After trying out the Workshop Rotation Model in our Sunday School last May, I got the idea to try to do something similar with our confirmation ministry. We had not been pleased with the curriculum we were using. The kids didn't seem very engaged in their learning, even though we tried to spice it up a bit. So I got to thinking about what components/topics a good confirmation ministry should include and what we found lacking in the
curriculum we were purchasing. I've planned a 3 year cycle of courses (our ministry is for 6-8th graders) that includes three retreats (one each year).

This year we are concentrating on Luther's Small Catechism. In the fall, we studied Baptism for 5 weeks and then Communion for the next five weeks.

For our Baptism workshops we did the following:

Session I: Video/Drama Workshop--included a portion of the "Jesus of Nazareth" video that showed Jesus' baptism. The youth read the account in their bibles and then two different groups created news stories recounting
the event and performed them for each other.

Session II: Worship Workshop--students met in the sanctuary with the pastor and looked for symbols of baptism throughout the church. Discussed part of Luther's catechism on baptism. Then they "walked through" the
baptismal service in the Lutheran Book of Worship and discussed the promises that their parents made for them in their baptism as well as the promises God
makes to us.

Session III: Art Workshop--An art teacher discussed baptismal symbols with the youth and had them decide on a symbol that represented their baptism to them. They then did a "stained glass" window project using their symbol. (It was really neat!)

Session IV: "Traveling Workshop"--We took a field trip to a nearby Roman Catholic church and had their priest explain their baptismal service to us. We then went to a Baptist Church and had their pastor show us their baptistry and share their understanding of baptism with us. This was a great experience not only for the kids but also for the parents who went along.

Session V: Games Workshop--This served as our review of the previous 4 weeks and tied it all together. We played "Baptism Jeopardy", "Baptism Pictionary" and other games I adapted to fit the topic.

This is just a sample of some of the things we have done. Tonight we are studying the Lord's Prayer and are concentrating on "Give us Lord our daily bread." So we will be making spaghetti sauce to feed 200 for our local food shelter!

I'm having a great time planning the classes and I can tell the youth are really enjoying this different learning experience.

Holly Shipley
Faith Lutheran Church
Lexington, KY
faithelca @ aol.com