Information Meeting Dates Set
November 11th & December 2nd @ 11am
Confirmation Class 2008
Eastminster Church offers Confirmation Class to all youth who are in 8th grade or high school. One of the goals of confirmation is to answer the questions about what it means to join the church so each youth can make an informed decision. By creating a class structure that allows youth to answer the questions they may have, youth can then decide whether they are ready to become active members of Eastminster Church. Small groups, attending worship together and classroom work are all part of the path each youth takes in confirmation.
This class has been designed and set up to be a very interactive and supportive for each of the youth who participate in the class. The work load required is primarily focused on their statement of faith but there are some other requirements which are listed below. Each class takes a different path during confirmation and the class is designed to adjust to the different classes questions about faith, while teaching the core information about what it means to be a member of the Presbyterian Church.
FAQ's about confirmation:
1) When does it meet? Confirmation meets on Sunday mornings starting in January and continuing through April. Each Sunday of Confirmation class starts with the youth attending the 8:30am worship service, continues with small group class time at 9:30am and finishes up with classroom time at 11:00am (ending at 12 noon). There is a break from 10:30am till 11:00am to join with the rest of the church in fellowship.
2) How long is the class? The class is about 14 weeks long and meets almost every week. We do take off for the Ski Trip weekend and also Easter, but most Sundays the class will meet. Finalized schedules are provided to each class the first week.
3) Are there any other time requirements? Yes, there will be 2 additional times you will meet as a group. These activities are designed to bond the group together. There will also be various service projects offered to help meet service project requirements for the class.
4) What are service projects and when do they happen? Service projects are set up as part of the youth group activities during the year. They could take place on Sunday nights during youth group, Sunday mornings or during the week. Each confirmand is required to complete 4 service projects and write them up (forms will be given) as part of the class.
5) Are there any other requirements? Each Confirmand is required to write up 8 sermon outlines (forms will be given). Also, each confirmand must write a statement of faith that will be read as part of a meeting with session. Confirmands are expected to participate in each of the Sundays that confirmation meets, though we understand that some will have scheduling conflicts (we can work around those as best as possible). There will also be some homework assignments to assist with classwork.
6) What are small groups all about? Small groups were designed to take the place of mentors and help bond the class in a unique way. Instead of using one on one mentors with each confirmand, small groups are designed to help create a very interactive and supportive enviroment for each youth. By using the smalls groups, youth can learn from 2 other adults, 1 other youth leader (a former confirmand who is in high school) and each other. This small group portion of class has become one of the favorite parts of confirmation. Each youth gets to know their classmates, learn their faith journies and struggles and it becomes a support system as they grow in faith.
7) Who teaches the class? Small groups are lead by 2 adults in the church and a high school youth who has been through the program and is mature in their faith. Class time is led by Rob Alkhas (Director of Youth Ministry) and Marge Smith who will be starting her 3rd year working with the program.
8) What books does each youth need? Each youth will be given a book called "Can we talk?" which answers all the questions the Presbyterian Church feels a youth should know. We do not require any memorization of the answers but rather want to show youth where to find the answers about the Presbyterian Church. Also, each youth will be given a Bible that is theirs to keep along with the class room book. By having the Bible, "Can we Talk" book and taking the class, we hope each youth will know how to find the answers to most of the questions they will have.
9) Do my parents have to be a member of Eastminster Church to participate in confirmation? NO. This class is open to anyone who is in 8th grade or high school whether they go to Eastminster Church or not. If you are feeling called to participate in confirmation with us, you can whether your parents are members or not.
10) Do I have to be Baptized in order to join the class? No, but you do have to be baptized to get confirmed. What this means is that if you decide to get confirmed, you will be baptized before you do get confirmed. Usually, the baptism happens as part of the confirmation service.
11) How do I find out more information or how to sign up? Contact Rob Alkhas and he will help you from there. Class sign ups will start in November of 2007 for the class in 2008. Those meetings are to update any information and offically sign up for the class. One parent is required to attend the meeting with the youth in november. If interested, please contact Rob so he can make you aware of meeting dates.
If you have any other questions about Confirmation at Eastminster or need more information, please contact Rob Alkhas in the church office (rob@epcyork.org).