• 7th and 8th grade age students enroll in our two year Confirmation Program, which prepares them for their Affirmation of Baptism in the spring of their 8th grade school year. Confirmation participants attend weekly classes on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm and on Sundays from 9:45 to 10:45 am; regular worship attendance is an ongoing expectation as well. During their two year course of faith development, the students will explore units of study on worship, prayer, stewardship, Lutheranism and Martin Luther, other Christian denominations and world religions, Jesus of Nazareth, the sacraments, Apostle’s Creed, 10 commandments and finish with a look at how this relates to their active faith as they continue on as a confirmed member of the church. Students are guided by pastoral and lay leadership which fosters small group interaction as well as opportunities for the larger group experiences as well.
• There is a fall retreat for both grades and a spring retreat for the 8th grade class. Both retreats will be held at LOMC, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, near Oregon, IL. The wooded setting is appropriate for connecting our students to God’s creation, as well to each other as they experience various team building activities. Various games, hiking, camp fire fun, as well as exploring the camp food wets the appetite for independence for pre-teen students – they love the retreats! When the 8th grade class returns there for the spring retreat they are busy reacquainting themselves to the hills and hiking, as well as working to plan and prepare for their approaching Affirmation of Baptism.
• There are various service and fellowship opportunities which occur during the year, which are made possible by the involvement of parents and other lay leadership in the congregation.

You may contact Dee Weinke, Director of Youth Ministries, at youth@stlukespr.org for further information.