Confirmation

Serving in Worship and Serving Others

Our Confirmation program includes serving during worship services, but also serving others.  Some Wednesday evening classes are dedicated to special projects like preparing the Garden at Christ Community Lutheran Church for winter, Gingerbread Nativity Scenes to raise money for the Food Pantry, and other kinds of service projects.

Ways We Serve During Confirmation

• Service projects, two of which are required among several scheduled each year.
• Participation in one week of Confirmation Camp at one of our Synod’s Crossways Camping Ministries sites OR participation in one of our annual Mission Trips.  Learn more about Confirmation Camp at Crossways Camping Ministries.  Learn more about this year’s Mission Trip.
• Serve once a month or so as an usher, acolyte (candle lighter), or as a member of Altar Guild (collecting empty communion cups and “doing dishes” after the Lord’s Supper).

Confirmation Camp

For confirmation students who enjoy the outdoors or are more comfortable closer to home, confirmation camp is a great option. We usually attend Imago Dei Camp at W8160 Cloverleaf Lake Road in Clintonville.  Camp usually begins on a Sunday afternoon.  Campers from Grace stay together all week, but are usually with campers from another church.  One of Grace’s pastors usually accompanies campers from Grace, especially for team-building activities, bible study, campfire worship, and the canoe trip.  Other activities include art, kayaking, all camp games, and nature study.  We let our students know when the registration process begins and how it works.  Learn more about Crossways Confirmation Camp.

Mission Trips

Each year we take our faith on the road to learn about the struggles of people in the U.S. to find food, health care, housing, and education for their families.  We have assisted with ministries that help families in need in a variety of locations:  Wyoming, New York City, Boston, New Orleans, Texas, Washington, D.C., and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.  During our trips we also spend time enjoying cultural and historical sites including the Badlands, Black Hills, Wind Cave, Mount Rushmore, the National Mall, the Smithsonian Museums in D.C., the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the National Zoo.  To name a few.

Mission Trip Fundraisers

Raising funds for Mission Trips is required for trip participants. Making Fund-Raisers successful is a blessing freely given by members of Grace! Mission Trip Fundraisers include

• Scrip Sales
• Brat Fries and Can Drives
• A pizza sale
• A Silent Auction

Order forms and information are always available during the fundraisers in the worship bulletin.  Thank you for your support of our Mission Trips!

Mentoring

The summer before 10th grade, confirmation students are matched with a mentor.  Mentors and students worship and serve together that summer and fall, reflecting together about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

Affirmation Of Baptism

To prepare confirmation students to affirm their baptism during the fall of their 10th grade year, the students spend a Saturday morning with the pastors reviewing their confirmation experience and talking about how they might use their gifts as a disciple of Jesus.  They rehearse the Affirmation of Baptism service, and then spend the afternoon together at lunch and bowling.  Good luck trying to beat Pastor Julie!  The actual Affirmation of Baptism service is usually the next day.  If you have any questions about the confirmation program at Grace, please e-mail Pastor Julie or Pastor Larry at pastorjulie@gracegb.org or pastorlarry@gracegb.org .

Holy Doughnuts!

Throughout the history of religion,  the circle has been a symbol of the Eternal, and so it is at Grace Lutheran Church; we have Holy Donuts!  From the second Sunday of September to the third Sunday of May, young people grades 7 – 12 and beyond gather for Holy Donuts (9:15 – 10:15 a.m.), with actual donuts appearing on secret Sundays.  Starting with a snack and a 2- minute devotion in the BC room in the basement of our education wing, young people are free to go to the Holy Donuts room (ping pong, pool, foosball) or stay in the BC room (air hockey, shuffleboard, board games, and etc.) In BC and Holy Donuts rooms you can find out about and sign up for upcoming youth events, mission trips, service projects, and more.  For questions, please email Pastors Julie or Larry at pastorjulie@gracegb.org or pastorlarry@gracegb.org, though the day of the appearance of Holy Donuts shall not be revealed.