The book, My Faith, My Life, has a downloadable 141-page Leader Guide in PDF file format. The guide offers a complete program for confirmation with several design options that can be customized for the needs of your congregation.
Confirmation
is one of those rites of passage that youth and parents in our culture
continue to value. This sacramental rite calls on the power of the Holy
Spirit to strengthen those who express a mature commitment to Christ.
The materials offered in My Faith, My Life and this Leader Guide can
equip leaders to lovingly guide youth toward this maturity. It is well
organized and easy to follow, offering complete outlines for a variety
of formats depending on the time frame that best suits your program.
The educational principles are sound, the theology clear, and the
exercises engaging. Those wishing to lead a group of youth in education
and exploration about what it means to be a member of the Episcopal
Church and a faithful Christian will find an abundance of tools and
ideas within this guide.
These exercises lead youth into
profound discoveries about themselves and God. They represent input
from youth, adult mentors, and parents of the Cathedral Church of the
Nativity, where Jenifer and I have been privileged to experience the
Holy Spirit at work in our lives and in the lives of youth. Of course,
as a leader you will want to adapt them for your own setting. And that
is the most important thing to remember: This guide is a tool, not a
confirmation program. Your program is designed around the people who
inhabit it: yourself, the confirmands, other leaders, your parish, and
the families involved. It is important to be kind to yourself and
follow your own heart and sense of call.With this in mind, this Leader
Guide makes it easy to prepare.
As with all rites of passage,
Confirmation offers the potential for transformation in all
participants.As with all such endeavors, the leaders will not emerge
unchanged. Enjoy!
The Rev. Canon Anne E. Kitch Canon for Christian Formation Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, PA Fall 2007
Contents of the Leader Guide
A Six-Session Program with a Retreat A Twelve-Session Program Instructed Eucharist Making Communion Bread Adding a Mentoring Component Answer Key to Chapter Activities Group Games and Icebreakers Prayer Resources Praying with Anglican Prayer Beads Praying with a Labyrinth Praying with a Text: Prayer Cards Praying with Icons Method for Theological Reflection Beginning with a Movie Articles for a Parish Newsletter Multiple Intelligences Handouts Team Projects Worship Worksheet Outreach Project Reflection Chapter Activity Sheets
