The Confirmation class and curriculum have been an ever-evolving element of the youth program. This year, we added curriculum and requirements and Richard Culp and I co-taught the class. The youth came to class during the Sunday school hour every week, a change from previous classes being held on Sunday afternoons.

   The following depicts what our four confirmands, Tristan Ball, Rylie Glasschroeder, Christian Luevano and Eta Tako, have worked on and achieved in the last eight months. They completed daily bible readings with associated weekly journal prompts, sixteen sermon outlines during worship, eight hours of mission service and last week they completed a year-end test over the information they have learned. Together, we all have learned, wrestled and discussed topics such as the Holy Trinity, worship, stewardship, mission, sacraments, government structure, PCUSA's constitution, history and more! Our confirmands have dedicated themselves to this process and to really learning and developing their faith understanding.

    One of the strengths of the confirmation program the last few years here at St. Andrew has been the role of the mentors. Walking alongside the confirmands our mentors (Chris Garcia, David Hines, Karen Jones and Chuck Stoughton) have also attended classes monthly, checked in with their confirmand, attended school events and have become adults to whom these confirmands can turn, not only during this year of confirmation but in the years ahead as well.

   Last night, in front of our session and their families and mentors, each of these four teenagers proclaimed what they believe in written statements of faith. This Sunday, they will publicly profess their faith, they will be anointed (and one baptized) and they will state their desire to join this congregation in life and ministry. As we stand with them, we remember that we are bound together in Christ, the one in whom we all profess our faith.

Brandi Caldwell