What the Pastor and the congregation expects from you:

            Instructional Elements (Requirements)

Weekly Attendance in Worship. One Sunday a month does not fulfill the requirement,

·        sermon reflection notes -- sermon note sheets in lobby in box,

·        Sermon notes to be left in mailbox on office door,

·        Worship attendance at special services,

·        Attendance on December 24^th either 4:30 or 11:00 pm -- several as Acolytes,

·        Attend Ash Wednesday Service -- February 6 -- several as Acolytes,

·        Attend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, AND Easter Sunday,-- several as Acolytes,

·        Participation in acolyte program, including training,

·        Attendance at United Church’s  annual meeting,

·        Participation in class service projects and fellowship events,

·        That you will know and understand the Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel,

The 10 Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostles’ Creed by the time you are confirmed,

·        Service class projects-- together or individual,

·        That you do all of the work expected of you,

·        Your desire to be here.  

Acolyting & Communion Service

Confirmation students are expected to participate as an acolyte for worship on Sundays.

They may also choose to assist with Holy Communion (the first Sunday of each month) at the 9:00 am service if you have elected not to attend Sunday School. Assistance is also needed for special services throughout the year.

Each 8th grade confirmation student is asked to assist with Communion worship in this way— this is not a requirement, but students may receive credit toward their service hour total as this is part of service to one’s church.

The church office secretaries -- Carla and Marsha -- will keep a calendar of dates available.

Please note: if a student is unable to acolyte/serve on the scheduled date. Please do call the church office Monday through Friday only and let them know who your replacement will be.

Sermon Notes

Each student in confirmation is expected to complete 25 sermon notes during the year.

Sermon notes may be taken in other churches in town, on vacation, on holidays, from television or radio services, weddings, funerals, etc. Anywhere a preacher is preaching, sermon notes may be taken!

Students who find themselves in other churches (while visiting relatives, at a friend’s for the weekend, etc.) may receive sermon note credit by simply returning a bulletin from the service which they attended that is signed and dated by the student.

If using the media, students will be expected to keep notes and turn in a properly documented sermon note sheet. Suggestion: keep some handy at home!

Some students have parents who are divorced and accordingly spend some time 'here' and some time 'there' with each parent. If attending church while with one parent is not possible, under the circumstances, it is the student's responsibility to speak with Pastor Marie to work out an acceptable, alternative number of sermon notes for them. This is then the contract number between that student and the pastor.

Acolytes, communion assistants, or others who serve are not exempt from taking sermon notes.

If the student would like credit for a sermon note, they are expected to take sermon notes.

Sermon note sheets are located in the church narthex, in a box marked 'sermon notes'.

Completed sheets should be returned following the service to the office mail slot on the office door.

Completed sermon note sheets are collected by the pastor and read (yes, I really do read them!) and recorded on the student’s tracking sheet. Unless the student provides positive proof to the contrary, the number of recorded notes on the student’s tracking sheet will settle all questions as to number of sermon notes completed. As of this date (12/4/07) only ONE student has faithfully turned in sermon notes each week. What is happening with the rest of the class? If there is a problem with sermon notes please speak with Pastor Marie.

THERE ARE ABOUT 33 WORSHIP SERVICES BETWEEN NOW AND CONFIRMATION DAY -- these include Sundays, special services and mid-week Lenten worship on Wednesday night.

The purpose of this task is to learn the structure and rhythm of worship.

A minimum of 25 Outlines are due by 4/27.

CONFIRMATION DAY -- will be Sunday, May 11th, Pentecost Sunday.

Cancellation & Change Policy :

Please note that if school is cancelled due to weather OR if school dismisses early due to weather, confirmation will automatically cancel for that evening!

HOWEVER—If school begins late due to weather conditions, confirmation will continue as scheduled. Weather will not change the confirmation calendar.

If students are absent, they may download and read lesson material from the church website: www.theunitedchurchofbyron.net — Lessons will post to the web following each class period.

The Apostles' Creed

No human wisdom can understand the Creed; it must be taught by the Holy Spirit alone - Martin Luther

The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, which means I believe. The Apostles' Creed is a statement written in the early Christian church which declares what Christians believe about God.

Just as Christians all over the word feel united as the people of God when we read the same lessons on Sunday morning, we also feel that stating our belief about God, together, out loud, world-wide, every Sunday, makes us stronger in our faith and brings us closer together as the people of God's community.

The Apostles' Creed is divided into three parts, called articles.

The First Article states our belief in God the Father.

The Second Article states our belief in God the Son.

And the Third Article states our belief in God the Holy Spirit.

The First Article

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has created me and all that exists.
He has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers
He provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily word, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil.

All this he does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I surely ought to thank and praise, serve and obey him.

This is most certainly true.

The Second Article

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and it seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ - true God, Son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary - is my Lord.

At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil - not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.

All this he has done that I may be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally.

This is most certainly true.

The Third Article

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith.

In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it united with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian church day after day he fully forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day he will raise me and all the dead and give me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true.

November 14, 2007

Confirmation -- The Apostles’ Creed

“Jesus The Savior”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that every­one who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” – JOHN 3:16

THE FOCUS THIS WEEK

The eternal, all-powerful Creator of the Universe was not satisfied to abandon us to float alone out in space. So what? This God came down to earth in human form (remember God came to us—notice the direction), lived among us, showed us the Creator’s love in flesh, then died on a cross to take the punishment for our sins so that we could live eternally. So what? Someone died in your place. Someone died to set you free. Someone died to buy you eternity. It was Jesus. So what does this mean for you?

GETTING TO KNOW YOU : What does it mean to know Christ?

-- How is knowing Jesus different than knowing about him?

-- (How is knowing your parents, a famous ath­lete or your best friend different from knowing about them?)

VIDEO : If you have “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)”, view the scene from the 1:37:50 to the 1:42:45 mark where Aslan the lion lays down his life to save Edmund.

Question :

· “Why would Aslan do this?

· To the normal world, does this make sense?

· What does the word ‘sacrifice’ mean?

· Have you ever made a sacrifice?

· Why is Jesus’ death the ultimate sacrifice?”

THE MANY FACES OF JESUS : Take a blank sheet of paper and brainstorm all the terms for Jesus you can find in your Bibles (search out the Gospels) and off the top of your heads. Bring this with you next class in your notebook and give to Pastor Marie.

Bible Time

Read and highlight the theme verse, John 3:16 , in your Bibles and connect it with John 15:13 ; Luke 4:41 , 8:28 and 9:18 .

LITTLE GOSPEL : Write “The Little Gospel” in the margin of John 3:16. Some folks believe this verse sums up the entire Bible.

“Who is Jesus?” There is perhaps only one question more important than “Who is Jesus?”

That question is “Who is Jesus to me?”

The demons know the answer. For one brief, shining moment, Peter knew the answer, too, and made his confession. Why is this question so important for all of us? What hangs in the balance?

Write down your thoughts on all this and bring it to the next class in your notebook and give to Pastor Marie.

Summary :

God came down to earth in human form, lived among us, showed us the Creator’s love in flesh, then died on a cross to take the punishment for our sins so that we could live eternally. Jesus died for you. Will you live for him?

the F INK mania

Quiz Bowl

THE TEN QUESTIONS

Go ahead -- give this quiz a try-- bring answers next week.

QUESTION : The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed is:

A.) “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth,”

B.) “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,”

C.) “I believe in the Holy Spirit,”

D.) “Thou shalt not use the words ‘rap’ and ‘music’ in the same breath, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who does this”

QUESTION : Jesus of Nazareth was and is:

A.) True God, Son of the Father from eterni­ty,

B.) True man, born of the Virgin Mary,

C.) Both A & B,

D.) Neither A nor B

QUESTION : Jesus was different from every other religious leader because:

A.) He said he was God,

B.) He was God, and proved it by dying and rising from the dead,

C.) He was better looking,

D.) He had a better speaking voice

QUESTION : Jesus is called the “Lamb of God” because:

A.) He was white and fluffy,

B.) He liked to graze at salad bars,

C.) He was sacrificed to pay for sin, like the lambs of the Old Testament,

D.) None of the above

QUESTION : From what did Jesus free us?:

A.) Having to watch “Dancing With the Stars” reruns,

B.) Sin, death and really, really bad hair days,

C.) Sin, death and the power of the devil,

D.) Algebra

QUESTION : What price did Jesus pay to set you free from sin and death?:

A.) 30 pieces of silver,

B.) His holy and precious blood,

C.) His innocent suffering and death,

D.) Both B & C

QUESTION : For what did Jesus free us?:

A.) So that we could be his own,

B.) So that we could live under him in his kingdom,

C.) So that we could serve him in ever­lasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness,

QUESTION : The word XRISTOS or “Christ” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word:

A.) Message,

B.) Messiah,

C.) Masseuse,

D.) Mess with Me and You’re Toast

QUESTION : The word “Messiah” is the Hebrew word for:

A.) The Anointed One of God,

B.) The Annotated one of God,

C.) The Greek word “Christ,”

D.) Both A & C

FINKMANIA FINAL QUESTION: John 3:16, the verse of the week, tells us:

A.) Out of a powerful love, God came as Jesus to die for the world,

B.) Anyone believing in Jesus will live forever,

C.) Jesus is our Savior,

D.) All of the above and then some

TERMS OF THE WEEK --

Christ

God the Son

Jesus

Messiah

Savior

United Church Confirmation

Home Page

United Church of Byron

This is the HOME PAGE of the Confirmation Program for United Church of Byron, Illinois.

This web page is NOT a replacement for the Classroom Confirmation Program. It is an enhancement of the over all program that incorporates that which youth are most familiar with.

You do NOT have to be a member of this parish in order to utilize the various learning sites of this Web Site. You MUST however, contact the Parish Pastor in order to receive a PASSWORD for several of the sites.