SPC Youth Program

Confirmation

Led by Jim Burklo, minister

For youth aged 12 years old through high school

All are invited, both SPC youth and others who wish to participate

CONFIRMATION is our church’s process for spiritual "coming of age" for young people... otherwise known as "confirmation". It's a lot like "bar mitzvah" or "bat mitzvah" for Jewish youth. Our confirmation class is open to young people who aren't intending to be members, as well. It's an in-depth exploration of Christian faith and also of other religious traditions. It's a way to make Christianity a "choice" rather than just the "chance" result of having been raised in the church. All who complete the process will be honored with a “diploma”, and those who wish to become adult members will be inducted into membership in a ceremony in worship. They will also be given Bibles as part of the ceremony. The church recognizes adulthood earlier than just about any other institution

all the more reason to make a big deal about confirmation!

Requirements: 1.) Attendance and active participation at all of the group sessions (unless excused and made up by explicit arrangement). 2.) Completion of a confirmation project.

Confirmation Project: a work of writing, art, or performance (dramatic, musical, or electronic) which reflects study, practice, and personal interpretation of Christian tradition.

Confirmation 2006 Group Sessions:

March 26, Sun, 11:30-12:30: Coming of Age The first session will be time for introductions to each other and to what “confirmation” is all about. We’ll get a taste of what “coming of age” rituals are like in many different religious and cultural traditions.

April 2, Sun, 11:30-12:30: Spiritual Power This session begins with exploring spiritual power - how the characters of the Bible and other religions found and employed spiritual strength to serve others. We’ll practice some Asian martial arts and prayer/meditation disciplines.

April 9, Sun, 9:30 am- 2 pm: God in San Francisco: ferry ride, walking tour of religious places. We’ll take a trip to the City and visit a bunch of sacred sites of different religions – in Chinatown, Japantown, at Grace Cathedral, etc…, exploring the idea of “pluralism” – that no one religion is superior to all others … and exploring the differences and similarities among religions.

April 23, Sun, 11:30-12:30: Turning Points: Time with Sages This is a chance to ask some of our church’s wise elders - clergy and lay people - about the spiritual turning points in their lives.

April 30, Sun, 11:30-12:30: Holy Words: exploring the Bible and sacred texts. We'll do calligraphy and illuminate parts of the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, and look at other sacred texts of other religions in their original languages. We’ll explore the history of how the Bible came into being, and what it contains.

May 6--7, overnight Sat 6 pm through worship on Sunday: Windows of the Soul This will be our confirmation overnight retreat at the church - we’ll have dinner together, and then go on a “pilgrimage” scavenger hunt through downtown Sausalito. We’ll learn and practice some simple prayer chants from Christian and other sources. We’ll practice ways of prayer and meditation. We’ll also study and make “icons” – images that are “windows” into the realm of the soul. We’ll create a communion service late at night in the sanctuary and then sleep among the pews overnight and then have breakfast together before worship.

May 14, Sun, 11:30-12:30 am: Inside the Church: what it is and how it works. What does it mean to be an adult church member? What is the spiritual meaning of membership in our church? What do these words mean: Presbyterian, elders, session, deacons, pastors? We’ll do an exploration of the structure of our church and other churches.

May 21, Sun, 9:30 am worship through 12:30 pm: CONFIRMATION and PARTY Ceremony in worship for all who have completed confirmation. Participants will share about confirmation projects in and after worship, with a lunch party from 11:30-1 for families and friends.

Confirmation Projects

One of the requirements for completing confirmation is the “confirmation project”. The purpose of the project is to make or do something that helps you grow spiritually, that helps you learn about your faith tradition, and that serves or educates others. You can make up your own project and propose it to Jim and Patti for approval, or you can take on one of these project ideas listed below. It can be a work of writing, art, service, or performance (dramatic, musical, or electronic) which reflects study, practice, and personal interpretation of Christian tradition. Each confirmation class member chooses an adult "mentor" from our church to assist him or her in creating the project (Jim and Patti can help you find one). We will arrange times for each participant to present his or her project before the class and/or the church as a whole. The due date for completion of the project is May 7.

Project Ideas:

1. Creating the confirmation ritual itself (the whole worship service for May 21, Sunday). 2. Writing and performing a piece of music for use in worship. 3. Doing a written or visual or dramatic presentation on one of these topics: a. A Christian social justice/service leader and how his/her efforts affects people today. (suggestions: Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day) b. The history of our church c. Your in-depth interpretation of a passage from the Bible, using scholarship about history and language as well as your own ideas... written, oral, or in dramatic form. 4. Doing a prayer/meditation "experiment". Maintain a prayer or silent meditation practice during the period of confirmation, and report on the experience in writing or in a visual or dramatic presentation.

The mentor you choose should be one that is especially able to help you with your particular project. Jim and Patti can help you find an appropriate mentor.