Hi Parents,
Thank you for your kids! It's been a whirlwind start and your young adults have been open, attentive, and engaged. I'm grateful!
A brief overview of what we've done for the past two Sundays:
- Our first Sunday was about getting to know each other and ourselves. We completed personal identity wheels, and got to know one another in small groups. We went over the packed plan for our confirmation season, a couple of ground rules, and handing out materials (your child should have a journal notebook, a workbook, and a copy of Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution. If they're missing any part of that, let me know!). We also began what will be an on-going tradition: closing in prayer circle. During this time, youth are invited to share what's going on in their lives (or pass if they'd prefer), confirming our commitment to showing up for one another in prayer and as a community of love and support.
- This past week, we dove into the complexity of church history. We began with individually writing the six-word story of how we were that day. (This is based on Hemingway's idea that you can tell a whole story in six words. His was "For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.") This will also become an on-going aspect of our weekly gatherings. Then, the youth were grouped and each given a different highlight or version of church history. Some involved the life of Christ, others the history of Presbyterianism, others the lives of the disciples and the early church, others the history of Montview. Each group was asked to build a church using craft supplies, based on their own knowledge and the history as they were presented it. The groups did a fabulously creative job of constructing churches, and presenting their work to the rest of the class. From there, I asked them to decide together what was the best part of their church, then to remove it, and join all the best parts together and build a brand new church. These are some sophisticated young people so the metaphor was a bit obvious, and they worked well at their constructions (most of which are in my office if any parents are interested in seeing!)
A few notes:
- This week, we begin prep for the Bible in One Night Lock-in. Some of you have already let me know that your child will not be at the lock-in and we can find a work around for that. However, it's imperative that I know who will and won't be there so I make sure no group has too many members who won't be present for the actual presentations.
- If you have a confirmation partner in mind for your child or are interested in becoming a confirmation partner for another child, please let me know by this Sunday at the latest!
- Each confirmand has an anonymous prayer partner who has volunteered to hold them in prayer throughout this journey.
with joy,
Laurie
