St.

Johns Lutheran Church, 1300 W Benjamin Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701

402-371-1985 | www.stjohnsnorfolk.com | facebook.com/stjohnsnorfolk
Rev. David Cox, Interim Senior Pastor
Rev. Justin Wiese, Assistant Pastor
Jolene Ziebell, Coordinator of Youth Ministries
Jacquie Samway, Coordinator of Congregational Care
ELCAs working definition of Confirmation Ministry:
Confirmation ministry is a pastoral and educational ministry of the church that helps the baptized
through Word and Sacrament to identify more deeply with the Christian community and
participate more fully in its mission.
What is the lens through which we look at confirmation classes at St. Johns?
Our baptismal identity makes us Children of God. In baptism, God makes things happen!
Baptismal Promises (from LBW & ELW)
LBW: In Christian love you have presented these children for Holy Baptism. You should,
therefore, faithfully bring them to the services of God's house, and teach them the Lord's Prayer,
the Creed, and the Ten Commandments. As they grow in years, you should place in their hands
the Holy Scriptures and provide for their instruction in the Christian faith, that, living in the
covenant of their Baptism and in communion with the Church, they may lead godly lives until
the day of Jesus Christ. Do you promise to fulfill these obligations?
R I do.
ELW: As you bring your children to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with
responsibilities:
to live with them among God's faithful people,
bring them to the word of God and the holy supper,
teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments,
place in their hands the holy scriptures,
and nurture them in faith and prayer,
so that your children may learn to trust God,
proclaim Christ through word and deed,
care for others and the world God made,
and work for justice and peace.
Do you promise to help your children grow in the Christian faith and life?
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism--From Luthers Small Catechism
I
What is baptism?
Baptism is not simply plain water. Instead, it is water used according to God's command and
connected with God's word.
What then is this word of God?
Where our Lord Christ says in Matthew 28, "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."
II
What gifts or benefits does baptism grant?
It brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation
to all who believe it, as the words and promise of God declare.
2014-15 St. Johns/Norfolk Confirmation Orientation Packet | Parents/Students Meeting, August 27, 2014, 5 p.m. Page 1
What are these words and promise of God?
Where our Lord Christ says in Mark 16, "The one who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but the one who does not believe will be condemned."
III
How can water do such great things?
Clearly the water does not do it, but the word of God, which is with and alongside the water, and
faith, which trusts this word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is plain
water and not a baptism, but with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of
life and a "bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit," as St. Paul says to Titus in chapter 3,
"through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us
richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might
become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure."
IV
What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?
It signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die
through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, and on the other hand that daily a new
person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Where is this written?
St. Paul says in Romans 6, "We were buried with Christ through baptism into death, so that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life."
Affirmation of Baptism in the Presence of the Assembly
The presiding minister addresses those making public affirmation of baptism.
You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God
made with you in holy baptism:
to live among God's faithful people,
to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
Each person responds:
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
The minister addresses the assembly.
People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their
life in Christ?
We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.
Those making affirmation may kneel. The presiding minister prays for God's blessing.
Let us pray.
We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth,
cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life.
2014-15 St. Johns/Norfolk Confirmation Orientation Packet | Parents/Students Meeting, August 27, 2014, 5 p.m. Page 2
The blessing may be repeated for each person. The minister may lay both hands on the head of
the person and say:
Stir up in name the gift of your Holy Spirit:
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,
the spirit of joy in your presence,
both now and forever.
Amen.
Those making public affirmation stand and face the assembly. A representative of the
congregation addresses the assembly.
Let us rejoice with these sisters and brothers in Christ.
We rejoice with you in the life of baptism. Together we will give thanks and praise to God
and proclaim the good news to all the world.
------------------------------------
As we continue our transitional time here at St. Johns, we continue to explore what catechism
opportunities we should offer to which students when, taking into consideration what has been
historically offered at St. Johns, as well as what other area churches are doing. Having given this
considerable thought with staff input and church council support, below is a chart detailing what
we would like to see parents, students, and staff attempt this academic year in regards to
midweek Confirmation Classes.

2014-2015 Grade Levels Topic/Event
September
3,10,17, 24
7th & 8th graders Key Bible Stories
October
1, 8, 15, 29
3rd & 4th Bible Basics
November
5,12,19
7
th
and 8
th
Key Bible Stories
December
3,10, (17)
5th & anyone
First Communion Instruction/Review
Only need to attend once
December 14/21 Anyone A First Communion Sunday
January
7, 14, 21, 28
4th & 5th Baptism
February
4,11,18, 25
7
th
and 8
th
Key Bible Stories/Small Cate.
March
4,11,18, 25
6th-8th grades Prayer & Stewardship
April
8,15, 22
7
th
and 8
th
Key Bible Stories/Small Cate.
April 29, 2015 8th Graders Confirmation Rehearsal/Pictures
Sun, May 3, 2015 8th Graders Confirmation Sunday
Pastors David & Justin, Jacquie, & Jolene will be available to teach classes, as coordinated
& assigned. Pastor Justin & Jolene will need to further flesh out the details of this schedule, but it
does seem workable & attainable. It allows for students to interact with pastoral staff in a
classroom environment at a young age, and returns to a milestones in ministry approach that
St. Johns had implemented in recent history, excluding last year.
2014-15 St. Johns/Norfolk Confirmation Orientation Packet | Parents/Students Meeting, August 27, 2014, 5 p.m. Page 3
Where will class be held? And when? And should parents or friends come?
At the time of this packet, we plan to offer confirmation class from 5-6 p.m. at St. Johns in the
Community Room in the Lower Level, with immediate access to this room located through the
north entrance at St. Johns. If the schedules of the entire group allow for an earlier meeting time
in the afternoon, we may plan to do so. For example, if all 3rd & 4th graders are Norfolk Public
Schools and there is the typical early out on Wednesday afternoon, we could plan to meet from
2:30-3:30 p.m. However, if students from another school district do not have the early out, we
will not meet early, and will stick to the 5-6 p.m. time frame. This will need to be discussed in
conversation with parents to find a time that works for confirmation families.
Parents & friends are always welcome to attend: just be prepared to be as included as
everyone else!
Expectations
Confirmation students are expected to attend all class sessions as assigned by grade. If a
student misses a class, parents and students are expected to let the church office know, and
review materials & information missed during class when available. If students are ill and
contagious, please keep them at home, and please call Pastor Justin or Jolene ahead of time at
402-371-1985, and provide a doctors note by the next class time.
Confirmation students and parents are expected to be in worship more often than they are
not in worship. The promises of baptism in the LBW include faithfully bring[ing] [your child]
to the services of God's house. While no requirement can enforce this, we want to see you in
worship as a family. Whether you come Saturday nights at 6 p.m., Sunday mornings at 8:30 or
11am, gathering around Gods Word & Meal is important in the life of faith.
Bad wintry weather will likely result in the cancellation of confirmation class. If there is
no school/early out in Norfolk, confirmation class is cancelled. Look at the church website,
facebook page, or please call if wintry weather is upon us to confirm cancellation of class.
Confirmation Camp--TBA
The Church Council, Benefaction Board, and members of St. Johns strongly encourage
our young people to attend Summer Camp at Carol Joy Holling Center, the main camp site of
Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, one of our ministries sites in the Nebraska Synod.
A week of confirmation camp has not yet been identified, but the option will be explored
when more information is available. It is likely that St. Johns Benefaction Board will continue to
look to provide the majority of the expense for campers to go to camp in 2015.
Confirmation Camp is not required to attend. It is, however, strongly encouraged.
Affirming Faith Project
Our 8th grade confirmation students will need to not only choose a Bible verse for
confirmation Sunday, but also complete an Affirming Faith Project no later than the Sunday prior
to Confirmation Sunday (before April 26, 2014). This Affirming Faith Project should
incorporate what the students have learned over their years of confirmation, and should
ultimately present what their faith means to them. This project can take a variety of shapes, and
can include:
a written faith paper, two full pages minimum. 1 margins, 12 point Arial font, double
spaced.
A photo album with meaningful captions.
A ten-minute video or PowerPoint presentation.
2014-15 St. Johns/Norfolk Confirmation Orientation Packet | Parents/Students Meeting, August 27, 2014, 5 p.m. Page 4
Creating detailed painting which could be framed and hung, with an accompanying
description.
Writing a series of poems (15-20 poems).
Performing a series of interpretive dances (at least 10 minutes in total length).
An expanded faith paper (five full pages min.).
An idea of the students choice which receives approval from Pastors David & Justin
Each Affirming Faith Project will be shared first with the Pastor(s), with the 7th/8th grade
confirmation students, and then shared with the entire congregation in some way. Affirming Faith
Projects may be handed in/presented to the Pastor(s) eight weeks prior to Confirmation Sunday,
but no earlier. The objective of the Affirming Faith Project is to help 8th grade confirmation
students express their faith in our Triune God in a creative way which excites the confirmation
student and can be easily understood by others.
Eighth grade students must let Pastor Justin know what their plans for their project will
be by November 20, 2014.
A BIG THANK YOU!
We want to thank you for making Christian education an important part in the lives of our
young people here at St. Johns. After a great Vacation Bible School week in August, we look to
continue to develop faith formation centered around Gods Holy Word and Luthers Small
Catechism as our fall programming begins in September.
Confirmation ministry is only successful because of the efforts that you put forth as
parents in making sure faith formation is important in the lives of your children. The effort that
we all put into these activities should result in young people with deeper and more involved faith
who will come to better know their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which is what confirmation
ministry is all about. Im excited about that, and hopefully you are, too.
If you have any thoughts or questions about this packet of information, please do not
hesitate to contact me or Jolene at the church office: 402-371-1985. Thanks!
~~Pastor Justin
2014-15 St. Johns/Norfolk Confirmation Orientation Packet | Parents/Students Meeting, August 27, 2014, 5 p.m. Page 5