Author Archives: maryellensteinkraus

Lutheran Faith Formation: A New Vision for Lutheran Confirmation Ministry

CONSIDERING OUR PRESENT SITUATION How would you describe the effectiveness, or the lack thereof, of present, so-called Traditional Confirmation processes? To answer, consider this question? What percentage of our High School Seniors are “functionally active” in our congregational life? Meaning: Worshiping at least monthly?  Participating in any learning or serving dimension of the congregation? Including, …

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Age Appropriate Approach

AGE APPROPRIATE LEARNING MODELS EMPLOYED Model 1.  At home, Family Centered Learning. (Grades 3-5) Primary Learning of the faith centers in the at home, parent taught units, with direction, support and assistance from Pastor(s). Model 2.  Family centered with at home and at church learning. (Grades 6-7) Learning that capitalizes on both home taught/learning and …

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Age Appropriate Approach

A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES Infants to Grade 5:  On Solid Ground    (Child) Home, parents & family comprise their firm “base context” for almost all security,sense of belonging and of who the individual is as a person.  Primary “giving them roots” occurs during their years.  Self-image, relationships, life values & purpose are derived from the teaching, …

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Revisit and Improve the Current Confirmation Ministry

HOW DID WE GET HERE? WHAT NEEDS TO BE REVISITED TO IMPROVE FAITH FORMATION OF OUR YOUTH? There are, as with so many such questions, multiple answers to that question as I see it. Primary among them, I would propose, that the whole process has been hijacked. Hijacked, in significant part by clergy.  Supported, it …

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Take into Consideration Child Development Facts

Tracking the social, emotional, physical & spiritual development of youth will yield up some rather poignant realities not taken into account in the “traditional Confirmation Ministry model”,  beginning in grades 6-8 and ending in grades 8-10, if that means concluding in Fall of 10th grade.  Reality is that the years of grades 6-9 are the …

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Overview of Confirmation Process: Actual Plan Used for Grades 3 and 4

OVERVIEW OF CONFIRMATION MINISTRY PROCESS (Copy of actual plan used at Grace Lutheran in Hermantown,MN) THIRD GRADE WORSHIP:  Fifteen (15) Worship Units earned. SUNDAY SCHOOL:  Fifteen (15) Sunday School Credits earned. CONFIRMATION UNIT:  Enrollment Service & Receive Bibles (October) Learning:  Liturgies for Worship. (January Sundays) Sunday 01:  Parent/Student intro to Organ led Worship Sunday 02:  …

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Child Discipleship Forum – Resilient Disciples

Why are kids leaving the church after high school? This is the question that has been asked over and over again in the Lutheran Church. The Child Discipleship Forum on September 16 – 17th, 2021 deals with that question. In this forum, the statistics are presented by the Barna Group as well as innovative suggestions …

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Lutheran Faith Formation: Fourth Grade Curriculum

This is the first of the published curriculum for the Lutheran Faith Formation process. It is first because it is a good example of the age-appropriate nature of the process as well as the instructional and service components of the process. Families learning together and growing in faith is key to remaining connected to each …

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