Confirmation

Wednesday Night Events
5th & 6th Grade Ministry 
7th & 8th Grade Ministry
9th Grade Ministry
WHLC Confirmation Information 
Parents As Partners

Check out confirmation resources available on the Confirmation Resources page.

 Wednesday Night Events

Class Time (5:00-6:00 pm)

5th & 6th grade classes meet individually with one of the pastors. 7th & 8th grade students gather in large groups with adult leaders and high school mentors for a large group class time. We begin with a time of singing songs, followed by prayer, interactive teaching, skits, role playing and Bible study. This time is led by Pastors Carlson & Coughennower, and Erik Ullestad. Each 7th & 8th grade student is placed in a small group, which is led by an adult. Small group discussion time is part of the large group session. In addition to discussing the topic for the evening, small groups also share “highs and lows” of the week, plan fellowship events and service projects, and even lead aspects of large group time.

Community Dinner (6:00)

A meal is provided to the entire congregation as part of the “Akaloo” midweek experience. Confirmation students are strongly encouraged to attend, and have the rest of their family join them!

Confirmation participants, both young and old, are encouraged to stay around the church after dinner to play carpetball, shoot hoops, continue learning in the computer lab, do homework, sing in the choir and “hang out” with friends. Adults are encouraged to participate in Akaloo Small Groups at 5:00 pm and/or 6:30 pm. 

 5th & 6th Grade Ministry

Formal preparation for the Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church is a five-year program. Throughout these formative years, students are engaged in a varied and exciting format consisting of interactive learning in a large group setting, small group discussion, service projects and social activities.

Students in 5th & 6th grade attend 12 Wednesday night learning events (5:00-6:00 pm), and participate in the Mentor Ministry. The schedule is as follows:

Mentor Ministry Meeting: Sunday, October 28, 2007; Noon – 1:30 pm

5th Grade Youth

CHURCH HISTORY I

• October 31 – Worship
• November 7 – Jewish Faith
• November 14 – Christian Faith
• November 28 – Luther and Reformation
• December 5 – Luther and Reformation
• December 12 – Luther and Reformation

CHURCH HISTORY II

• April 2 -Post-Reformation in Europe
• April 9 – Church in America
• April 16 – Denominations Comparison
• April 23 – Lutherans and the ELCA.
• April 30 – What is the ELCA?
• May 7 – WHLC focus

6th Grade Youth

INTRO TO THE BIBLE I

• September 12 – Worship
• September 19 – Bible Overview
• September 26 – OT -Creation
• October 3 – OT -Abraham
• October 10 – OT -Moses
• October 17 – OT -David

INTRO TO THE BIBLE II

• January 2 – NT-Annunciation, Birth
• January 9 – NT -Beatitudes
• January 16 – NT -Parables
• January 23 – NT -Crucifixion
• January 30 – NT -Resurrection

5th & 6th Grade Mentor Ministry

A mentor supports parents and is an advocate for youth in the congregation. In the Mentor Ministry program, students work through a curriculum on faith/life issues with their mentor four times throughout the year.

Through these conversations the hope is that you will cover the following topics:

• Why Be Confirmed?
• Following Jesus
• My Beliefs
• Being Lutheran 

A Mentor Ministry Retreat will be held Sunday, October 28, 2007 from Noon – 1:30 pm for mentors, parents and students. This will serve as the kick-off to the program. All mentors will be solidified by mid-October. A special letter is sent to 5th & 6th grade parents regarding the Mentor Selection process. This ministry serves as an important and exciting aspect in the faith-enriching development of your child. 

7th & 8th Grade Ministry

In the 7th & 8th grade years, students continue to be engaged in a varied and exciting format consisting of interactive learning in a large group setting, home huddles, small group discussion, service projects, social activities and retreats.

The Home Huddle is a new addition to the line-up. These intentional conversations in the home take place in lieu of Wednesday night class time. Check your e-mail inbox for more information the week of each Home Huddle.

Students in 7th & 8th grade attend 22 Wednesday night learning events (5:00-6:00 pm), participate in seven Home Huddles and one retreat each year. The schedule is as follows:

2007-2008

• September 12 – Lord’s Prayer                                                    January 2 – Commandments
• September 19 – Lord’s Prayer                                                    January 9 -Commandments
• September 26 – HOME HUDDLE                                                  January 16 -Commandments
• October 3 – Lord’s Prayer                                                          January 23 – HOME HUDDLE
• October 10 – Lord’s Prayer                                                        January 30 -Commandments
• October 17 – Lord’s Prayer                                                        April 2 – Commandments
• October 24 – HOME HUDDLE                                                      April 9 – Commandments
• October 31 – Lord’s Prayer                                                        April 16 – Commandments
• November 7 – Lord’s Prayer                                                      April 23 – HOME HUDDLE
• November 14 – Lord’s Prayer                                                    April 30 – Commandments
• November 21 – HOME HUDDLE                                                  May 7 – Commandments
• November 28 – Creed                                                              May 14 – Commandments
• December 5 – Creed                                                                May 21 – HOME HUDDLE
• December 12 – Creed
• December 19 – Creed
• December 26 – HOME HUDDLE

Retreats

Confirmation retreats provide a special time for learning, games, fellowship, worship and spiritual discovery. Retreats are held at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp (RLBC) in Story City and Wartburg College in Waverly.

7th Grade Retreat – Forgiveness and Prayer
Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

The first confirmation retreat is a day-long experience at RLBC. The focus is on forgiveness; forgiving others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. Students will also have an opportunity to spend some time in prayer surrounded by the natural setting that Riverside provides.

8th Grade Retreat – Jr. High Day at Wartburg College & God, Sex & Marriage
Saturday, November 3, 7:00 am – Sunday, November 4, 2007, 12:00 pm

The 8th Grade Fall Retreat will be held at Wartburg College. On Saturday, participants will join over 400 junior high youth for Bible studies, games, skits, mini-classes, a songfest led by Wartburg students and a closing worship will fill their day. This event will run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. WHLC students and leaders will then spend the evening at Redeemer Lutheran Church, where they will discuss God, sex and marriage. Families can pick up their student at noon on Sunday at WHLC.

9th Grade Ministry

The 9th grade students participate on Wednesday evenings (6:30-7:30 pm) in both large and small group formats. These Wednesday evenings alternate with the High school group events. Please note the class times outlined below. Drivers are needed for the retreats.

August 18-19 Retreat
August 29 Parent/Student Night

September 12 Social Justice -Homelessness
September 26 Social Justice -Hunger

October 10 Social Justice -Refugees
October 24 Social Justice – Racial Relationships

November 14 No Class
November 17 Social Justice Tour
November 28 Service Opportunity

December 12 Peer Ministry
December 19 Peer Ministry

January 9 Death, Dying & Resurrection
January 23 Death, Dying & Resurrection

March 26 Faith Paper

April 7-13 Interviews with Pastors
April 19-20 Retreat 
April 23 Parent/Student Night

May 3 Confirmation Rehearsal; 10:00 am
May 4 Affirmation of Baptism Worship Service; 2:00 pm

9th Grade Retreats

The 9th grade class will be attending the following retreats throughout the year. These retreats are a required part of the Confirmation curriculum, and we encourage you to mark these dates on your calendar and consider them a priority.

Kick-Off Retreat
Saturday, August 18, 1:00 pm – Sunday, August 19, 2007, 12:00 pm

This retreat will give students a chance to explore the upcoming issues for their 9th grade year of confirmation, as well as do some awesome ‘group building” activities in a camp setting.

Social Justice Day
Saturday, November 17, 2007 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

This retreat provides an opportunity to see what kinds of ministries and social service agencies are in the Des Moines metro area and to visit some of the places that WHLC supports throughout the year. This will be a great conclusion to the Social Justice series on Wednesday night in the fall.

What Now?
Saturday, April 19, 1:00 pm – Sunday, April 20, 2008, 12:00 pm

This retreat occurs shortly before the Rite of Confirmation. Students explore the notion of what their response is in our local congregation and in the larger church. This is also the time for students to share their faith statement that they work on during the course of the 9th grade year.

WHLC Confirmation Information

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
~ Matthew 28:10-20

Jesus commands we make disciples: to share our faith with others so that they will become followers of Jesus Christ. The greatest witness of faith in any person’s life comes from relationships with other faithful people, especially parents and other significant adults. Preparing youth to affirm their baptism is a shared ministry of the church.

Parents, when your child was baptized, you made a promise to teach your children about matters of faith:

In Christian love you have presented this child for Holy Baptism. You should, therefore, faithfully bring him/her to the services of God’s house, and teach him/her the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. As he/she grows in years, you should place in his/her hands the Holy Scriptures and provide for his/her instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the covenant of his/her baptism and in communion with the Church, he/she may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ.
~ Lutheran Book of Worship, page 121

Windsor Heights Lutheran’s Confirmation Ministry is intended and designed to supplement and complement the Christian education and faith-nurturing that parents have been doing for years in the home.

This time of preparation is provided for youth of WHLC to learn more about Christianity and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. While learning about the faith is important, content is not the only focus of our program. Relationships are the core – relationships between students and God, between students and pastors, between students and adults, and among students and their Christian peers.

 Parents As Partners

Parents are a vital part of this ministry – serving as Small Group Guides, prayer partners, encouragers and more. However, the most important role parents can possibly play is to provide a faithful example to their children. The pastors and staff of Windsor Heights Lutheran Church believe their role is to provide the tools and opportunities for parents to grow their own Christian faith and be a strong model of faith for their children.

Below are a couple of ways we expect you to serve as a partner in your student’s confirmation experience.

• Faith Conversation in the Home: Every week students will have an opportunity to continue their learning through a confirmation student website (www.hwsstudent.org). Part of this “assignment” will be to have a conversation with parents and other adults about what they have learned. It is important that you provide time and space for these conversations each week.
• Worship: It is imperative for the continued discipleship of our youth that you worship together as a family. Worship is the center of our Christian life. Your example will be the most important thing you can do as you grow together in your faith as a family.
• Provide Transportation and Serve as Adult Advisors for Retreats: Students in 7th-9th grades will be participating in several retreats. We will be seeking several parents to serve as drivers and/or adult advisors for these retreats.
• Supper on Wednesday Nights: A meal is provided to the entire congregation as part of the Akaloo midweek experience. Unlike last year, parents are not expected to help set up and serve a meal during the course of the year. However, you are most welcome to volunteer in the kitchen beginning at 5:30 pm on Wednesdays. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the supper with their families.