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Body Shop Middle School Confirmation Ministries

Body Shop Middle School Confirmation Ministries

PROGRAM BEGINS MID SEPTEMBER (Sept 15) – THRU MID MAY (May 18, 2025)

Body Shop Ministries is a learning opportunity designed to create space in the life of Middle School-aged youth for the Holy Spirit to work through Word and Sacrament ministry within the community of faith, the Body of Christ, here named Olivet. Body Shop Ministries aims to play a major role together with parents in nurturing the baptized child of God to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

CONFIRMATION AT OLIVET

SUNDAY, OCT. 27, 2024 AT WORSHIP 9:oo a.m.

Goals

  • TO FULFILL Olivet’s Mission: Gathering and equipping people to serve God by making Christ known.
  • TO PLAY a major role together with parents in nurturing the baptized child of God to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Families are the major faith shapers; therefore, the parents’ role is central.
  • TO CREATE space in the life of Middle School-aged youth for the Holy Spirit to work through Word and Sacrament ministry within the community of faith, the Body of Christ, here named Olivet.

Objectives

Objectives of Confirmation Ministry for Middle School Students. By the end of the 8th grade school year, youth will have an age-appropriate knowledge of the Christian faith, including:

  • THE FIVE PARTS of Luther’s Small Catechism (Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, 10 Commandments, Baptism, Holy Communion).
  • BASIC understanding of Holy Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament.
  • KNOWLEDGE of and appreciation for Christian worship in the Lutheran tradition.
  • RELATIONALLY, youth will experience the church as the Body of Christ.
  • THERE will be prayerful support for the Holy Spirit’s work in the young person’s life by parents, pastoral and professional staff and members of the congregation.
  • CONFIRMATION will be understood not as graduation from church but as a blessing of the journey toward greater commitment to Christian life in the church.

Strategies

  • WE WILL EXPECT faithful participation in the worship life of the congregation so that youth and their families will grow in faith through the regular restoration of the right relationship between God, themselves, and the Body of Christ.
  • 10 WORSHIP reports are to be completed each of the three years.
  • BODY SHOP small groups will participate in worship leadership from time to time.
  • STUDENTS’ involvement in ministries of the congregation will be encouraged and recognized.
  • ALL STUDENTS will be required to serve as an acolyte or reader in worship.
  • WE WILL EXPECT memorization of Luther’s Small Catechism as it is taught to the best of the student’s ability to equip them in the understanding and expression of their faith.
  • PARENTS AND STUDENTS will be provided with a schedule and a “sign-off as completed” form to fulfill this responsibility. If a student has difficulty memorizing text, we encourage parents and students to consider other ways of expressing an understanding of Luther’s core teachings on the five parts of the Small Catechism. When parents believe that their student has a grasp of the material, the “sign-off as completed” form should be signed and returned to the student’s guide.
  • WE WILL EXPECT full attendance in all facets of the Body Shop Confirmation Ministry so that students will learn the core teachings of the Christian faith and practice their application in daily life.
  • 90% attendance is expected for Large Group Teaching Events (LGTEs) and all small group meetings/ teaching, service, and fellowship events.
  • Guides will be asked to assist the pastoral and professional staff in tracking attendance/assignments and to alert the staff if a student falls behind.
  • WE WILL PROVIDE ongoing communication, guidance, and resources to parents to equip them in the shaping of their children’s faith.
  • The Summer Kick-Off will clearly communicate goals, objectives, and strategies for confirmation ministry.
  • A covenant of participation will be presented for use by Olivet staff, students, and parents.
  • Families will be encouraged to worship together regularly (as close to weekly as possible) and to pursue at least two family service projects related to the congregation’s outreach per year. Staff members can offer suggestions to fit your family’s skills and gifts.
  • WE WILL EXPECT parents to participate in the Christian education of their child, fulfilling the promises they made at baptism. (See page 228 of the “cranberry” Evangelical Lutheran Worship text)
  • Parents will assist their children’s guides with at least 2 small group events during the learning year.
  • Parents will commit to sharing family devotions and prayer on a consistent and regular basis (the Living Faith student workbook and The Daily Walk in the weekly Olive Branch are ideal tools for this!)
  • Parents are urged to attend the Big Review in May and see just how much their student has learned!
  • STUDENTS WILL ATTEND a weekend learning/service event – date and nature of the event to be determined.

Parents and Students! We will have a lot of fun on this day as we review all that we have learned this year. Weather permitting, we hope to have a cookout along with parental participation (ahem!) in the review.

We had such a great year and we love our Body Shop students!