Confirm not Conform Kick-off Retreat September 19-21

When Jesus and the Samaritan woman met at the well, their dialogue ranged from the practical to the deeply theological, particularly related to the issue of what constitutes a meaningful encounter with God, something we often define as worship. The Samaritan woman engages Jesus with questions of where, when and how those who love God will worship God. Jesus says to her, "The hour is coming, and is not here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4: 23-34)

The CnC retreat weekend is, above all, a retreat about worship, about finding these encounters with a holy God. As Jesus expresses to the Samaritan woman, it is not as concerned about worshiping in the right way–the where, when and how–as it is about worship in spirit and truth. Each of us finds God in different places and in different ways. Some of us do not yet know in what ways we may worship God most meaningfully.

During the course of the weekend, participants will approach worship through different angles (sacred space, sacred time, creating rituals, a Sunday morning Eucharist) in order to discover and uncover what is meaningful tot he. It may be the traditions that they have learned from their childhood, or it may be something completely different. Our goal as retreat leaders is to rejoice as we see participants finding God in their life and finding their voice in worship.

Through a generous donation by our All Saints' Library Fund, we were able to purchase this new youth confirmation program which will begin this Fall 2008. The authors describe it as follows:

"Many confirmation programs remain passive ones – students attend, listen and memorize. Students are usually there because of a parent's wish, rather than their own. Not surprisingly, passive programs results in passive faith that's easily lost and rarely missed. CnC is a different sort of experience. The first session sets out to help them identify their developing views so that they can explore the, embrace the, refine them for the entire program, since each CnC session requires students to speak up, debate and discover. The underlying message of the entire CnC program is that their voice is a gift from God. It is valid. It deserves to be heard. And it can make a difference, when both used alone and, even more powerfully, in community."

At All Saints our confirmation program is a separate program, but also a part of the overall Journey to Adulthood formation process. As such, confirmation classes for youth are offered every two and a half years (when a new J2A-pilgrimage group forms). We are forming a new group this fall and then the next new group will form in the fall of 2010. The current group will consist of youth who are entering the 9th or 10th grade this fall and older youth who have not been confirmed or have not gone on a pilgrimage.

As apart of the CnC confirmation program, each student will have their own individual confirmation mentor – someone who will listen to their questions, share their story and help the student discover the true power of Christian community. These adults are in addition to, and in a different role than their J2A youth mentors.

For more information contact Janine Canady, 855-6294.