Confirmation
Confirmation is a journey towards publicly affirming our baptism.
For Confirmation, our entire church rallies together to support students in grades 7-10. We meet during the school year in small groups on Wednesday nights (from 6:30-7:30) with loving adult leaders after hearing the staff and pastors present concepts on Lutheran living in the large group setting. Students publicly affirm their baptism in a rite of passage in the spring of their 10th grade year.
We offer Confirmation ministry as a gift to the church. Though we do not require a program fee, please know that your generosity in stewardship to Gloria Dei supports the ministry in many ways and your donations towards the youth ministry are always deeply appreciated.
We will send a weekly e-mail during the programming year with updates. Also, join our private Facebook group.
GDLC Confirmation rotates on two, two-year cycles of topics. 7-8th graders meet separately from the 9-10th graders. The content focus for each year looks like this:
Unit 1:
Small Catechism: Apostles Creed, Lord’s Prayer, Ten Commandments, Sacraments
Unit 2:
Bible: Old Testament, New Testament
Unit 3:
Lutheran Identity, Christian Belief, Interfaith Understanding
Unit 4:
Reformation: Luther’s Legacy, Paradoxes of Belief, Stewardship and Vocation
Each of the lessons and small group leader guides are written as a prayerful collaboration between staff, pastors, advisory team, and with the input and feedback of the GDLC Faith Formation Committee and youth who have completed the process.
In 9-10th grades, students meet with a mentor for half of the Wednesday night meeting times and the other half with their small group.
In 10th grade, students, spend two weeks with friends from Mt. Zion Temple to promote Jewish-Christian dialog and understanding. In 10th grade students also work with their mentor to develop a personal Credo Project which visually illustrates their Christian understanding and growth so far.
Retreats for 2023 and 2024 are not currently scheduled. More information will be coming soon. In the past, the retreat schedule has looked like the following:
7th Grade: Human Sexuality and Relationships Retreat
8th Grade: Urban Plunge Retreat
9th Grade: Spirituality Retreat
10th Grade: Credo Workshop Retreat
All Confirmation students are invited to serve during our worship services. Students may elect to serve as acolytes, readers or ushers who have active roles leading worship. Acolytes serve as a crucifer (carrying the cross during the processional), carrying the book to the pulpit, lighting candles, receiving the offering, helping with communion distribution and other roles. Students are scheduled for ministry during all 12 months of the year, including holidays.
Students may also share their musical talents in hand-bell choir, playing instruments and singing, serve as a greeter, teach Sunday School, assist in the Library or help with hospitality.
Looking for the Acolyte schedule? We use a system called Ministry Scheduler. You will receive an email the week before you are scheduled.