Confirmation Weekend details
Saturday, 23 January 2010 01:24
The Confirmation weekend is coming around again –the 9th one. And this year it will go alongside the theme that the Bishop will be using in the Confirmation Services –‘Stand Out’.The purpose of the weekend will be to:
· Introduce young people to several aspects of confirmation preparation in a new and vibrant way.
· Encourage them in their role as part of the church.
· Enthuse and challenge them through fellowship, discussion, worship and fun.
· Present them with opportunities to grow further in their faith.
This year again we will be in the newer venue of Castlewellan Castle. This means that the price is reduced from 2008 by £10 to £39 but that groups will be expected to make their own way there. Castlewellan proved a great hit last year with groups and we packed the venue out with over 175 young people and leaders. We have also got some great newer activities for young people such as Laser skirmishing and laser clay pigeon shooting.
DYO Andrew Brannigan says "I am constantly meeting people for whom the Confirmation weekend was a real highlight in their faith development and know (from evaluations) that it is a big encouragement to candidates and their leaders. I also know (from my own group) just how hard it can be to encourage and cajole young people into going away!"
Please continue to make the effort to try and get a group along. You can also send young people on it that are not currently being confirmed as it the programme should still be relevant to them.
The vital stats for the weekend are as follows:
Dates: Friday 19th –Sunday 21st March 2010
Times: Registration from 7-8pm on the Friday and pick up at 3pm on the Sunday.
Venue: Castlewellan Castle
Cost: A subsidised £39, which includes full board and all activities. Check with your Rector to see if your church will subsidise this further!
Age range: Candidates aged 11 - 18 years. It is also a relevant programme for the friends of those being confirmed or those confirmed in recent years.
Transport: Each person will be expected to make their own way there.
Accommodation: This will be in rooms and dorms and be allocated on arrival. Every effort will be made to ensure that groups will share the same rooms with other young people from their group. Duvets and pillows are provided but each person coming must bring 2 sheets and pillow case, or else a sleeping bag and pillow case.
Facilitator Groups: These are mixed groups of young people who meet to do activities and take part in discussion on the main sessions. They will be facilitated by 2 or 3 leaders, at least one of whom will have experience of doing this before. Although we mix the groups up we try to ensure that young people are there with at least 2 others from the same church (where possible). Leaders from parishes are very welcome to join in with these groups.
Activities: Includes outdoor and indoor activities such as Laser Skirmishing, water activities, bag painting, archery, arts and crafts, football, video games and so on
Programme: Our speaker this year will be Laura Kenwell (pictured right), who has been the youth worker in Shankill Parish for the past 6 years. She will be sharing on this year’s confirmation theme of ‘Stand Out’ over 3 sessions:
1. What is confirmation & what does it mean to be confirmed?Helping to clarify for young people the process of confirmation (confirming to God we are his, our Baptismal vows and so on) and giving our lives to Christ and also to encourage them to ask seriously what it means for themselves and others.2. Service and DiscipleshipA basic ‘How to’ on living as a disciple -looking at how young people are called to be lights of the world and that it is through serving and following that we become disciples.3. Fellowship and the churchLooking at the role young people undertake in their own parish and how they can play a significant part through it in the body of Christ.
Extra info about the weekend:
Deposit: £10 deposit will need to be paid to secure a place with the rest payable at the weekend. Please make cheques payable to ‘Diocese of Down and Dromore’.
Leaders: Although there will be in the region of 30 diocesan leaders in attendance to facilitate the weekend it is imperative that each group provides at least one leader.
Registration forms will need to be completed and sent back to Brandy at the diocesan office (address on the contact page) by Monday 15th March. Places are limited and will be given on a first-come basis. We can reserve places over the phone as long as the numbers are as accurate as possible! If you have any questions then please call Brandy on 9024 0316 or 07950 846621
