Ninth Grade Confirmation Need-to-Knows
· Pastor Ted Carnahan
Dear Parents and Ninth Grade Confirmation Students,
We’re well into the fall, and I want to make sure every ninth grade family knows what’s coming in these next few weeks before Confirmation Sunday. There are three things that need your attention before we get there.
1. Personal Faith Statement — First Draft Due October 1
Every ninth grader writes a personal faith statement as part of confirmation. This is a chance to put into your own words what you believe, why it matters, and how you plan to live it out.
The statement should be 300–600 words, your own original work, and cover these topics:
- Your personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
- What it means to you to be a baptized Christian
- The importance of Holy Communion
- Your confirmation verse (from the approved list or one you’ve cleared with me)
- How you plan to put your faith into action
First draft is due by October 1. Send it to me as plain text in an email (not a photo, Word doc, or Google Doc) to pastor@oursaviorsjackson.com. I’ll read it and send back comments, then you’ll submit the final draft before your scheduled meeting.
The full details are in the 2026–2027 Confirmation Handbook — including the list of approved confirmation verses and resources to help your student get started.
2. Schedule Your Final Meeting with Me
Before Confirmation Sunday, each student together with their parents needs to sit down with me for a 30-minute final meeting. During that meeting I’ll ask your student to:
- Answer questions based on their faith statement
- Recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Ten Commandments from memory
- Show a basic understanding of Lutheran teaching and doctrine
Reviewing the Small Catechism, the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Ten Commandments together at home is the best way to prepare.
Please book your meeting now.
Schedule your final meeting here →
3. Confirmation Photography — Sunday, October 4
We’ll have confirmation photography on Sunday, October 4, right after church (following the 9:00am service). This is when we take the official individual and group photos. Plan to stick around afterward — the whole confirmation class will be there.
The confirmation stoles have not yet arrived from the vendor, but we will let all families know as soon as they do so they can be decorated or embroidered in time for photography on October 4.
If you have any questions about any of this, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
In Christ,
Pastor Ted
pastor@oursaviorsjackson.com · (507) 832-0099