(watch here: https://youtu.be/sgWXiwV23J4)

This week we celebrated the confirmations of 5 of the 10 students from the class of 2019. I asked them to read their faith statements in lieu of the sermon. We’ll confirm the other 5 next week. Enjoy!

Marissa Murashie

1. What were the highlights of your confirmation experience?
My highlight of confirmation was last year during our time at Bible camp. When we watched the play outside, it felt so emotional and it felt like we were really watching it happen. I couldn’t believe how realistic it was. I also met some good friends there.

2. How did your faith in God grow over the 2-year program?
It grew by what we learned and the stories we read. Also throughout all the fun games and activities. Pastor was really nice and a lot of fun. She helped me understand God better.

3. How do you plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation?
I plan on going to church and helping out with the services.

Emma Raye

1. What were the highlights of your confirmation experience?
Throughout my two years of confirmation I have created new memories but also bonds that will last a lifetime. Some of my favorite memories would probably be when the confirmation squad did the winter retreat out in a HUGE cabin in the middle of nowhere. Let me tell ya they had a nice sauna that was used quite a bit. But anyway, I remember playing ghosts in the graveyard hours on end in the darkness with Maggie’s dad. Which eventually just turned into one big game of hide and seek. In addition to hide and seek, I’m pretty sure we played that game every time the confirmation crew was together. Now, another good remembrance was when we had to make pasties for the big order that we got from the church. Well, the parents did most of the work as us kids played games until midnight or so.

2. How did your faith in God grow over the 2-year program?
In confirmation my faith has grown for the better as in the beginning I didn’t really know much about God, but also how He is in our lives every day. Every week we would talk about how there have been some wrongdoing going on in our world but also how there was a light at the end of the tunnel in the end of it all. Releasing this, there has been trouble in my life that I thought that I may never conquer. But with the power of faith and trust my life became better. Within the two years of confirmation, I began to realize how powerful God can really be for you and your family.

3. How do you plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation?
After being confirmed today, I would like to proceed to help around the church by running Sunday school. I like to help out with kids but also would like to help them grow their faith with God as well. Another thing that I could do is usher different services a couple times a month. If needed, I would love to help acolyte and even run the nursery!

Jack Rivord

1. What were the highlights of your confirmation experience?
The highlight of my confirmation experience was going on the retreat to Amnicon. Being at the Amnicon retreat not only grew my relationship with God, but also the relationships with my peers around me. At first, the idea of a church camp in the middle of nowhere was less than appealing to me, but once my second and final trip was complete, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

2. How did your faith in God grow over the 2-year program?
My faith and bond with God grew very strong over the past 2 years. I had an unstable perception of what it meant to have faith in God going into the 2 year program as I’m sure most kids did or do. I had the idea that you had to do something in order to get something from God. As in “be good” and “do the right thing” or “you’ll never see these golden gates open.” After these 2 years, I’ve come to the real situation that it’s not about that. It’s about believing and trusting God and the path He’s taking you on. Not thinking that if you don’t go to church and apply for everything and recite your Bible verses that you will get something from God. Because you won’t and that’s not what it’s about. It’s about believing and staying true to yourself and to God.

3. How do you plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation?
I plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation by being an active member in my church community. Whether this is helping out around the church with various fundraisers or even acolyting when the acolytes scheduled just “couldn’t make it.” Or just by being here on Sundays and continuing my journey with God and faith.

Caleb Stank

1. What were the highlights of your confirmation experience?
One of my highlights over my confirmation process was the time we spent at Camp Amnicon. I liked it there because I got a chance to get away from the busy town and spend time with my friends. I also enjoyed the Luther Park Bible camp because I got to get out of Superior and meet and make new friends. I also liked the first of the confirmation class because of all the fun activities the pastor incorporated into the class.

2. How did your faith in God grow over the 2-year program?
My faith in God grew over the years by learning about Him and His work. During of the camps we would gather in a group and learn about the religion and how to pray which helped me learn about Him. When I was acolyting, I learned how to worship in a different setting and this showed me what God means to other people which helped me figure out what He meant to me.

3. How do you plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation?
I plan to come to church as much as I can and help out before service begins. I will also do a reading once in a while. I will also come and volunteer for the committee my mother is on (Mission and Outreach).

Megan Westlund

1. What were the highlights of your confirmation experience?
I would like to say, retreat was my favorite. I liked how we got to play tag in the woods at one in the morning with flashlights. And I like how we got to jump off the porch into the snow piles. I also had a great time when it was like -10 out and we all bolted to and from the food cabin for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I liked how we were allowed to run wild and smell like campfire for awhile, that was fun.

2. How did your faith in God grow over the 2-year program?
I learned faith by watching the congregation work together to get us through confirmation. There were a lot of people who were helping us especially with the fact that we switched pastors. I would like to thank Linda Clark for all of her time and effort in helping us with our confirmation group.

3. How do you plan on participating in the life of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church after confirmation?
I plan on continuing to help with the children’s plays. That’s always been something I’ve loved to help with. I can also help with vacation Bible school and bake sales that come around.