Confirmation Class 2024-25

Confirmation offers an opportunity for young people to learn about and reflect on the Christian faith. At Trinity, confirmation encourages participants to deepen their faith through contemplation, questioning, and discussion. We hope to support a life-long relationship with God and the body of believers through the development of spiritual practices, interpretive skills, and an appreciation of faith in community. Confirmands are offered invitations to look for God in scripture, art, nature, our shared tradition, and in community. 
 
The program consists of monthly confirmation meetings and confirmation electives. Confirmands are asked to participate in at least four electives over the course of their confirmation year. The confirmation class will also design and implement a project that serves the church and/or the surrounding community. 

 

This is an overview of the structure:
 
  • Confirmation Meetings. On the first Sunday of every month (beginning on October 6, 2024), confirmands will gather together from 6:00-8:00. The evening will include a worship service, fellowship over dinner, and an educational component. 
  • Confirmation Electives. In an effort to accommodate the increasingly busy schedules of young people, confirmands have been given a slate of events. They are asked to participate in at least four of these events over the course of their confirmation year. The events include mini-retreats (a silent retreat and a writing retreat), educational opportunities (a trip to the Springfield Museums), service opportunities (a work day at the Gray House and Revitalize CDC), and church service (a liturgist training and participating in a committee meeting). 
  • Confirmation Project. The confirmation class will design and implement a project of their choosing over the course of their confirmation year. 

Confirmation Electives:

Liturgist Training

September 18, 5:00pm

Learn to serve as a liturgist. The training will teach you to perform the responsibilities of liturgist including serving communion while also encouraging you the consider why we worship the way we do. 

Service Project at the Gray House

October 25, 4:00pm

Support the work of the Gray House through service. We’ll be doing a fall clean-up on their property to ensure that clients of their services are greeted by a beautiful space. 

God of the Cosmos + Looking for God in Art

November 9, 11:00am

This is a two-for-one! Come to the Springfield Museums to view a private planetarium show that will invite us to think about the bigness of God. We’ll marvel and awe at creation and think about what it means to be loved by such a big God. Then, we’ll head to the art museum to see what we can learn about God and ourselves through contemplating visual art. (This elective has a cost of 14 dollars.)

Advent Silent Retreat

December 7, 3:00pm

You are invited to rest with God in a time of quiet contemplation. Wander through stations that will prompt prayer and reflection. Advent, a season of waiting, offers us an ideal opportunity to quite our hearts and minds and wait for God’s revelation. 

Attend a Church Committee Meeting

During the Month of February

It takes a lot of work to run a church! Select church committees have been asked to welcome confirmands into their February meetings. Confirmands who would like to participate in this elective will receive a list of available committee meetings and times to select the meeting that most interests them. 

Writing Retreat

March 15, 1:00pm

Writing offers us a chance to deepen our conversation with God and ourselves. During this retreat, you’ll be invited to talk about God and to God through a variety of writing prompts and exercises. We’ll fellowship together through optional sharing. 

Revitalize CDC

April 26

Join a larger crew from Trinity to be God’s hands and feet in the world by offering repair and clean-up services to a Springfield neighbor. (You must be 14 and over to participate.)

The Beauty of Creation

May 17 (rain date: May 24)

Rob has a personal mantra. It goes like this, “give it to the woods.” When he’s down or stressed, he takes a hike. Why? Well, come and find out! Taking in creation, moving throughout it, exploring and absorbing natural beauty is a sort of prayer. Come to the woods to listen for God’s voice and look for God’s love.