St. Marys United Methodist Youth

In order to help your family discuss whether or not your student will take part in confirmation this year, I have put together this F.A.Q (frequently asked questions) list.  If you have further questions, please contact me!

What is confirmation?

Confirmation is a season of exploration for students in the 6th-12th grades.  During this time, students will learn more about what it means to be a  Christian, a United Methodist, and what it means to be a member of the  Church. Through this process our  confirmands will have the opportunity  to make a confession of faith and be baptized if they haven’t been already and join the church as full  members. This is a very special time in the life of our confirmands and in  the life of our church.  Confirmation will begin this year in mid-February with an orientation  meeting and will really kick off with the Confirmation Retreat at Epworth  by the Sea on March 20 – 22.  For 10 wks, our confirmands will  spend time with Pastor Randy, Jim, and their personal confirmation  mentor exploring faith in Jesus Christ! We will celebrate our confirmands in worship on April 26th.  Those students who have chosen to will be baptized and/or join the church on that date.

When is confirmation?

Confirmation begins March 1st and goes through April 26th (though confirming our faith is a lifelong process that all of us continue to do!)

When is the retreat?

The retreat is March 20-22.  The set up is just like November Celebration was with different content and people.  It will be an overnight and we’ll get more details out on that a little bit later.  The costs of the retreat are covered by the church.

When does the confirmation “class” meet?

Your confirmand will meet regularly with his/her mentor.  This will be the driving force behind confirmation.  We will have 4 big meetings with Rev. Mosely and myself.  Those dates are tentatively scheduled on Wednesdays after Fellowship Supper at about 6:15pm (tentative).  Those dates will be available shortly.   These classes will last until 8:00 pm.  The meetings are on:  March 11th, March 25th, April 8th, and April 22nd.  

What will my confirmand and their mentor do?

The confirmand has a list of activities to complete with their mentor.  This list will be available shortly.  The mentor is to be a prayerful supporter of your student as they decide what to do with the information that they learn during the course of confirmation.

If my child isn’t ready to make a public confession of faith, will he/she be forced to?

No.  The idea is to prayerfully discover what it means to be Christian, what it means to be a part of the church, and what it means to be United Methodist.  Then, each student will respond as moved by God.  For some, this will mean baptism or public confession of faith.  For others, this will mean waiting until they feel comfortable.

What are all of those dates again?

Intro Meeting:  March 1st, 12:00-12:35

Retreat:  March 20-22

Big class dates:  March 11th, March 25th, April 8th, and April 22nd.  

Sessions with mentor:  As personally scheduled between your family and your mentor.

Confirmation Sunday:  Sunday, April 26 th.