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As the summer draws to a close, thoughts and plans are of returning to school, both academically and
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| religiously. We will celebrate Rally
Day on September 7th to kick off a new season of learning for SonShine Haus. With this renewed focus on Bible lessons also comes Confirmation Classes. Confirmation is a time of study and growth in your faith. A time of passage into the membership of St. Martin’s United Church of Christ. How excited I am to be sharing this journey not only with the 7th & 8th grade youth, but for the first time working in partnership with Miranda Moeller, our Director of Youth Ministries. Miranda’s input will add new perspectives on the lessons we will be teach together. The first Saturday of each month we will meet at 9:00 am and carpool for a class field trip to local agencies and/or churches of other denominations. We will visit the Emmaus Home, The St. Louis Cathedral, a Greek Orthodox Church, Kingdom House, Chapel Hill Mortuary and attend a Bar Mitzvah in the spring. This year we hope to add a visit to an Islamic Mosque and the local Holocaust Museum. We are also considering the feasibility of a class trip to Cleveland, OH to visit the UCC denominational offices. Our hope is to increase our understanding of other cultures by hosting a dinner for international students attending Eden Theological Seminary. The Confirmation Schedule will begin with an orientation, for both parents and youth, on |
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Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00 pm. This will be a get acquainted session where we will go over the expectations and class schedule. Classes will meet twice a month
on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in SonShine Haus. During our time together we will explore what Church Membership means, what the Bible is, where did it came from and the books within, and UCC history along with other topics. Students will interview members about their lives and faith journeys, choose a mentor to help them along the way, and write a faith statement based on their experiences and thoughts. Students are also asked to attend “special” services throughout our learning time to understand the different celebrations of the church. These times will teach of Advent during the Christmas season, and Lent to understand the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and at times participating in these services. Our hope is that students have an overall understanding of what it truly means to lead a Christian way of life and how to be Good Shepherds in the lives of others. I encourage all youth 7th & 8th grade to join us, invite your friends, family and neighbors of this same age and learn together, just as the Disciples did, of God’s word through the works of his son, Jesus Christ. Miranda and myself look forward to meeting with all of you and beginning our journey of learning together on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00 pm. Any families with questions before our Orientation Meeting, please contact us at the church office.
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