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January 8, 2008

Dear Parent,

Preparation for this year’s confirmation candidates will begin soon.  In addition to the information that will be provided in upcoming editions of the Home Envoy and the Youth Newsletter, I wanted to personally correspond with the parents as a means of inviting your daughters and sons to join in this year’s preparation for confirmation. 

Confirmation is an integral component and milestone along the path of Christian growth and faith formation.  In the United Methodist Church confirmation preparation is offered to all candidates from 6th grade through adulthood.  Per the United Methodist Book of Discipline “Membership training is a lifelong process . . . Confirmation preparation focuses attention upon the meaning of full membership and the need for church members to be in mission in all life’s relationships.”  (Page 115, ¶ 216) 

Aaron Norton and I have the privilege of leading this year’s confirmation preparation training.  Classes will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 beginning February 10th and run through April 26th.  The preparation will also involve two “Saturday retreat” sessions (March 15th and April 26th).  We will not have class on the Sundays following the Saturday retreats.  Please refer to the attached for scheduling details. 

As a means of providing parents with more detailed information and an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have, Aaron and I will be holding two parent meetings.  The first of the two meetings will be this Sunday (January 13th) in the sanctuary at 12:00 (following the 10:50 service).  The second will be held in the library on Sunday, January 20th immediately following the 9:30 service.  There is no need to attend both meetings; choose the one that is most convenient.  Also, if you have questions or concerns beyond what is covered during the parent meeting, please feel free to call me at the church office. 

During the parents meeting we will provide the following information:

~        Confirmation preparation registration

~        Information on choosing a mentor

~        Confirmation candidate expectations

~        Review confirmation class schedule and logistics

~        Question and answer

Again, I feel privileged and honored to be a part of this important step in your son and/or daughter’s Christian growth and look forward to seeing each of you at one of the two parent meetings.  If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to give me a call. 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Bryan Wendling
Associate Pastor
Blue Ridge United Methodist Church

Anticipated schedule: