Confirmation's Coming Soon

July 19 & July 30

It feels like just a few weeks ago we wrapped up the 2008-2009 Confirmation program and said goodbye to our 8th graders.  But it’s been more than just a few short weeks and believe it or not we’re just about ready to unwrap everything about our 2009-2010 Confirmation year in just a few short days.

On July 19th from 12:30pm – 1:30pm or on July 30th from 7pm – 8pm in Room 16 we will be hosting two identical meetings for parents of any students that are planning on registering for Confirmation.  At these meetings we will discuss the basics of the program, highlight any special additions for this year, and take a look at some very significant changes that we have made.  At these meetings we will release our registration inforamation and you will have the first opportunity to sign up your student for this years program.

Please remember that each year you must re-register your student.  We do not “carry over” any registrations from the previous year.

Confirmation Service

After successful completion of our Confirmation program we hold a special service for those that have worked so hard during 6th – 8th grade.  Our next service is coming up on May 9th from 2pm – 4pm in the Worship Center.

For the students that will be a part of that service we have a few reminders for all of you:

1. Your gowns are now in and can be picked up this Wednesday before/after the 2nd Floor, Sunday the 26th before/after the Ground Floor, Wednesday the 29th before/after the 2nd Floor, or Sunday, May 3rd before/after either service.
2. After picking up your gowns be sure to iron them or get them pressed.
3. On May 9th students and one parent will need to report to Room 16 at 1:15pm for instructions for the service.  We will provide a flower for students to wear.
4. Parents please remember that you will be joining your student on stage.

If you have any questions feel free to call or email me.  Please note that I will be out of the office from April 24 – May 3 for vacation.  Questions during that time can be emailed to Mari Green at mgreen@faithtroy.org.

Confirmation Update

6th & 7th Grade Confirmation

This Sunday, March 29th marks our final test for our Family Based Confirmation program.  This test will cover lessons 16-18.  And before you ask, no, we don’t test on lessons 19-20.  Consider it a late Christmas gift from us, to you!  This weekend is a great time to check in and see if there are any missed or unpassed tests that you need to remake.  If you miss this test (or any others) remember to ask us to take it at another Ground Floor or 2nd Floor class.  For students that still have makeups to do the last possible day is April 26th from 6pm – 7pm in Room 16.

8th Grade Confirmation

With the retreat coming up this Friday night at 5:30pm, the gown’s ordered and the service taking shape there really isn’t much going on here.  Just remember that the gowns will be available on May 3rd  and need to be picked up from us that day.  If you cannot make it you will need to make arrangements with Pat prior to April 24th as he will be on vacation from 4/24-5/3.  Also don’t forget that the Confirmation service will be on May 9th from 2pm – 4pm.  Students and 1 parent need to meet in Room 16 at 1:15pm to receive instructions.

First Communion & Confirmation Tests

Just a little reminder for all of our families in 6th & 7th grade:

If you are in 6th or 7th Grade Confirmation we completed our first test on Sunday.  This test covered lessons 1 – 3.  If you missed this test feel free to stop by at the 2nd Floor or Ground Floor and ask me to make it up.  The test will take about 5 minutes of your time.  Remember that by the end of April you need to have taken all of these tests.

If you are in 7th Grade Confirmation and succesfully completed the First Communion material on the retreat or in our makeup session,  the First Communion Service is this Sunday morning.  We need 1 parent and the student to meet us in Room 16 at 10:30am this Sunday, November 2nd.  We will run through the basics of what is going to happen during the special recognition portion of our 11am service.  Please remember that students need to dress up as they will be sitting front and center for everyone to see during the service.

A Little Update

It’s been a few weeks and I thought a little update on what’s been happening in the Middle School Ministry was needed:

• Ground Floor – We’ve been averaging around 90 students each week with an additional 10-12 adults.  It’s so amazing seeing so many students coming together to learn about how their faith isn’t just a part of their life but their whole life.  We finished up our first series, High School Musical, and kicked off our second series, Camp Rock, last weekend.
• 2nd Floor – We’re about to enter into our second “set” of small groups this week.  We’re kicking off a 5 week look at the book of Colossians together.
• Confirmation – We’ve got about 160 total students registered for this years Confirmation program.  About 56 of those students will be joining us this coming weekend for our 7th Grade Communion Retreat.
• Kalahari Winter Retreat – We’ve been receiving registrations every week since school started and are so excited for this trip.  We have over 100 spaces available and almost 2/3′s of them have been reserved already!  We’re hoping to add a few more rooms if we fill up more between now and the end of November.  It’s great to see so many students (and parents) want to be a part of this spectacular retreat.  We’ve even heard a few parents are giving it to their students as Christmas gifts!  What a great Christmas gift!
• Still To Come – We’re working on plans for some Mid-Winter break activities for all of our students that will be home.  I’m thinking bowling, Joe Dumars and maybe a movie?

Those are just a few of the small things that we’ve had going on over the past few weeks and are working on for the upcoming weeks.

7th Grade Confirmation Retreat

It’s crazy to think that the 7th Grade Confirmation Retreat is upon us, but it really is!  It feels like just a few days ago I got back from our Survivor Summercamp, exhausted and in need of rest.  I need to throw out two different comments about this retreat to any parents that have a 7th Grade Student.

1.  If you have not registered for the retreat, your last chance to do so is this Sunday, October 12th.  Please fill out the little form and turn it in to me.  If you don’t have the form, just write me a little note with your student’s name, address, phone number, and what you are registering for (the 7th Grade Retreat) and turn it in to Pat.

2.  If your student will not be joining us on the retreat please let Pat know as soon as possible.  Either an email or a phone call would be great.  If your student is not going we will hold a makeup at our convience following the retreat (we will have that date at the early part of next week).

Ok, there’s one more small little thing.  If you haven’t registered your student for confirmation yet (we need everyone to re-register each year) please do that now.  We want to get that info together so that everyone is all set for this years program.

All Things Confirmation: Update

That “Confirmation Start Date” is fast approaching, and probably not on our minds just yet.  We’ve all been busy getting school supplies, running from practice to practice, and just getting back into the every day school year groove.  But, I wouldn’t be doing my job very well at all if I didn’t offer up a gentle reminder that Confirmation is beginning soon!

So when does everything officially begin?  September 28th, 2008 is the start of the 2008/2009 Confirmation year.  This day marks our recommended start for our 6th and 7th Grade Family lessons, the first week of meetings for many of our 8th Grade Confirmation Small Groups, and the first weekend we begin to track  student’s attendance. If you have not registered your student for Confirmation yet, and don’t forget that you must re-register each year, now is the time to do so.

For parents with student’s that just started Grade 6 or 7 I do have a tiny mess up on my part that need’s to be addressed.  If you attended our first Confirmation meeting this summer on Sunday, July 27 immediately following the 11am service you received the wrong set of “Important Dates”.  That sheet was full of misprints so I have generated a new one.

6th & 7th Grade Important Confirmation Dates

For more info on our 6th & 7th Grade Confirmation program click here.

For parents with student’s in our 8th Grade Confirmation program I have a bit of news as well.  On the “guys groups” side of things we have had to cancel our Saturday morning group.  Our instructor had to pull out at the last minute and we were unable to find a replacement.  Also, don’t forget that you will not hear from our Student Ministry staff about your group.  Your assigned group leader will be making their calls over the next week with the invitation to group, directions, and any other info you will need to know.

For more info on our 8th Grade Confirmation program click here.