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Confirmation classes
Topic Started: Jan 21 2009, 05:23 PM (933 Views)
brenda
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..............
Daughter is in her first of three years of confirmation classes. This is different from the church I grew up attending. We had sunday school (all ages, even adults) and new member classes that lasted a couple months before becoming a full member. Hubby had two years of confirmation classes as a youngster in his church. Our church is a very mainstream United Methodist denomination.

Even though I did not go through a confirmation class, we had a process for membership that I did as a teen. In our church today, I am surprised that most of the other parents have opted NOT to have their teen participate in the classes. Reasons vary from saying it takes too much time, to conflicts with sports, etc. With there being only a small number of kids her age in our church, and with so many opting out of participating, she is the ONLY one in her confirmation class. It seems unusual.

Did you go through a confirmation process? How long? What did you think of it?

Does your church today use a confirmation process? How long? Your thoughts?

I am learning. Thank you in advance for sharing!
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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musicasacra
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HOLY CARP!!!
Yes, catechism classes were required for me as a young Lutheran before confirmation. Also required for Catholics. So I had x2 confirmation prep! I believe my Lutheran catechism classes were 5th - 8th grade.

Does your church have a catechism? I seem to recall my Methodist pastor friend saying there isn't one.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
I went to Confirmation classes as part of the Church of England process when I was 10 and 11. Since both my primary and high schools were church schools I probably got about 1000% more religious education than any typical American. I think this explains a lot.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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Copper
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Shortstop
John D'Oh
Jan 21 2009, 05:55 PM
I went to Confirmation classes as part of the Church of England process when I was 10 and 11. Since both my primary and high schools were church schools I probably got about 1000% more religious education than any typical American. I think this explains a lot.

I had 16 years in Catholic school.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Renauda
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HOLY CARP!!!
12 years in Catholic school here. Graduated with Honours in Apostasy and Jansenism.
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
I went to CCD for many years. I did not then and do not now know what it stands for. Sort of like sunday school only on a weeknight, once a week.

I remember very little about it, except that I was once told by the teacher that I was going to hell. I was not an agreeable student apparently.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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brenda
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..............
Horace
Jan 21 2009, 07:26 PM
I remember very little about it, except that I was once told by the teacher that I was going to hell.
And here you are! :lol2:

Yikes! Does that mean ........
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Mark
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HOLY CARP!!!
I attended CCD every week during my childhood. As soon as my parents relaxed the rules sometime after confirmation I stopped going to CCD and Mass.

Started hanging out with scientific atheist types and spent most of my adult life in denial of what I am.

After returning and it's been about 1.5 years now, I still have moments of doubt. But then I think, what a terrible existence it would be to just be a random happenstance of the evolution of the universe.

I will choose to believe in a more meaningful existence and embrace the concept of God and eternal life. It brings comfort to me and especially my family.

I am a better husband, father, brother, uncle, son and friend and I see that very clearly now.

But Caesar can kiss my a$$! :lol2:

___.___
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o 0
When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
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Dewey
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HOLY CARP!!!
Our church does have a confirmation process. In most PCUSA churches that I've encountered, it runs one academic/Sunday School year, when the kids are 12-13ish - but my church stretched that age range a bit and did one confirmation class most of the kids at or near that age, just before I arrived on the scene. It can be a reall challenge to get the parents and kids to understand the importance of getting there for each of the weekly lessons.
"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685.

"Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous

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Phlebas
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Bull-Carp
I had one year of confirmation classes (I was brought up one of God's frozen people Episcopalian).
My daughter is brought up Catholic. She went to a Catholic school up to 8th grade, but kids who were not in Catholic school had to do CCD classes and preparation for both First Communion, and Confirmation.
Random FML: Today, I was fired by my boss in front of my coworkers. It would have been nice if I could have left the building before they started celebrating. FML

The founding of the bulk of the world's nation states post 1914 is based on self-defined nationalisms. The bulk of those national movements involve territory that was ethnically mixed. The foundation of many of those nation states involved population movements in the aftermath. When the only one that is repeatedly held up as unjust and unjustifiable is the Zionist project, the term anti-semitism may very well be appropriate. - P*D


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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
brenda
Jan 21 2009, 05:23 PM


Does your church today use a confirmation process? How long? Your thoughts?
Heck, I'm not exactly sure. I was raised Catholic, so I was brainwashed we had classes every Sunday after Mass, had homework, etc. When confirmation classes came around, it was pretty much just the same as it always was, with a little extra stuff piled on.

I remember my confirmation day with very strong clarity. My parents made a big to-do about it and my grandparents drove 4 hours to see me for it, which was a huge deal.

I also remember the kind of shenanigans I got into that night, and how getting caught pretty much put a damper on the rest of the month. :( Probably the most trouble I've ever been in before I turned 18.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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brenda
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..............
Phlebas
Jan 22 2009, 05:20 AM
I had one year of confirmation classes (I was brought up one of God's frozen people Episcopalian).
My daughter is brought up Catholic. She went to a Catholic school up to 8th grade, but kids who were not in Catholic school had to do CCD classes and preparation for both First Communion, and Confirmation.
One of God's frozen people?

You're from Minnesooooota, too??

Well, why didn't you say so sooner!

No wonder I've always liked you.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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brenda
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..............
Aqua Letifer
Jan 22 2009, 06:07 AM
brenda
Jan 21 2009, 05:23 PM


Does your church today use a confirmation process? How long? Your thoughts?
Heck, I'm not exactly sure. I was raised Catholic, so I was brainwashed we had classes every Sunday after Mass, had homework, etc. When confirmation classes came around, it was pretty much just the same as it always was, with a little extra stuff piled on.

I remember my confirmation day with very strong clarity. My parents made a big to-do about it and my grandparents drove 4 hours to see me for it, which was a huge deal.

I also remember the kind of shenanigans I got into that night, and how getting caught pretty much put a damper on the rest of the month. :( Probably the most trouble I've ever been in before I turned 18.
Shenanigans? My Aqua?

By the time you're my age they will be some of your fondest memories. :D

And then some day you'll worry about your kids doing the same carp. :lol2:

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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brenda
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..............
Dewey
Jan 22 2009, 05:09 AM
Our church does have a confirmation process. In most PCUSA churches that I've encountered, it runs one academic/Sunday School year, when the kids are 12-13ish - but my church stretched that age range a bit and did one confirmation class most of the kids at or near that age, just before I arrived on the scene. It can be a reall challenge to get the parents and kids to understand the importance of getting there for each of the weekly lessons.
Dewey, our church just this year switched from a two-year confirmation program to a three-year. I think that has deterred some families from participating.

There is also a monthly dinner for all the confirmands and their parents to attend with the pastor. That may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for a few parents, too.

Since we are now the ONLY family participating, we just have the pastor over for homemade pizza at our place one Sunday eve a month. He's a brand new pastor, really young, about 6 foot 5 inches tall, and it takes a LOT of pizza to fill his tummy. :lol2: I make a double batch of dough for those nights!

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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brenda
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..............
Mark
Jan 21 2009, 08:38 PM
I attended CCD every week during my childhood. As soon as my parents relaxed the rules sometime after confirmation I stopped going to CCD and Mass.

Started hanging out with scientific atheist types and spent most of my adult life in denial of what I am.

After returning and it's been about 1.5 years now, I still have moments of doubt. But then I think, what a terrible existence it would be to just be a random happenstance of the evolution of the universe.

I will choose to believe in a more meaningful existence and embrace the concept of God and eternal life. It brings comfort to me and especially my family.

I am a better husband, father, brother, uncle, son and friend and I see that very clearly now.

But Caesar can kiss my a$$! :lol2:

I think that's a great faith journey, Mark. You're a great guy. Thanks for sharing this. I really appreciate it.

I think that's what the confirmation process can do. Give a person the background to make their own choices, including choosing faith.

Good for you! :thumb:
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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