Confirmation

Confirmation is a very important step in one’s faith journey. This journey begins with baptism when one is welcomed into the family of faith. On the day when one is baptized, we celebrate God’s unconditional love for them. Their families make a sacred promise to raise them in the Christian faith and help them grow in their understanding and appreciation of God’s unconditional love. Over the years their Pastors & Sunday school teachers also share their faith with them and when they are in 8th grade, they are invited to take this important step.

As part of the confirmation program, confirmands attend classes, are connected with a mentor, offer their times and talents for stewardship and service, and go on field trips to deepen their faith.

Classes

Our confirmands spend 10 weeks together in weekly classes where they get an overview of the Bible and then dive deeper into the Old Testament & New Testament and then learn about Lent, church history, how the church works, and lots more. The goal is to equip our students with a deep understanding of the roots of our tradition. From the stories of creation to the inner workings of the modern church, we ensure our confirmands have a firm grasp on the 'why' behind what we believe.

Who said the Bible had to be boring?

We try to make our classes fun and interactive so that the confirmands want to come but also so they’ll remember what they learned. Can you tell which Bible stories they’re working on here?

Field Trips & Mentor Activities

Our confirmands go on a variety of field trips to deepen their faith and have several opportunities to connect with their mentors to deepen intergeneration connections and faith-filled relationships.

Each year, our confirmation class visits Salem for an opportunity to explore the ideas of religious history, personal integrity, and social justice. They were able to see and reflect on the real-world consequences of the fear and scapegoating that took place in 1692 and they were challenged to consider what it means to protect the marginalized and maintain their own moral courage in the face of peer pressure.

We also visit a local synagogue to learn more about the Jewish faith. Through this visit, our confirmands gain a deeper appreciation for the Hebrew Scriptures, the life of Jesus as a Jewish teacher, and the ancient traditions that continue to shape our own worship today.

In a world that can often feel divided, we believe in the power of interfaith dialogue. We want our young people to be "bridge-builders." By meeting our Jewish neighbors and learning about their rituals, symbols, and stories, students move from abstract concepts to real human connection.

One of the best ways to understand your own faith is to see it in relation to another. When students observe the differences and similarities between a synagogue service and a UCC service, it prompts them to ask deeper questions about their own beliefs:

What makes our tradition unique?‍ ‍What universal truths do we share?

The UCC motto, "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here," works both ways. We teach our confirmands to be gracious guests. Learning how to enter another sacred space with respect and curiosity prepares them to live out a faith that is both confident and humble.

We are grateful to our friends at Temple Tiferet Shalom who always welcome us in with open arms.

Fundraiser & Stewardship

We believe that stewardship is a spiritual practice that can take place at any age. Rather than simply receiving a budget, our confirmands take an active role in stewarding their own time and talents to contribute to the church’s ministry. By planning and leading their own fundraiser, these young people learn how to turn their unique gifts into resources for the community. This process is about more than raising money; it’s about learning how a faith-filled life requires us to be intentional with the gifts God has given us. Beyond the fundraiser, our confirmands engage in monthly stewardship activities (hands-on opportunities to experience the church’s day-to-day life), moving from observers to active participants. Our hope is that through this service, they don’t just learn about the church; they discover exactly where they belong within it.

Confirmands have also helped to lead worship, usher, help with coffee hour, help teach Sunday School, and light the candles each Sunday.

Recent fundraisers include:

2026: Movie Night

2025: Candy Sale

2023: Game Night

2022: Candy Sale

Retreat

Balance of Body and Spirit

We believe that spiritual growth happens best in community. The weekend is carefully paced to include:

Guided Group Sessions: Interactive workshops and deep-dive discussions.
Individual Reflection: Quiet moments for personal prayer, journaling, and solitude.
Community Building: Plenty of free time for games, shared meals, and laughter, allowing confirmands to strengthen the bonds of friendship that will support them long after the retreat ends.

Why We Retreat

The retreat provides a sacred space for our youth to step away from distractions and lean into their spiritual growth. Our goal is to foster an environment where confirmands feel safe to explore, question, and claim their faith as their own.

What to Expect

Through a thoughtful blend of structured sessions and shared experiences, we dive into the core pillars of our journey together:

Reflecting on God’s Love: Understanding our identity as beloved children of God.
Gifts & Talents: Identifying the unique strengths and "sparks" God has placed within each of us.
Ethics & Integrity: Discussing how our faith informs the way we treat others and navigate a complex world.
Big Questions: Creating space for the honest "whys" and "hows" of faith that don't always have easy answers.