Confirmation is so important in the life of Salem Church. We make a big deal out of Confirmation and we do so unashamedly. Confirmation for our young people is the first adult decision they will make. Many of our youth have been taught the Christian faith, but this is different. Confirmation is about them deciding to own the Christian faith for themselves. This is a time in their lives when they have the opportunity to define for themselves who Jesus is, to figure out what it takes to be a follower of Jesus, what it requires and whether they want to do this at this time in their life and whether they want to do this with the people of Salem United Church of Christ. This is such an important step in the journey of faith. It is not the beginning of the journey (that happened at baptism) and it is not the end. It is the beginning of a conscious, life altering, life changing decision to follow Jesus and to commit to a life of seeking to serve him all the rest of the days of our life.

Confirmation at Salem is designed to have each confirmand sort out and determine their answers to three questions:

1. Who is Jesus?
2. What does it mean to follow him and am I committed to do this at this time in my life?
3. Do I want to follow him with the people of Salem United Church of Christ?

The ten class sessions which have been designed to help them answer these questions are:

• Session One: Who Is Jesus?
• Session Two: What Qualities Do Followers of Jesus Possess?
• Session Three: Why Be a Member of a Church?
• Session Four: Worship, Liturgical Year, Baptism and Communion
• Session Five: The United Church of Christ
• Session Six: Spiritual Practices including the Bible and Prayer
• Session Seven: My Gifts: Time, Talent and Treasure and Followers of Jesus and the Church in Action: Social Justice and Charity
• Session Eight: Service Project and My Commitment to Salem United Church of Christ
• Session Nine: Our Histories and the History of Salem United Church of Christ.
• Palm/Passion Sunday: Confirmands Join the Church and Family and Friends Celebration

Each confirmand is responsible for completing eight homework projects and memorization: several scripture passages and the Lord's Prayer and a service project.

Confirmation class begins in January of each year (for youth in seventh grade or older if they have not already been confirmed) and ends when they join the church on Palm/Passion Sunday (in March or April depending on the year).

Youth Ministries

About Salem UCC