Dear Eighth Grade Students and Parents,
Welcome to the Confirmation Journey! Confirmation literally means to “Make firm!" We approach this time as a family affair, and we have already been praying for each of you! As we travel through the next several months together, we will explore the baptismal vows proclaimed over each student as an infant, and/or equip each one to make a decision about being baptized, as each student will be invited to make a profession of Faith in Christ and become a member of the community of faith (the church).
PARENTS' GROUP
While the students meet each month, Meg Procopio will lead a separate Parents' group. We will cover topics to help you facilitate conversation with your child, but we will be flexible enough to cover theological topics of interest - come with ALL your questions and let’s explore together.
THE BIBLE PROJECT
And for the whole family…a couple of times a month, you will receive a Bible Project video straight to your phone! This is a short video that compliments the monthly Confirmation lesson. These videos are amazing and pack a great punch to keep us all IN THE KNOW! This will be a great way to engage - we will all be Bible Scholars by April :)
PLEASE go ahead and put the dates listed below on your calendars. Our hope is that confirmation will be a top priority. This is a unique time that will not come again, so soak up all the love and intention offered. Please pray about this commitment and your ability to be fully available. Our expectation is that students will be present for 90% of the experience!
Confirmation Kick-off: Oct 1, 2022 - 5-7pm, Ministry Center (includes dinner)
Monthly Class: The first Sunday of each month during the Sunday School time (except January 8) - October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8, February 5, March 5, & April 2 (on retreat)
Fall Retreat: November 11-12 - Biblical History Center
Missions Experience: February 10-11 - Tour of Churches
Spring Retreat: March 31-April 2 - Epworth by the Sea
Confirmation Sunday: April 16th - 9:15am Worship Service
November 11 - 12th
The Biblical History Center and Great Wolf Mountain Lodge
Let’s board the charter bus on Friday at 10am* and step back in time into the days of Jesus! We will eat the food of the land (delicious!), make bread like the shepherds would have done, walk through the catacombs, try our hand at an olive press, sit in a goat hair tent, and spend time in a first century home! There is no better place to understand the Scriptures than through this hands-on experience. We will return on Saturday, late afternoon.
*a note will be sent to those schools in session asking for an excused absence
February 10-11th, 2023
Tour of Churches - Savannah
On Friday afternoon at 3pm, we will gather and tour a Jewish Synagogue, support Wesley Community Center with our service as they prepare for the LOVE WALK, and then have dinner together before you go home for a good night’s rest! Saturday morning, we will meet bright and early at 8am to board a historic Trolley to tour the Catholic Cathedral, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the First African Baptist Church that helped with the underground railroad! We will return back to the church for pick up mid-afternoon.
March 31- April 2, 2023
Epworth By the Sea Retreat
We will spend the weekend together (Friday 3pm to mid-afternoon on Sunday) in a beautiful place exploring our vows, playing games, creating our faith stories and maybe even attempting a Ropes Course! This will be our final time together before Confirmation Sunday.
Bo Johnson
Sam McCachern
Marjo Zelinsky
Hope Treece
Mark Allen
Dawn Quattlebaum
Andrea Dove
Eric Harlan
Sam Paul
Meg Procopio