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January 2008
Dear Friends:
I'll be honest. I hated confirmation. While in junior high school, I
attended a three-year program held every Friday night from 7 p.m. to
9 p.m. It felt more like punishment than learning because none of us
were ever able to attend school or community dances held on Friday nights.
Instead, we sat in a bright fluorescent-lit room, around a long table,
repeating by rote Luther's Small Catechism explanations of the Ten Commandments,
th Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the sacraments of Baptism
and Holy Communion. We also took lots of written tests that we were
required to pass in order to be confirmed.
In the early
70s, the young people at my congregation were not encouraged to ask
questions about their faith. We were expected to memorize the "answers"
that others gave us. Yet, there were so many questions I wanted to ask,
but couldn't.
Times have changed
and hopefully your congregation encourages your young people, as they
seek to grow in the faith, to openly ask the questions that burden their
hearts and minds.
This month's
article encourages pastors and educators to reflect upon their confirmation
program so that they might select the curriculum that best fits the
needs of youth. As you think about reviewing your program, consider
inviting current students or recently confirmed youth into the discussion.
It might be eye-opening and could prove quite useful. If you do ask
for their input, listen with an open mind. Young people have their own
wisdom to contribute to the Body of Christ.
Although I hated
attending confirmation class, I was blessed that my confirmation day
was one of the most meaningful events of my life as I knelt at the altar
and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let's work to make the entire
confirmation experience more meaningful both for our youth and for those
who teach them.
Blessings upon
your journey of life,
RevWriter Sue
Lang
sue@revwriter.com
~ editor@revwriter.com
Unless otherwise
indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriture quotations
marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version, Copyright ©
1995 by the American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
And whatever
you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 [NRSV]
Theme: Confirmation
Who would benefit
from this issue? Pastors, Christian education directors, Christian education
teams, confirmation teachers, and youth involved in confirmation.
Table of Contents
1 - Devotion: Psalm 119:1-16, by Susan M. Lang
2 - Five Questions
to Ask When Choosing a Confirmation Program, by Donna H. Barthle
3 - Discussion Questions,
by Donna H. Barthle
4 - Resources
5 -
RevWriter News:
Recent RevWriter Sightings ~ What's New? ~ Still Available
6 - Announcements:
Financial Contributions Welcomed
7 - Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Info
1 - Devotion by Susan M. Lang
A- Read: Psalm
119:1-16
Happy are those
who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also
do no wrong, but walk in his ways. (vv.2-3)
One of the things
that I have come to appreciate over the years is the fact that when I
prepare a lesson or workshop presentation I am actually engaged in deep
learning. I enjoy this time because it gives me an opportunity to grow
in my understanding of God's word at that particular moment.
Walking in God's ways
and meditating on God's word is both a lifelong challenge and a gift.
A challenge, because we often must carve out time to read the Bible and
pray--to actually listen to God. A gift, because when we do, we are always
rewarded with new insights into the depth of God's love for us.
As a teacher, I've
also learned to listen to the words of those I teach. For God speaks to
me through them. We walk side-by-side on this faith journey, supporting
each other and growing in faith as we go.
O God, may your word
both illumine the paths that I walk each day and nurture my journey of
faith. Amen
Copyright
© 2007 Susan M. Lang
2 - Five Questions to Ask
When Choosing a Confirmation Program
by
Donna H. Barthle
The decision to stand
up in public, declare what we believe, and accept responsibility for leading
an adult Christian life, is not easy. So how do we, as a church family,
help both young people and adults understand what that decision involves?
How do we help them prepare to become active lifelong partners in our
Christian community? For most of us, the confirmation program is the main
tool to help youth make that transition from youth member to lifelong
adult participant in the faith. There are a number of commercial programs
available to use as a basis or we can design our own. Choosing the right
program for us and for our students is critical. Here are five questions
we should ask ourselves as we make that decision.
1. What is the most important thing our youth need to know?
Five years ago, the
Rev. Andrew Sherman and I interviewed every minister, pastor, priest,
and lay confirmation leader we knew, asking what they, as well as their
young people, needed from a confirmation program. The number one answer
-- youth need to know and understand the salvation story, God's long-term
and loving relationship with humanity, and our own personal relationship
with God. The Bible is where we find that story for ourselves. Choosing
a Bible-based program also provides youth with a working knowledge of
the Bible and Bible-study skills that will help them continue to find
answers later in life.
2. Will young
people understand and respond to the information in the way it is provided?
In searching for a
confirmation program for fourteen and fifteen year-olds, we found that
many were geared for eleven and twelve year-old children. Several years
ago, many of the protestant churches shifted the confirmation age upward.
In choosing a program, it is important to make sure that the language,
exercises, and teaching points aren't condescending, or on the other hand,
overly complex for your specific students. The material needs to fit the
age group of the students.
3. Who will be teaching the program? Will it be a member of the
clergy or a layperson?
Several ministers
in our survey told us that the best solution is often one of each. A two-person
(or more) team provides continuity for students as well as different points
of view. Either way, choosing a program that provides context and background
for each lesson can help the teacher (whether lay or clergy) feel more
comfortable with the lessons. It also shortens the time needed for class
preparation.
4. Does the
program address specifics of worship style and theology that make your
denomination unique?
Many excellent confirmation
programs exist across denominational boundaries. Yet, each denomination
approaches worship and some points of theology a little differently and
this can be confusing for youth. If the program you choose does not specifically
address this question, you may want to be prepared to do so yourself.
5. How does the program integrate youth into the life and ministry
of the congregation?
A program that includes
opportunities to join in retreats and community service projects--such
as Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, food pantries, gleanings, sewing
or knitting groups, etc--allows youth to see how we put faith into action
and encourages them to become participants rather than observers in the
ministry and life of our congregations. Such opportunities can also help
youth connect with older members and perhaps find spiritual mentors for
life’s journey.
The confirmation program we choose or design for our congregation is the
foundation on which our young people will make that decision to stand
up in public, declare what they believe, and accept responsibility for
leading an adult Christian life. For the sake of both our youth and our
congregations, we need to make that foundation a solid rock upon which
they can build, not just a decision, but also a future.
Copyright
© 2007 Donna H. Barthle
Donna is a freelance
writer and photographer living in Gettysburg, PA. Author of I Believe:
A Confirmation program for the 21st Century (Leader Resources), Acolyte
Leader's Resource Guide (Morehouse Publishing), The Parish Acolyte Guide
(Morehouse Publishing), and over 500 published newspaper and magazine
articles, she is also an Acolyte Master and Lay Eucharistic Minister/Visitor
in the Episcopal Church. For more information, contact her at dhbarthle@aol.com.
3 - Discussion Questions:
+ What particular
element of your own confirmation training turned on a light bulb for you?
What did you like best (least) about your own confirmation training?
+ How do your youth
view confirmation -- as "graduation" from Sunday school or as
part of lifelong Christian education? Why?
+ What differences
do you expect to encounter in helping youth versus adults prepare for
a mature decision as to their faith?
+ How does your congregation
integrate newly confirmed members into the life of the church?
+ What would you like
to see done differently in your own congregation's program? What can you,
as part of your church family, do to implement that change?
Copyright
© 2007 Donna H. Barthle
4 - Resources:
Sherman, the Rev.
Andrew Donna H. Barthle. "I Believe…: A Confirmation program
for the 21st Century." (Leader Resources, 2007) Catalogue at http://www.leaderresources.org/ibelieve/
Gooch, John, O. "Claim
the Name: A Theological and Practical Overview of Confirmation,"
(Nashville, Tennesee: Abingdon Press, 2000)ISBN 0-687-72648-4 A United
Methodist confirmation resource.
Monroe, Diane, "Confirmation:
More Than Just Business As Usual," a document published in 1998,
posted at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America web site. http://www.elca.org/christianeducation/discipleship/confirm.html
Here We Stand confirmation
resources by Augsburg Fortress Publishers. http://www.herewestandconfirmation.org
A list of resources
for youth programming and ministry. Episcopal Church, USA web site. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/50071_10963_ENG_HTM.htm
The Proper for Lesser
Feasts and Fasts. The Church Hymnal Corp., 1998
The Holy Bible, in
whatever version you prefer.
5 - RevWriter News
A
- Recent RevWriter Sightings:
• Sue
recently conducted a couples' retreat at a local Lutheran congregation
using the "Lutheran Marriage Course" materials. If your congregation
is interested in having a couples' retreat on a Saturday or over the
weekend, contact Sue at sue@revwriter.com.
• If you need
a leadership retreat facilitator, contact Pastor Sue Lang at sue@revwriter.com
or call 215-453-5066. For a list of possible topics, e-mail Sue at sue@revwriter.com
or visit: http://www.faithandwisdom.org
and search under RevWriter Resources.
Additional information
on Sue's consulting work is also located at:
http://www.revwriter.com/congregational/churchconsultant/index.shtml
B - What's
New?
• Questions
for Life: Luke's View, an Akaloo Handbook (Augsburg Fortress, 2007,
ISBN 978-0-8066-6063-9). Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Questions
for Life: John's View, an Akaloo Handbook (Augsburg Fortress, 2007,
ISBN 978-0-8066-6064-6). Sue was a contributor to this project.
C - Still Available:
• Our Community:
Dealing with Conflict in Our Congregation, by Susan M. Lang (Augsburg
Fortress Congregational LEADER Series, 2002, ISBN 0-8066-4411-7).
• Welcome
Forward: A Field Guide for Global Travelers, by Susan M. Lang and
Rochelle Y. Melander (Division for Congregational Ministries - Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, 2005, ISBN 6-0002-0186-9) A CD of original
music by ELCA composer, Tim Hansen, accompanies the book.
• Who Is
My Neighbor? The Stories of Ruth and Jonah, by Susan M. Lang (Augsburg
Fortress Intersections Small Group Series, 2003, ISBN 0-8066-4564-4)
• Pastor
and People: Making Mutual Ministry Work (Augsburg Fortress Congregational
LEADER Series, 2003, ISBN 0-8066-4651-9) Sue wrote the chapter entitled
Pastoral Ministry Support.
• The Lutheran
Handbook: A Field Guide to Church Stuff, Everyday Stuff and the Bible
(Augsburg Fortress, 2005, ISBN 0-8066-5179-2) Sue was a contributor
to this project.
• The Christian
Handbook: An Indispensable Guide to All Things Christian (Augsburg
Fortress, 2005, ISBN 0-8066-5259-4) Sue is a contributor to this project.
• The Christian
Handbook for Pastors (Augsburg Fortress, 2006, ISBN 0-8066-5297-7)
Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Christian
Handbook on Marriage (Augsburg Fortress, 2006, ISBN 0-8066-5295-0)
Sue was a contributor to this project.
• The Lutheran
Handbook for Pastors (Augsburg Fortress, 2006, ISBN 0-8066-5296-9)
Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Lutheran
Handbook on Marriage (Augsburg Fortress, 2006, ISBN 0-8066-5294-2)
Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Akaloo
Guidebook (Augsburg Fortress, 2006, ISBN 10-0-8066-537-5) Sue was
a contributor to this project.
• The Lutheran
Marriage Course (Augsburg Fortress, 2006) http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/searchresults.asp?searchType=all&searchstring=Lutheran+Marriage+Course&classificationID=-1&x=17&y=11
Sue was a contributor
to this project and both she and her husband, Tom, appear on the DVD
presenting "Maintaining Your Marriage as You and Your Spouse
Change."
See the links
at http://www.revwriter.com
to order or go to http://www.augsburgfortress.org
• The Abingdon
Children's Sermon Library, Volume 2 (Abingdon Press, 2007,
ISBN 10-0687333970) Sue was a contributor to this project.
http://www.abingdonpress.com//search.aspx?scope=all&query=Abingdon%20Children's%20Sermon%20Library
• The Lutheran
Handbook II (Augsburg Fortress, 2007, ISBN 9780806670379)Sue was
a contributor to this project.
• Questions
for Life: Luke's View, an Akaloo Handbook (Augsburg Fortress, 2007,
ISBN 978-0-8066-6063-9). Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Questions
for Life: John's View, an Akaloo Handbook (Augsburg Fortress, 2007,
ISBN 978-0-8066-6064-6). Sue was a contributor to this project.
• Sue has also
contributed to the online Here We Stand confirmation resources
(http://www.herewestandconfirmation.org/)
and the Akaloo lifelong faith formation materials (http://www.akaloo.org/)
both published by Augsburg Fortress.
6 - Announcements
Financial Contributions
Welcomed
Due to the addition
of new charges at my e-zine delivery system, this year it will cost me
over $400 to produce and manage The RevWriter Resource. Writers
of devotions and main articles have always been, and will continue to
be, paid. In the past, this has come out of my personal writing income,
but as this ministry continues to grow, the cost to me will also continue
to increase.
In the effort to maintain
the ministry provided through the publication of The RevWriter Resource
without requiring a subscriber's fee, I am now welcoming contributions
from subscribers.
Contributions
may be sent to:
RevWriter Resources,
LLC
P.O. Box 81
Perkasie, PA 18944
Or through Paypal
(http://www.paypal.com)
to sue@revwriter.com
Most importantly,
I appreciate your prayers as this ministry continues to grow during its
fifth year in publication.
Sue
7 - Subscribe/Unsubscribe
info
I maintain a strict
privacy policy and will not sell or share my subscription list.
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are welcome to forward it. Please do so only in its entirety, including
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ISSN 1545-939X
Copyright 2002-2008 Revwriter Susan M. Lang. All Rights Reserved.
For permission to reprint, please contact me for written consent at
sue@revwriter.com.
About the author:
RevWriter, Rev. Susan
M. Lang, is an interim pastor and writer, residing in Pennsylvania. She
is also the author of the Augsburg Fortress Congregational LEADER Series
book entitled, OUR COMMUNITY: Dealing with Conflict in Our Congregation.
Revwriter Susan M.
Lang
P.O. Box 81
Perkasie, PA 18944
http://www.revwriter.com
& http://www.suelang.com
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