Confirmation During Covid
Introductory Questionaire
Worship and Sermon Reflections
Revised Schedule
Due May 2nd
Confirmation 12 - Final Class
Assignment:
Chat with your Mentor about the colors and seasons of the Church.
Consider:
What difference would it make if the colors never changed OR there were no colors?
What other ways do we decorate the church during the church year seasons and why do we do that?
Assignment:
With your Mentor and/or parents, talk about what it means to you to participate In Communion. Ask the adults what they feel when taking Communion.
Consider together what the words: “given for you,” and “shed for you for the forgiveness of sin” means to you personally.
Confirmation 9 Assignment:
Together with your Mentor, read through the words of the Apostles’ Creed:
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
1) Looking at the three articles. Do you have questions or concerns or does it seem like a good description of what you believe. (NOTE!! Questions are OK! It is only as we question that we grow in our faith!)
2) Challenge yourself to memorize The Apostles’ Creed so that the next time it is recited in church, you can say it from memory.
Assignment:
Choose one of the passages from Paul’s letters:
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Romans 12:9-21
With your Mentor talk about the things Paul says about love:
What does each one mean?
How can we apply each of the ideas of love he gives to our own lives?
What difference would it make if we followed his teachings? Enjoy!
Assignment: Read Acts 9: 26-31
Ponder together:
-
How is Saul different here than he was in the conversion story; and how has that changed his former relationships?
-
The disciples were afraid – and with good reason since Saul had been a merciless enemy.
It must have been an enormous surprise to meet and see Saul after his conversion.
How do some of our faith experiences challenge us to view something differently than we have?
Resurrection Stories (in order of written):
Mark: 16:1-8
Three women had purchased spices for anointing (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome)
First day of week after sun rise – go to tomb
Worry about who will roll the stone away
Stunned – stone was rolled back
Young man dressed in white
Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.
Fled in terror. Said nothing because they were afraid.
Appears to be unfinished or the original conclusion is lost. The is a short ending and a long ending that has been added, but this is what we have from the original
Matthew 28:1-10:
Two women – Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”
Great earthquake – angel descended from heaven and rolled back the stone.
Appearance – like lightening with clothes as white as snow
Guards passed out!
Angel speaks – Do not be afraid; Come and see; go quickly and tell…
He is raised from the dead and went ahead of you to Galilee
Left and ran to tell disciples
Suddenly Jesus meets them! Bowed down and worshiped him
Again told to tell the disciples (my brothers) and go to Galilee
Luke 24:1-12
Not immediately told the women’s names – took prepared spices
Stone rolled away no body.
Perplexed – 2 men appear in dazzling clothes
Women terrified – bowed down
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Reminded that he said he’d go to Galilee
Remembered and went and told the 11 disciples
Named: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James
Disciples accused them of “idle talk”
Peter checks for himself and is amazed.
Commonalities and differences:
2-3 women all have Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of disciples, Salome only in Mark and Joanna only in Matthew.
Stone removal:
Mark – already rolled back, no body.
Matthew – earthquake and angel came and rolled back the stone no body Luke – stone rolled away no body
All – women afraid, terrified
All – told to go and tell.. In Mark women tell no one – too afraid
All – find him in Galilee
Take Aways
Miracle that was not seen happen, only saw the result
Not normal – frightening
Good news!
Continue to be told to “go and tell!”
Question/Assignment:
-
Read the resurrection story in John 20:1-18
-
-
Find what is different and what is common with the other four stories.
-
-
Ponder together how having these four stories makes our faith richer and deeper because they bring different details, while bringing the same message!
Read through the two Christmas stories: Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 2:1-20.
Discuss what you see as differences and similarities.
How would our understanding of Christmas be different if we only had one of these stories?
Questions/Assignments:
1) Read the book Ruth and Matthew 1:5
(you and your mentor).
-
Think and wonder together what this has to offer us today about immigrants and foreigners
-
What did you like about the story – what made you wonder…
2) Read a Psalm (my favorites: 8, 23, 98, 100, 121, 150) – one of these or one you or your mentor really likes.
What is the message you hear in the Psalm? (Comfort, warning, praise, thanksgiving...)
What does this ancient poetry teach us today?
All the Commandments are important, but which one stands out in your mind as especially meaningful, that you really think you want to make sure you obey? Why?
Which Commandment do you find confusing, or hard to obey or understand? Explain.
What are some boundaries in life and what are the consequences when
you do not honor them?
'We cannot have freedom if we do not have boundaries. We need to have choices to have freedom.'
Explain why this is true and what difference it makes in your life that you have both boundaries and freedom to make choices.
What do you see in the structure and message of this story that would have been comforting to people who were returning from exile, chaos, fear and change?
What does this structure say to us during these times of pandemic and political unrest?
What is the image of God that you see in this story?
If we are created in God’s image, what does that tell us about how we are to live and to take care of all of God’s creation?
Assignment:
With your Mentor and/or parents, talk about what it means to you to participate In Communion. Ask the adults what they feel when taking Communion.
Consider together what the words: “given for you,” and “shed for you for the forgiveness of sin” means to you personally.
Confirmation 9 Assignment:
Together with your Mentor, read through the words of the Apostles’ Creed:
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
1) Looking at the three articles. Do you have questions or concerns or does it seem like a good description of what you believe. (NOTE!! Questions are OK! It is only as we question that we grow in our faith!)
2) Challenge yourself to memorize The Apostles’ Creed so that the next time it is recited in church, you can say it from memory.
Assignment:
Choose one of the passages from Paul’s letters:
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Romans 12:9-21
With your Mentor talk about the things Paul says about love:
What does each one mean?
How can we apply each of the ideas of love he gives to our own lives?
What difference would it make if we followed his teachings? Enjoy!
Assignment: Read Acts 9: 26-31
Ponder together:
-
How is Saul different here than he was in the conversion story; and how has that changed his former relationships?
-
The disciples were afraid – and with good reason since Saul had been a merciless enemy.
It must have been an enormous surprise to meet and see Saul after his conversion.
How do some of our faith experiences challenge us to view something differently than we have?
Resurrection Stories (in order of written):
Mark: 16:1-8
Three women had purchased spices for anointing (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome)
First day of week after sun rise – go to tomb
Worry about who will roll the stone away
Stunned – stone was rolled back
Young man dressed in white
Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.
Fled in terror. Said nothing because they were afraid.
Appears to be unfinished or the original conclusion is lost. The is a short ending and a long ending that has been added, but this is what we have from the original
Matthew 28:1-10:
Two women – Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”
Great earthquake – angel descended from heaven and rolled back the stone.
Appearance – like lightening with clothes as white as snow
Guards passed out!
Angel speaks – Do not be afraid; Come and see; go quickly and tell…
He is raised from the dead and went ahead of you to Galilee
Left and ran to tell disciples
Suddenly Jesus meets them! Bowed down and worshiped him
Again told to tell the disciples (my brothers) and go to Galilee
Luke 24:1-12
Not immediately told the women’s names – took prepared spices
Stone rolled away no body.
Perplexed – 2 men appear in dazzling clothes
Women terrified – bowed down
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
Reminded that he said he’d go to Galilee
Remembered and went and told the 11 disciples
Named: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James
Disciples accused them of “idle talk”
Peter checks for himself and is amazed.
Commonalities and differences:
2-3 women all have Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of disciples, Salome only in Mark and Joanna only in Matthew.
Stone removal:
Mark – already rolled back, no body.
Matthew – earthquake and angel came and rolled back the stone no body Luke – stone rolled away no body
All – women afraid, terrified
All – told to go and tell.. In Mark women tell no one – too afraid
All – find him in Galilee
Take Aways
Miracle that was not seen happen, only saw the result
Not normal – frightening
Good news!
Continue to be told to “go and tell!”
Question/Assignment:
-
Read the resurrection story in John 20:1-18
-
-
Find what is different and what is common with the other four stories.
-
-
Ponder together how having these four stories makes our faith richer and deeper because they bring different details, while bringing the same message!
Read through the two Christmas stories: Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 2:1-20.
Discuss what you see as differences and similarities.
How would our understanding of Christmas be different if we only had one of these stories?
Questions/Assignments:
1) Read the book Ruth and Matthew 1:5
(you and your mentor).
-
Think and wonder together what this has to offer us today about immigrants and foreigners
-
What did you like about the story – what made you wonder…
2) Read a Psalm (my favorites: 8, 23, 98, 100, 121, 150) – one of these or one you or your mentor really likes.
What is the message you hear in the Psalm? (Comfort, warning, praise, thanksgiving...)
What does this ancient poetry teach us today?
All the Commandments are important, but which one stands out in your mind as especially meaningful, that you really think you want to make sure you obey? Why?
Which Commandment do you find confusing, or hard to obey or understand? Explain.
What are some boundaries in life and what are the consequences when
you do not honor them?
'We cannot have freedom if we do not have boundaries. We need to have choices to have freedom.'
Explain why this is true and what difference it makes in your life that you have both boundaries and freedom to make choices.
What do you see in the structure and message of this story that would have been comforting to people who were returning from exile, chaos, fear and change?
What does this structure say to us during these times of pandemic and political unrest?
What is the image of God that you see in this story?
If we are created in God’s image, what does that tell us about how we are to live and to take care of all of God’s creation?