The word “confirmation” means to make strong, to strengthen, to make firm.  We use it to entitle a specific rite by which the church seeks to strengthen the spiritual faith, stance, and convictions of those being confirmed.  Like so many or our spiritual acts, confirmation can be consider from three sides: the God side, the church side, and the adherent side.

Confirmation is actually a rite acted in worship. The church lays hands upon the adherent and prays for his/her spiritual vitality. It is associated with baptism, and it assumes the baptism of all who are to be confirmed. For some, baptism and confirmation can be immediately sequential. For others, years might separate two acts. God uses the church to baptize and to confirm.

The adherent, in confirmation, affirms the vows of his/her baptism. In summary, the vows express repentance -- turning from sin and turning to God, confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, acceptance of the authority of the Holy Scriptures, and accountability in the church of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, acts directly within the adherent and indirectly through the church. Where there is a public profession of faith, God enabled it. Incorporation into the body of Christ by baptism is a divine act. Strengthening, as confirmation seeks, is the work of God’s Holy Spirit through the Church. The Church proclaims the Gospel and invites a profession of faith. The Church baptizes in the Name of the Holy Trinity. The Church hears and receives the vows. The Church lays on hands.

Regarding the three sides, the adherent professes, the church baptizes and confirms, and God unites the person with the body and strengthens him/her for a life in Christ and in service to Christ.

Confirmation will be for any student in grades 8-12 who are looking to affirm their faith in Jesus, repent from the world, and become a professing member of the church. Please use this link to go to our page on our website that gives you more information about the purpose and drive behind what Confirmation is and why we do it as a church: . Our Confirmation sessions will begin in February 23rd, 2024, and the Confirmation Service will be on the Day of Pentecost, June 8^th. Classes will be on Sundays from 4:00pm-5:00pm in the student room. The first class will be on February 23^rd, and the class will meet every Sunday with a few exceptions. I have attached a Confirmation Calendar to this email for you to see. Students will need to be signed up for confirmation by February 16^th.  

Confirmands are expected

        - To attend Sunday worship, Ash Wednesday (March  

           5^th), Maundy Thursday (April 17^th), Good Friday

           (April 18^th)

        - To attend the Sunday Confirmation sessions,

        - To attend the Confirmation retreat (Weekend of

           April 11-12)

         -To attend another spiritual formation group like

          Sunday School or Middle/High School Ignite,

        - To read the Gospel of John throughout the time of

           Confirmation, and

         -To give 5 hours in Christian service between

          February 23^rd and June 8^th.

Students who are already confirmed are welcome to participate. Upon completion of the sessions, each student will need to decide whether or not he or she is ready to be confirmed.

Confirmation seeks to strengthen what is already graciously occurring in a student’s life. The classes seek to give clarity and explanation to God’s work and to help develop a lifetime of Christian formation. if you want further information, please contact Jacob Hardin at jhardin@garberchurch.org.