirmation Program?

Families can begin the Confirmation Program as early as 6th grade, but they are welcome to start any time after that as well.

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What is expected?

The Confirmation Program is divided into 10 modules. A student is eligible to be confirmed once his/her family has successfully completed all 10 modules. The modules may be completed in any order (you do not have to take module 1 in order to take module 2).

 

The 10 Modules are:

1. Jesus and the Gospels

2. Old Testament Overview

3. New Testament Overview

4. The Ten Commandments: Part 1

5. The Ten Commandments: Part 2

6. The Creeds and the Trinity

7. The Sacraments and Confession

8. Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

9. Godly Stewardship and Life

10. Worship Engagement

 

Parents are expected to attend the sessions and families are expected to worship together.

Modules will be offered throughout the year and your family is able to work through them at a pace that is helpful for your family.

Module 10 (Worship Engagement) encourages the worship life of your family. Requirements for Module 10 can be found here.

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Early Communion

At Trinity it has become our practice that students are invited to receive the gifts given in this meal after they have been instructed on the sacrament of the altar.

This will continue to be the case, as the Sunday following the end of Module 7 students that have completed the module will be invited to come to the Communion Table to the receive the meal for the first time.

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Confirmation interviews

Once a family has completed all 10 modules, the student will schedule a Confirmation Interview with one of the Pastors.

After successfully completely the Confirmation Interview, the student is ready to be Confirmed.

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Confirmation Dates

We will have two special opportunities for students to be confirmed each year: Reformation Sunday and Pentecost Sunday. Reformation: October 30th, 2022, Pentecost: May 28th, 2023.

Please do not plan your Confirmation Sunday until after your family has successfully completed all Modules and scheduled the Confirmation Interview.

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***The success of the lessons and discussion in the faith formation of the student is ***

very dependent upon the time that the parent chooses to invest with the student.

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