September ‘19– May ‘20 re:form€¦ · Sparkhouse Publishers. Re:form is designed to give...

United Methodist Church of Anoka

850 South Street

Anoka, Minnesota 55303

(763) 421-2378

September ‘19– May ‘20

re:form

Confirmation Ministry at the

United Methodist Church of Anoka

Confirmation Handbook

Grades 8 and 9

Table of Contents

Welcome to Confirmation 3

Why Confirmation? 4

Expectations 6

UMC Anoka

Parents

Students

Re:form Curriculum 10

Wednesday nights– Encounter, Engage, Respond

Community Events

Small Group Night Events

Adult Leaders/ Offering 14

Policies and Procedures 15

Facebook Page 16

www.facebook.com/UMCAnokaYouth

Retreats/ Events 17

Life Verses 18

Apostles’ Creed 20

The Lord’s Prayer/ 10 Commandments 21

Important Dates 22

Requirements Checklist 23

Requirement Checklist (over two years)

20 Worship Notes– from Sunday morning worship

2 Community Service Projects

2 Church Service Projects

Recite 20 Bible verses from memory

Learn & Recite Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer & 10

Commandments

We thank you for the

privilege of being a part of

your family’s faith formation

through Confirmation!

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Important Dates

CONFIRMATION DATES 2019-2020 Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30pm (Youth hangout 6-6:30 & 8:30-9pm)

Date Topic September 11, 2019 Confirmation Orientation from 6-7pm in Holyword Theater September 15, 2019 Homecoming Sunday September 18, 2019 Confirmation Kick-off Methodist Traditions “Did this church really start b/c of some holier-than-thou

teens? September 25, 2019 Methodist Traditions “What is prevenient grace & do I have to learn geometry to be a

Methodist?” October 2, 2019 Methodist Traditions “If a Methodist sings out of tune, does that mean they’re not

perfect? October 9, 2019 Methodist Traditions “What actually happens when Methodists are on a mission?” Oct 11-Oct 13, 2019 Chaos – Confirmation retreat in Eau Claire, WI ($90/person) October 16, 2019 NO CONFIRMATION- MEA October 23, 2019 Community Night- Methodist on a Mission Service Projects October 30, 2019 Mini Reflections night- Methodist Traditions/Introduction to the Apostles’ Creed November 6, 2019 Creed “Can it be proven that God exists?” November 13, 2019 Creed “Is God male?” November 15, 2019 Visit to Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove, MN 5:30-8:30pm November 20, 2019 Creed “How can God be three in one?” November 27, 2019 NO CONFIRMATION- Happy Thanksgiving! December 4, 2019 Small Group Night December 11, 2019 Community Night- Christmas Caroling @ Mercy Hospital (6-8PM) December 18, 2019 Secret Santa Party December 25, 2019 NO CONFIRMATION- Merry Christmas! December 27-28, 2019 LOCK-IN (4PM-10AM, $60) Ice Skating & Escape Room January 1, 2020 NO CONFIRMATION- Happy New Year! January 8, 2020 Creed “Does God still create new stuff?” & “Am I supposed to believe Mary was a

virgin?” January 17, 2020 Creed “Why did Jesus go to hell & if Jesus was God, why did he have to die?” January 19, 2020 Visit to MN Buddhist Vihara in Minneapolis, MN 5:30-8:30pm January 24, 2020 Creed “Is this Holy Spirit a person or wind or what?” January 31, 2020 Small Group Night February 4, 2020 Visit TBA February 7, 2020 Ash Wednesday- Creed “Is believing in Jesus really the only way get to heaven?” February 14, 2020 Creed “Can I do something bad enough to make God stop loving me?” February 18, 2020 Visit TBA February 21, 2020 Creed “Why do we believe in the “holy catholic church?” February 28, 2020 Mini Reflections night- Apostles’ Creed March 7, 2020 Other Beliefs March 14, 2020 NO CONFIRMATION- Spring Break March 21, 2020 Other Beliefs “Why do Christians believe Christianity is the best religion? Why are there so many different Christian churches?” March 28, 2020 Small Group Night (possibly no meeting b/c of Easter break) Friday, March 30, 2020 Visit to Temple of Aaron in St. Paul, MN- 6:15-10:30 PM April 4, 2020 Sacraments: Baptism/ Communion April 11, 2020 NO CONFIRMATION- Holy Week April 18, 2020 Prayer “Why should I pray when God doesn’t answer all my prayers?” April 25, 2020 Prayer “Why should I pray the Lord’s Prayer when it feels like I’m just going through

the motions?” May 2, 2020 Reflections night May 9, 2020 Confirmation Party!/Last day of Confirmation

*Please note: Dates are subject to change. We will make every effort to notify you of any changes.

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Welcome!

Greetings Confirmation youth and families,

Welcome to a new and exciting year of Confirmation.

Whether this is your first year of Confirmation or you are a

returning student, welcome! We are glad you are here.

Confirmation should be a fun and exciting time in your life

as you learn and grow in your faith.

During your Confirmation years we will dig deeper into

God’s word as we spend one year studying the Old and

New Testaments and the other year learning about our

Methodist traditions, the Sacraments, the Apostles’ Creed,

the Ten Commandments, and what it means to be a disciple

of Jesus Christ. You will have the opportunity to wrestle

with tough questions, engage in relevant discussion, and help

serve others. Students will leave Confirmation with a

deeper understanding of their Christian faith and tools to

encourage them as they continue on their faith journey for

the rest of your lives!

Please refer to this handbook as a reference for

Confirmation expectations, dates, format and more. It is

going to be a great year—we are glad you are here!

In Christ,

Dave Long Family Ministries Director

Why Confirmation?

Purpose The purpose of Confirmation is to help students discover what

they believe and to nurture students in their faith by helping

them grow in their relationship with Christ.

What is Confirmation? Confirmation is a two year program that prepares each

student for their Confirmation Day. Students typically

start Confirmation in the fall of eighth grade. Students

will confirm their faith during worship in the fall of their

tenth grade year.

UMC Anoka uses the re:form curriculum from

Sparkhouse Publishers. Re:form is designed to give each

student an understanding of the faith which they will

confirm.

What is the goal of Confirmation? We have three primary goals in re:form Confirmation

ministry.

1. We will provide instruction to prepare students

for their Confirmation Day. One year of Confirmation

will focus on The Bible. We will meet our Old and

New Testament Ancestors. The second year of

Confirmation will focus on elements of our faith.

During this year we will learn more about

our Methodist traditions, the Lord’s

Prayer, the Sacraments, the Creed, and

the Ten Commandments.

When a student is confirmed at UMCA

they will:

- Profess their faith in Christ as their own to

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The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom

and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

The 10 Commandments

1. You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

2. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an

image of anything in the heavens or on earth or in the sea.

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I,

the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate

your affection for any other gods. (Exodus 20:4-5)

3. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

(Exodus 20:7)

4. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

(Exodus 20:8)

5. Honor your father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)

6. You must not murder. (Exodus 20:13)

7. You must not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)

8. You must not steal. (Exodus 20:15)

9. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

(Exodus 20:16)

10. You must not covet your neighbors house, wife, male or

female servant, ox or donkey or anything else that belongs

to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17)

Apostles Creed

Traditional Methodist Version

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;*

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty.

from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic** Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Ecumenical Version

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.*

On the third day he rose again,

he ascended into heaven,

is seated at the right hand of the Father.

and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic** Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

affirm the promises made at their baptism. They will

have a desire to continue in their journey of faith living

in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

- Be able to recite from the heart the Apostles Creed,

Lord’s Prayer, and 10 Commandments.

- Know a minimum of 10 Bible verses from the heart

as chosen by UMCA pastors and staff.

- Have a foundational understanding of the Old and

New Testament, Methodist traditions and what it

means to serve others as Christ taught us to serve.

2. We will provide a safe and nurturing

environment where the Christian life is modeled by

adult leaders. We will strive to engage students

through videos, fun activities and games, projects,

service, meaningful conversation. We will work

together with you as a family, to bring the knowledge

of faith and God’s love to every student, encouraging

confirmands to grow in a personal relationship with

Jesus Christ that will hold them in their ups and downs

of life.

3. We will partner with you as parents to teach your

child about the faith and to be a disciple of Jesus

Christ. We will walk alongside you to teach them the Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s

Prayer, and to provide for their instruction in the

Christian faith, that they may lead Godly lives. We will

strive to be your best ally in these adolescent years,

helping to deepen your relationships with each other

and with God. We will provide tools to connect

Confirmation with your home: through student

anti-workbooks and online forums (see more about

the online forums on page 16).

Expectations

What can you expect of UMC Anoka?

Support!

The staff and leadership of UMC Anoka will do all that we

can to support you during this vital yet sometimes trying

times in your youth’s life.

Provide a safe, loving and welcoming atmosphere.

Confirmation events are designed with every youth in

mind. Every effort will be made to welcome youth, to

listen to their individual needs and desires for the

Confirmation program and to engage them in learning

and activities that will allow them to meet new people

and make friends.

Teach Biblically sound, relevant lessons.

We will use the re:form Confirmation curriculum from

Spark House. Each Confirmation session will include a

short video (Encounter), hands-on-activities and discussion

(Engage) and small group time for students to present their

point of view (Respond) to the sessions theme.

Communication between church and home.

We will inform you of Confirmation events and happenings

through e-mail, e-newsletters, announcements and our

UMCA Youth Facebook page.

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Prayer

John 15:7– But if you remain in me and my words remain in

you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

Philippians 4:6-7- Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray

about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all

he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which

exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your

hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Sharing your Faith

Matthew 28:19-20- “Therefore, go and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son

and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the

commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you

always, even to the end of the age.”

Romans 1:16– For I am not ashamed of this Good News

about Christ. It is the power of God at work , saving everyone

who believes– the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Trust in God

Matthew 6:33-34- Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,

and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s

own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

How we Live

Micah 6:8– He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love

mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

All verses are from the NLT (New Living Translation).

Life Verses

God’s word is our hope and strength in times of trouble

and the foundation on which we, as Christian base our lives.

All confirmation students will be expected to learn 10 Bible

verses by heart. Below are some recommended verses!

Christ the Center

John 3:16-17- For God loved the world so much that he

gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in

him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his son into

the world not to judge the world, but to save the world

through him.

2 Corinthians 5:17– This means that anyone who belongs

to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a

new life has begun!

Galatians 2:20- My old self has been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in

the early body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave himself for me.

God’s Word

Joshua 1:8– Study this Book of Instruction continually.

Meditate on it day and night so that you will be sure to obey

everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and

succeed in all you do.

2 Timothy 3:16-17– All Scripture is inspired by God and is

useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is

wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and

teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and

equip his people to do every good work.

Continued next page

What is the role of the parent/ guardian?

Make Confirmation attendance a priority for your

child.

In order for your child to learn about the faith they will

confirm, they need to be present at Confirmation. We

hope that Confirmation will be a priority for your family

and that you’ll instill in your child that attendance at

Confirmation is not optional.

Make worship a priority for your family.

The purpose of Confirmation is to prepare your child

to confirm his/her faith and become a disciple of Christ.

Worship is central to what it means to be Christian.

Worship notes are meant to engage your child in the

worship service, and can also provide your family with

opportunities for faith-related conversations.

Commit to daily faith conversations

Each student will have an Anti-workbook with pages that

will be completed at Confirmation. An online forum will

also be available with session overviews and challenge

questions. Please practice daily faith conversations with

your youth at dinner time, before bed or before school –

find 10-15 minutes that works for your family daily! Use

this time to:

Share highs and lows

Read a short passage from scripture

Talk about the verses you read, highs/ lows and the

challenge for the week

Pray together

Bless each other

Tying faith to home is a vital part of faith development

in young people and Confirmation ministry and will most

certainly be a blessing to your family. Daily faith

conversations help to keep communication open in the

tough years of adolescence and beyond.

Be involved in your student’s Confirmation

experience.

Parent/guardian involvement is important in Confirmation

and in each student’s faith journey. Parents/guardians are

welcome at Confirmation anytime.

What is expected of each student?

Attend Confirmation.

Students are required to participate each Wednesday in

the large group time and in hands on activities and small

group discussion.

Participate in Community Events.

These events are just as much a part of Confirmation as

are the regular Confirmation sessions and attendance is

expected. See page10 for a description of these events.

Complete sermon notes.

Twenty sermon notes are required for Confirmation

students. Sermon notes may be completed during Sunday

morning worship, at another church service, or online if

you listen to sermons or podcasts. Worship note pages

are available by the Youth Bulletin Board. Completed

notes can be turned into the Family Ministries box

outside the Family Ministries office (room 203). Sermon

notes should be answered honestly and with well thought

out answers to be counted towards completed notes.

Any special circumstances that prevent regular worship

attendance should be discussed with the Family Ministries

Director. Worship note worksheets can be from another

church but should be accompanied by a bulletin from that

church.

Retreats/ Events

Confirmation/Youth Retreat All Confirmation students are required to attend the

Confirmation retreat. We will travel together to the

Metropolis Hotel/Chaos Waterpark in Eau Claire for

a weekend of fun, community building, and learning.

This weekend will be an opportunity to be more present

in our every day lives, allowing God to use us in great

ways. This is a required retreat for Confirmation students

and open to all other senior high youth and young adults.

The Youth Retreat will take place on October 11-13 and

costs $90. If you’d like to be a chaperone, let Dave know!

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Facebook Page Www.facebook.com/umcanokayouth

INSTAGRAM: @UMCAnokayouth

What will you find online? In Class

See what we talked about each week in class. Find all of

the activities, discussion points and questions to ask

your student about what they learned and to find the

weekly challenge.

The Gallery

See pictures and art from the students. Straight from

the Anti-workbook.

Units

A complete list of the units and weekly lesson topics can

be found on this tab by date/ month.

Worship Notes/ Service Reports

Would you or your student like to know how many

worship notes or service reports they have completed?

Just send an e-mail, text or message on Facebook to

Dave and he can let you know.

About

Find all the basic information about Confirmation or

submit a question to the Family Ministries Director in a Facebook message or e-mail to

[email protected]

Confirmation @ UMCA

Information for Confirmation youth and their families.

Complete service projects.

Four service projects are required of all

Confirmation students. Service projects should include

two church projects and two community projects. If you

are unsure about the validity of an activity for service

hours, contact the Coordinator of Family Ministries to

find out. Upon completion of a service activity, students

should complete a service report form available from the

worship notes box in the main office. These forms can

be returned to the box labeled “Sermon Notes and

Service Reports.”

Greeters/ Ushers/ Readers during Sunday worship

services.

All students are encouraged to participate in worship services by greeting, reading scripture, playing music,

or ushering. While this is not a requirement for

Confirmation, it is a great experience to get involved as

an adult member of the church. Students and their

families can sign up for these opportunities in the

Community Room. The first Sundays of the month are

best for this!

Remember your Anti-workbook, Bible and

Offering for every Confirmation session.

All students are expected to bring their Bible and a

journal to every Confirmation session. We will use these

weekly so it is important to have them with you. It is the

student’s responsibility to make sure they have their

Bible and journal each week. The cost to replace a Bible

is $20. Students are also encouraged to bring offering

each week which goes to a charity of the Confirmands’

choice. This helps get them in the habit of being

generous and also helps those in need!

Re:form Wednesday nights

Confirmation classes take place on Wednesday evenings

from 6:30-8:30 PM and will account for approximately

95% of the Confirmation sessions. Worship, games,

announcements, and classes will be held in the Youth

Room (room 104 on lower level). Every Wednesday

night will begin with a group game, announcements,

worship and the following three parts:

1. We will begin each session in the Youth Room with a

short video clip from Re:Form after worship. These

clips guide students as we encounter a concept from

the Christian faith.

11. The youth will have an opportunity to engage in

interactive activities. These activities get youth talking

with each other and exploring their faith in creative

ways. Students may break into small groups for these

activities and discussion.

111. Each Confirmation session will end in small groups. In

their small groups, students will have an opportunity to

share their work and what they have learned. They will

also have opportunities to ask questions. Sessions will

end with reflection and/or prayer.

Parents are always invited and encouraged to attend events with their

youth too.

Please let the Family Ministries Director know if you plan to attend.

Policies and Procedures

Attendance Attendance is a required part of Confirmation. However, we

understand that unavoidable absences do occur. If a student

is sick or must be absent, a parent or guardian should contact

the Family Ministries Director as soon as they know that the

student will be absent. If the Family Ministries Director is not

notified of a student’s absence, they (or the student’s small

group leader) will call within the week to check in with you.

We care about every student and their family and want to

make sure that everything is okay.

In the event of frequent absences, sessions will need to be

made up by the student with the Family Ministries Director.

Cell phones, iPods, electronics, etc.

Cell Phones, iPods or electronics of any kind will be asked to

be put in the phone ‘casket’ before class unless otherwise

directed.

Confirmation Fee

The Confirmation fee is $25 and should be paid at the time

of registration. This fee helps to cover the cost of the Anti

-workbooks, Bibles and other programming supplies.

(Actual cost for each student is approximately $30).

UMC Anoka will not deny any student the opportunity to

participate in Confirmation. Please talk to the Coordinator of

Family Ministries for information regarding scholarships or

financial aid. All financial assistance will remain confidential.

Bible Every student will receive an NLT (New Living Translation)

Teen Life Application Study Bible at the beginning of their

8th grade year of Confirmation. Students should bring

their Bible to every Confirmation session.

Friends Youth are encouraged to invite friends to Confirmation. Please let

the Family Ministries Director know if you plan to bring a friend so

we can plan activities and discussion accordingly.

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Adult Leaders

Who will be my student’s Confirmation teacher?

Confirmation lessons will be taught by the UMC Anoka

Family Ministries Director, as well as confirmed youth

and young adults. Students will work individually or in

small groups for activities and discussion. Students will

then break into small groups and discuss the day’s lesson

as well as go through their ‘high-lows’ for the week.

Each student will be assigned to a small group with a

small group guide. Students will remain in their small

groups for the duration of their Confirmation

experience.

Offering

Where will the Confirmation offering go?

Confirmation and Sunday School offering for 2019-2020

will go to Hands of Freedom. Hands of Freedom installs

wells sponsored by individuals, families, churches and

other organizations. Access to clean water has greatly

reduced water-borne diseases as well as freed up

women to be able to engage in earning a livelihood and

children are able to stay in school. Once the well is

installed, any remaining funds go toward community

support including mentoring, school supplies and

vocational training. The goal is $3,000 and we have

currently raised $2,750.

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Wednesday Night Schedule

6:00 PM All youth hangout (optional)

6:30 PM Game/Announcements (room 114)

6:45 PM Worship/Prayer

7:15 PM Lesson/Video

7:50 PM Small Group Time & Closing Prayer

8:30 PM All youth hangout (optional)

Community Events In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands us to “Go and

make disciples…” As part of our Christian faith we

are to go OUT into the world and share the love of

Christ and serve others. Throughout the year,

Confirmation students will participate in Community

events where we will respond to Jesus command to GO

and make disciples. During these events we will serve

others in the community as Jesus’ witnesses. Please refer

to the Confirmation Dates- page 22 in this handbook for

Community event dates. Please note, that these are a

required part of the Confirmation experience.

2019-2020 Community Events

Christmas Caroling

Confirmation students will join with members of the

congregation to bring holiday joy to sick, homeless and

elderly members of our community. Watch for more

details in December.

Small Group Night Events Service and Fellowship are important parts of the Confirmation

experience. Confirmation students will have 3 opportunities

throughout the year to participate in a small group event with

their small group. These events may take place off site

depending on the groups choosing. Each small group will be

expected to participate in one volunteer event and one

community event.

Volunteer Event Serving and volunteering in the Lord’s name is an important part

of Christian life. These servant events will be planned by your

student’s small group leader along with the confirmands in the

small group. There may be times that you will need to drop/pick

up your student off-site. Please refer to the Confirmation Dates-

page 26 in this handbook for possible servant event dates, they

will be listed as Small Group Nights. Please note that these are a

required part of the Confirmation experience.

Community Event Community Events are meant for students to build relationships

with one another and with their small group leaders. As with

volunteer events, community events will be planned by your

student’s small group leader along with the small group. They

will likely happen offsite, so be in close contact with your youth

and your youth’s small group leader for pick-up time and info.

Like the Volunteer Events, these events will be listed on the

Confirmation Dates page as Small Group Nights. The time of the

event, unless otherwise indicated by your child’s small group

leader should be the same as Wed night scheduling. Students

may be asked to bring a few dollars to cover costs. Please note

that these are a required part of the Confirmation experience.

Community Events may include:

Bowling, Game Night, Whirly Ball, Pizza Party, etc.

My SGL’s name is: ______________________

Their phone # is: ________________________

Daily Faith Conversations Daily faith conversations are designed to help families grow

together in the faith while spending time with one another.

Faith conversations are intended to be approximately 5-10

minutes every day in every home. During this time, families

share highs and lows, read scripture and pray together.

Faith Conversations

SHARE

How are things going? Share highs

and Lows from the day/ week.

READ Read and highlight a short passage in your Bible.

A One Year Bible or Daily Bible can be helpful in

choosing scripture to read each day.

TALK

Reflect on the Bible passage you just read. Talk about

this week’s Confirmation session. Look back on the

Anti-workbook activities or check out the

Confirmation online forum (more details on page 16)

to jumpstart your conversation.

PRAY

Talk to God together. Praise and thank God for the

day’s highs and ask God to take care of worries,

concerns or needs. Close in Jesus’ name.

The Daily Faith Conversations elements and symbols have been adapted from the Home Huddle

from the FAITH 5™ from Faith Inkubators. The FAITH 5 connects church to home, faith to life, and parents to kids in a powerful way. For more information check out

http://www.faithink.com/Inkubators/f5.asp

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