Creative Confirmation Class - 1 - Symbols and Stories of our Faith

In the strange world of rural Dorset Christianity, depending on the age, social background and churchedness of a person, the words "tell me about your faith" (or worse: "tell me about your journey with God"), are enough to fill us with horror (especially those of us born after the 70s). And so it is that I attempted, this year, to find an outlet for all that awkwardness, and introduce something creative into our confirmation course that allowed for gentle, around-the-table community and conversation, between candidates and supporters of all ages. It was especially important to incorporate those being baptised, and those receiving their first Holy Communion into the conversation with those being confirmed so that we had a sense of continuity in our conversation, and everyone had a "next step" trajectory.

The stages of conversation were intended as follows:

• Session 0 - a brief introduction to Rites of Christian Initiation, including Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation, with videos of examples around the world.
• Session 1 - Symbols and Stories of our faith - a discussion about the people and stories that inspire us, and a learning adventure through the symbolic and sacramental elements of the confirmation service: Water, Vows, Fire/Light, Oil, Laying on of Hands, and the role of the Holy Spirit.
• Session 2 - Vows - setting out as we mean to go on, and arranging our personal landscape in order to make promises with conviction, integrity, and an obvious next step.
• Session 3 - One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Church - The Worldwide Communion, our rich diversity, our unity, the creed, the sacraments.
• Session 4 - Sustaining our faith - Prayer and The Bible

Download the all-age Booklet here

And here is the visible fruit of Session 1 from our younger candidates:

From Left to Right: 

LH 1  Symbols tell of the love (heart) of God the holy trinity poured out in baptism (three water drops). The Cross as a sign of life (flowers), the Bible as a Story of hope (rainbow).

LH 2 Symbols tell of the promises (rainbow) of God the Trinity received at baptism (three water drops), the anticipation of the gift of the Holy Spirit (fire cloaked in gold), and of receiving communion (bread and grapes).

M My example: Baptism, communion and confirmation, and understanding the way in which God's love is poured out for all the world through the sacred heart and divine mercy of Jesus.

RH 2 Symbols tell of the promises received at Baptism (rainbow) as an infant, the celebration of a First Holy Communion (colours around the chalice and host), Psalm 23 (Sheep and staff), and the cross.

RH1 Symbols tell of the Love and Glory of God stretching around the whole world (like the Christingle ribbon!), scattered grapes, Jesus saying I am the vine (cross and vine), and receiving the Holy Spirit (hand and dove).

Children and adults also wrote encouraging verses or sayings on the back of their candles.

 

Image: Adult group designing their candles

Session structure: 

• 30 mins opening conversation and Bible Study on the scriptural origins of the elements of Baptism and Confirmation (Water, Oil, Fire, Laying on of Hands)
• 1 hr - Continuing conversation about personal faith narratives and where our faith first found meaning, whilst designing and crafting candles
• 15 mins evening prayer (led by candidates).

   

Implementing sustainable models of prayer is key to our confirmation classes, particularly for the children who are used to having prayer time at school and at church, but not necessarily at home alone. Ours are all strong readers (aged 6-10), so I created a simplified call-and-response evening prayer service, with a reading that spoke to each element of Christian Initiation, and a familiar psalm. The children led the extempore prayers.

Evening Prayer