Links to sign-ups:
Confirmation - 6th - 8th Grade
At Grace, we are committed to helping our young people to understand that their faith matters! We want them to know and care about their peers, and build relationships with their peers and others in our faith community. Through a combination of once-a-month day retreats and overnight retreats, our goal is to invite them to wonder about and grow in their understanding of Lutheran theology, engage with Bible stories, and be able to draw parallels to their lives today.
Dates and descriptions of the retreats and responsibilities are listed on this page. If you have questions, or would like additional information, please contact Lisa Sampson, Director of Faith Formation.
Confirmation 2023-2024 Orientation - Sunday, Sept. 17th Parents and Youth
All-Class Retreats
Oct. 7th-8th at Grace, Saturday, 4 pm to Sunday, 3 pm
Feb. 3rd-4th Offsite—TBD. Saturday, 4 pm to Sunday, 4 pm
$100 (approx.). Scholarships are available.
6th Grade Retreat
Sunday, January 7th, 9:30 am - 3pm at Grace Safe and Healthy Relationships
7th-8th Grade Retreat
Saturday, January 13, 8:30 am - Monday, January 15, 1:00 pm
$250 includes transportation. Scholarships are available.
Held at Camp Wapogassett, Amery, WI
The Abundant Life Retreat is aimed at helping youth understand how their faith informs their relationships, sexuality, identity, and place in community. This is a required retreat for all 7th and 8th graders in confirmation. Each year the topic rotates between Faith & Sexuality, Faith & Healthy Relationships, and Faith & Social Justice. This year we will focus on Faith & Healthy Relationships. With sex educator and parent coach Karin Halloway Egge as our guide, we will explore what Jesus said when he told his disciples that he came so that we might have an abundant life! (John 10:10) The retreat is a collaborative effort between multiple Lutheran Churches in the Twin Cities and is led by a trained sex educator and local pastors, along with adult chaperones from each church.
Worship Response Forms and Service Projects
A total of ten worship notes and ten service projects are due each year. See the information to the right for more information!
Monthly Meets
Sundays: 9:30 am—3 pm
Dates: Main Focus:
November 12th Lutheran Identity
December 3rd New Testament
March 3rd Old Testament
April 21st Big Questions
Schedule:
9:30 am - worship with family or sit with other classmates
10:30 am - attend Sunday Forum/help out with young kids
11:30 am - lunch in Koinonia Hall
12:15 pm - Large Group Gathering
12:45 pm - Small Group Work
1:30 pm - Game
1:45 pm - Break
2:00 pm - Large Group
2:30 pm - Small Group
Lenten Mentors
Each Confirmand will engage with an adult mentor during Lent. The mentor will meet with their youth following Lenten worship services to discuss questions provided for them.
Summer Camp
Each Confirmation student should attend summer camp at least once during their three years of Confirmation. We encourage you to attend every summer! You can choose between Summer Festival Camp or you may also attend a Bible Camp of your choosing.
Summer Festival Camp
Sunday, July 14th-Wednesday, July 17th 2024 (completed grades 6-8)
Affirmation of Baptism
8th Grade
May 5th, 2024
9:30 am Worship
Why innovate our Confirmation Ministry? Pr. Sarah and Lisa explain in the video below:
Dates in order:
Sept. 17 - orientation
Oct. 7-8 - retreat all classes
Nov. 12 - monthly meet
Dec. 3 - monthly meet
Jan. 7 - 6th grade retreat
Jan. 13-15 - 7th-8th grade retreat
Feb. 3-4 - retreat all classes
Feb. 21-Mar 20 - Wednesdays in Lent - meet with mentor
March 3 - monthly meet
April 21 - monthly meet
May 5 - Affirmation of Baptism Sunday - 8th graders
A total of ten (10) Worship Response Forms are due each year. These can be done on Sunday mornings or during Lent. You may also watch online. Forms are available at Grace as you enter the Sanctuary or click on the box above.
Service Projects - ten are due each year and there are three categories or types of projects to choose from. The categories are based on promises made at your baptism! Each confirmand needs to do at least one in each category with the other eight in whatever category you choose. Please fill out a response form after completing each service project. Forms can be found in the Sanctuary with the Worship Response Forms or click on the box above.
Track 1 – Proclaim Christ through word and deed.
Serve at Grace by helping in the Nursery or The Neighborhood on Sunday mornings, being an usher or helping in the sound booth during worship, greeting people, play an instrument for worship, serve communion, help at the Craft Fair, etc.
Track 2 – Care for others and the world God made.
Volunteer at a care facility, clean up your neighborhood or a park, serve at a local food shelf, or with an organization such as Feed My Starving Children.
Track 3 – Work for justice and peace.
Write state or local politicians about an issue that you feel strongly about, find an advocacy center and volunteer, choose a young-adult book about social justice, read it together as a family and discuss, participate in a march, come up with a plan to work towards a solution to create justice and peace in your community.