Confirmation has been a special time in my life. I've learned a lot about God and it's been a great experience. I now know my responsibilities as a disciple of Jesus and that is why I am here today. 

        My Confirmation is a time to promise my faith to God, Thirteen years ago my faith to God was promised, but my parents spoke for me. I am now old enough to commit to God and understand my responsibilities to my church. I can speak for myself because I have learned what my confirmation is. It is a big step in my life, becoming a member of the church, accepting my responsibilities, and helping in the church. In committing myself to God I need to trust Him, come to church, and use good judgment in everyday situations. I have to live my life in God's path and listen to Him always. I must help in the church and be involved. I would like to work in the church nursery or Sunday School. I've also learned that God is always with us, watching over us, and sending us messages and to not ignore them because God is telling me something.

        After Confirmation, I have a better understanding of God and what His role is in my life. When He came to Earth as Jesus, He died for our sins, and to save us. He has always been in my life and will continue to be forever. God helps me when I am in trouble and I can always count on Him to pick me up when I fall. In my heart He is my best friend because He is trustworthy, honest, helpful, caring and extremely forgiving. He will love me no matter what I do, but in Confirmation I have learned not to abuse that privilege.

        By making my Confirmation, I am making commitments that I will choose to keep. I am becoming a messenger for Him as well as a member of my church. To fulfill my job as a messenger, I will spread the word of God by acting the way He would, following the path He has made for me in life, and caring for other people.

        I am strengthening a relationship through Confirmation, a relationship with God and with the church. This commitment I am making is a choice. It's one that I have chosen to make because I know that if you commit to, love, trust, and help God, He will do that same for you.

LEAH ECKLUND       FAITH STATEMENT      JUNE 3, 2001

         I feel that my Confirmation journey has brought me closer to God and makes me think twice about my actions. Confirmation is a time that I renew my baptismal vows and speak for myself.

        God has played a bigger role in my life now and forever will. God was there for me when my grandmother died. I actually felt comforted by God because my grandmother had been in such pain and wasn't anymore.

        I have a better understanding of God and I know He is always there for me in times of need.

        Now I realize more things that are of God's doing and pay more attention to his messages.

        Confirmation makes me feel like a bigger part of the church and makes me want to be a member. As a member of the church, I want to participate in doing different activities to help and use my talents such as playing the violin, acolyting, and ushering.

        I used to feel forced into going to church and now I actually want to go especially since my whole family attends, and when I leave church, I have a good feeling inside.

KERRI PETERSON     FAITH STATEMENT     JUNE 3, 2001

       When I first heard that I had to start going to confirmation classes once a week I thought, "Great, one more thing to do." In the beginning I wasn't excited to go to class every Wednesday for two years. But after the first couple of classes, I realized that it wasn't as terrible as I thought it was going to be. I like going because I heard about all the stories of how God works through Jesus. I like the fact that you could relate almost every story in the bible to an everyday situation.

        This was when I realized that I  WAS excited about getting confirmed, and that I wanted to renew my baptismal vows. I wanted to tell the whole church, kind of like I did when I was baptized. The only difference is that this time I would be speaking for myself.

        Now that I am becoming a new member of the church I will take on many new responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is not sleeping in on Sunday morning, but to go to church willingly and on my own. This responsibility doesn't mean if I come to church once a month I am doing the right thing. It does mean that I should be in church as often as I can.

        For me to become a member also means that I will be making commitments and will be doing things to show my love and participation in the church. One way I will show my participation is by helping out in the nursery every Sunday. Another way I will participate in the church is by helping out in the pumpkin patch sale in September.

        God has changed my life in many ways by teaching me the ways of God. I believe that God has changed my life mostly by teaching me what is right and what is wrong. I think he has taught us to behave how he would act during a situation and that most importantly, God has taught me how to love and forgive.

        On the day that I visited CUMC, I never imagined myself as a religious person, or that I would soon be going through a confirmation journey. I also would have never guessed that a science project could have brought me closer to God.

        It began one day when my friend (a current attendee of CUMC) Katie Hill started talking about her church. We both soon discovered that she attended the same church I was baptized at. After our conversation was said and done, I had an invitation to accompany her at church and soon after, confirmation class. I believe that God sent Katie into my life so that I could learn what it is like to be a practicing Christian. If it weren't for her, I would not be standing here reading my Faith Statement to you.

        As I have attended more and more confirmation classes, I have discovered that making my confirmation means to renew my baptismal vows, It means that I need to devote my time and energy to the church, God, and being a good Christian. As any other member of CUMC, I bring special talents that I believe can make our church a better worship place for God.

        I am currently a member of the Berner chorus and I can contribute my talents to the church choir. I am also involved in athletics and, I could organize church functions that would serve as good fund-raising opportunities. Taking God's word into the world is another thing that a Christian should do. I believe that if 1, talk about, and bring, my non-religious friends to church, I might be able to let them see all that God and Christianity have to offer, just as Katie has showed me. As I walked through this Confirmation journey, I thank you, the congregation, or setting examples for me. The steps I have taken up to this day have changed my life and perspectives. Not only has it let me meet extraordinary people, it has also allowed me to have a deep and meaningful relationship with God.