MID-HIGH
CONFIRMATION “Deep Roots” – Psalm 1
August 2012 through April 2013 1|P age
Attention All Incoming 6th Graders! This Fall begins your year for Confirmation. We hope you are excited about your 6th grade year at Athens First UMC and joining ONE Student Ministries. It’s going to be a wild ride!
What Is Confirmation? Confirmation is a 9 month long process involving youth, parents, mentors and clergy. It’s a special time when you will learn about and experience the Christian faith. You’ll learn about our “Deep Roots” in the Holy Trinity, Bible and United Methodism, and how to continue growing as a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. This year marks our last year of “traditional” Confirmation for 6th graders. Beginning in Fall 2013, Confirmation will become an option for our 7-8th graders. Students and families who elect to wait until next year for the new process will participate in a 6-8th grade “First Word” Sunday School class this Fall and Spring.
Confirmation is a School-year Long Program Confirmation is more than just a Sunday morning class. We’ll have our own kick-off retreat, museum trip, sessions, and special activities. Take a deep breath and get ready to plant yourself in Student Ministries and begin sinking deep roots!
Begin Confirmation with an Awesome Retreat This year’s confirmation will begin August 24-26 with our kick-off retreat at Camp Awanita in Marietta, SC. It will feature some high-adventure challenges, tons of messy and not-so-messy fun, and connect with some of our awesome senior high leaders who will help shepherd your child in the years to come. Attending all of the retreat is a confirmation requirement.
Our Formal Class Sessions Will Begin in the Fall On Sunday, September 9, we will begin our formal class sessions led by Rev. Eric Fessler. Our class will meet most Sundays from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. in Room 123 off the main youth gathering space (Room 126).
Beginning this Year We’re Adding Something New for Parents In addition to the Parent|Mentor Orientation and the Parent|Mentor Check-In, there will be 10 parent discipleship/study sessions designed specifically to inform, equip, and empower parents to help their Confirmand gain the most from their Confirmation experience. Parent sessions will meet Sunday mornings in the main youth room (#126) from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. We ask that at least one parent attend each session. 2|P age
What About Attendance Requirements? Our Confirmation program is a comprehensive package of meetings, classes and events for Confirmands, parents and mentors. It is intended that all participants be involved in the whole range of their respective activities. In our orientation meeting we will discuss the expectations that go along with the confirmation program.
Mark Your Calendar for These Important Dates! Everything in Confirmation is important, but a few events are very special. Put these on your calendar immediately! Promotion into 6th Grade ONE Student Ministries – Sunday, August 5 Parent & Mentor Orientation – Sunday, August 19 | 11:00 a.m. | Youth Area Retreat to Camp Awanita – August 24-26, 2012 Mentor Training – Sunday, September 9 | 11:00 a.m. | Room 126 Thanksgiving Ingathering Service Project – Sunday, November 18 | following 11 a.m. Worship Parent & Mentor Check-In Meeting – Sunday, December 16 | 10:00-10:45 a.m. | Hancock Hall Overnighter to Explorations in Antiquities Center – February 15-16, 2013 (Tentative!) Confirmation Banquet – Tuesday April 9, 2013 | Hancock Hall (Tentative!) Confirmation Sunday – April 14, 2013 (Tentative!)
I Want to Be a Part of the 2012-2013 Confirmation Experience! What Do I Do? Parents: 1. Return the attached registration form ASAP and no later than Sunday, August 12. The $300 payment covering everything for Confirmation is due by Aug. 26 (made payable to “Athens First UMC” marked “Confirmation 2012-2013”). This has you covered for all Confirmation materials, supplies, activities and events. You’ll even get the T-shirt! 2. Come to the Parent & Mentor Orientation on August 19 at 11:00 a.m. 3. Attend parent sessions beginning Sunday, September 9 th.
3|P age
Confirmands: Be in Room #123 Sunday, September 9th as we kick off our regular confirmation class sessions.
As a Parent, How Can I Get Involved? The Confirmation process is actually a family one, involving parents in several ways. Confirmation is a very important, sacred step in the life of your child, one which requires your support and participation. On the registration form, you have the opportunity to let us know how you’ll help to make this another successful year. Remember: we can’t do it without you!
What About Mentors? We ask that parents invite a member of Athens First UMC to mentor their youth through Confirmation – you supply their name and contact info on the registration form. Mentors should be persons of mature faith, but this doesn’t mean that they have to be perfect Christians, biblical scholars, or pastoral counselors. It does mean that they’re committed to the process and their Confirmand, remembering that their mentee needs to relate to them as an adult. The youth staff is here to help you locate a mentor, if you need help. To help you in the recruitment process, here’s what we ask of our mentors:
Attend mentor training on September 9 Pray daily, and check in weekly with your Confirmand Sign the Mentor Covenant Attend worship weekly (ideally, with your Confirmand) Help Confirmand with any make-up lessons Participate in the Confirmation Banquet and Confirmation Sunday Encourage and empower your Confirmand in an act of service in our church community (e.g. Souper Supper, one of our Sunday night Encounter:Service nights, mission trip) Chaperone the Camp Awanita Retreat OR help coordinate the Confirmation Banquet Help your Confirmand to write their Statement of Calling and Faith in Jesus Christ
Where Can I Find Out Even More About Confirmation and ONE Student Ministries? Call the youth office/Emily Kirby at 706-543-1442 x224, Rev. Eric Fessler at x209, or go online www.athensfirstumc.org/students.
4|P age
2012-2013 CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION FORM Please include the $300 registration fee and Mentor Covenant. You can find out more about scholarship and payment opportunities by contacting Rev. Eric Fessler at
[email protected] or phone at 706-543-1442 x209. Student’s Name First Student’s Mobile Sibling #1 (name, age) Birthday (mm/dd/yyyy) Father’s Name Mobile
Middle
□ PREFERRED CONTACT
Mother’s Name Mobile
Last Student’s Email Sibling #2 (name, age) School
Sibling #3 (name, age) T-shirt size S/M/L/XL
First
Last
Home □ PREFERRED CONTACT
Other Parent Info Mobile
Work First Work Mailing Address State
Email
Zip Code
First Home
Email Last
Home
Street Address City
Goes by name
Last Work
Email
Mentor’s Name First Last Mobile Home Work Email Street Address Mailing Address City State Zip Code Member of Athens First United Methodist Church? Yes (return mentor covenant with this form) Baptism Information The United Methodist Church honors and accepts all forms of Christian baptism from all Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches and denominations. If your child has ever been baptized, there is no need for your child to be baptized again. A service of baptism is part of the confirmation service for those who have not been baptized. My Child:
Has been baptized: Has not been baptized
Date:_____/_____/_____ Location:________________________ Please provide a copy of the baptismal certificate, if possible
Current Church Membership Information Upon confirmation, your child will become a Professing Member of The United Methodist Church. At least one parent should be a faithful member of Athens First United Methodist Church before your child is confirmed. Mother is: Father is:
a member of AFUMC or a member of: _________________________________________________ a member of AFUMC or a member of: _________________________________________________ Please return this completed form along with payment to: Rev. Eric Fessler, Athens First UMC, 327 N. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30601 Call Eric at 706-543-1442 x209 (Office) or 770-605-3188 (Mobile) if you have questions.
5|P age
2012-2013 CONFIRMATION MENTOR COVENANT What Does it Mean to Be a Mentor? Mentors should be persons of mature faith, but this doesn’t mean that they have to be perfect Christians, biblical scholars, or pastoral counselors. It does mean that they’re committed to the process and their Confirmand, remembering that their mentee needs to relate to them as an adult. Mentors should show support, invite questions, and be available to listen. They should take seriously the doubts, concerns, and struggles of the young person with whom they are in relationship. Mentors should be honest about their Wesleyan faith, without passing judgment; they should be loving, without excusing bad behavior. Most important, they should set for Confirmands an example of Christian discipleship.
What Am I Promising? In many ways, Confirmation boils down to commitment – to Christ, His Church, and our way of life together. Commitment and accountability are two sides of the same coin. In holding one another accountable in covenant relationship, we are humbly asking each of our mentors to:
Attend mentor training on September 9 Pray daily, and check in weekly with your Confirmand Sign the Mentor Covenant Attend worship weekly (ideally, with your Confirmand) Help your Confirmand with any make-up lessons Participate in the Confirmation Banquet and Confirmation Sunday Encourage and empower your Confirmand in an act of service in our church community (examples include: Souper Supper, one of our Sunday night Encounter::Service nights, mission trip ) Chaperone the Camp Awanita Retreat OR help coordinate the Confirmation Banquet Help your Confirmand to write their Statement of Calling and Faith in Jesus Christ
In my faithful efforts to be a loyal member of Athens First United Methodist Church by supporting it through my prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness, I make this covenant with God, my Church, my Confirmand and his/her parents, and Rev. Eric Fessler. Signature
Printed Name
Date
6|P age
