October 23, 2011 was a banner day in the life of FUMC Carlsbad. Forty persons were either confirmed, baptized, or joined the church. Many of those celebrating their commitment to Jesus were youth who recently completed an 8 week confirmation preparation experience.
Some may rightfully ask, “What is Confirmation preparation?”
Confirmation refers to the decision a person makes to respond to God's grace with intentional commitment, publicly reaffirming his or her baptismal vows before the congregation. Some confirmands are youth between the ages of eleven and fourteen, who have been nurtured in the church since their baptism as an infant or young child. Other confirmands were not baptized as and infant or young child and experience baptism and make confirmation vows together.
FUMC Carlsbad, like most UM churches, offers a deliberate time of preparation before a service of Confirmation and Baptism. During confirmation “class”, confirmands learn about the meaning of Christian faith; the history and teachings and The United Methodist Church; and an explanation of the baptismal and membership vows they will be professing. Active learning takes part as the confirmands take part in worship leadership, engage in an intentional service project in the community, and experience a spiritual retreat.
Read how this year’s confirmands responded to this question, “What does confirmation mean to you?”
Click on picture above to see the confirmands responses.
Click below to watch the video of the fall 2011 confirmation experience.
