Confirmation 

Confirmation of Children and Young People

If you want your child to begin confirmation preparation you will need to come along to the preparation as well. In Llandaff Diocese a child must be in year 6 to be confirmed but can start preparation in year 5. Many parents have taken this opportunity to get confirmed themselves at the same time.  

 

Hang on I thought confirmation was just for children?

Lots of people think that if you were not confirmed as a teenager you can’t do it later. At our Churches people from 11 to 80 have been confirmed recently. As long as you are older than 11 or in Year 6 you can be confirmed. Recently far more adults have come for confirmation so you probably will not be the only grown up. 

 

What is confirmation?

Confirmation is where people confirm the promises made on their behalf at baptism themselves. You then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become a full member of the Christian Church.

 

I’m really shy do I have to stand up in front of everyone?

Yes, but you will be in a group of at least ten so it’s not that bad and we will take you through the service, even really shy people have said it was OK, honest.

 

Can I receive communion when I’m confirmed?

After confirmation you become a full, adult member of the Christian family so you are welcome to receive communion.

 

What Promises were made at my baptism?

Some people are babies when they were baptized others are very young children. At this service a series of promises are made on the child’s behalf by the parents and godparents. They promise three times to turn away from everything evil and embrace everything good. These promises have been unchanged for nearly 2000 years.

They are:

 

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion

against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and

corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate

us from God and neighbor?

I repent of them.

 

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way,

the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

 

At baptism, your parents and godparents made the profession of the Christian faith on your behalf. At confirmation, you also confirm that you believe this faith.

The profession of faith is known as the Apostles’ Creed and has been unchanged for nearly 2000 years.

 

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

 

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

I believe 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;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand

of the Father,

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

 

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

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.

 

How do I prepare for confirmation?

For our young people confirmation preparation can start in Year 5 as long as the child is in year 6 when the confirmation happens. The young people will be asked to attend the Shine Services at St Elvans and St Fagans which happen on Sunday Evenings twice per month. To be prepared for confirmation you must attend between April and the October confirmation.

 

If you are an adult we hold separate adult preparation which begin in September and March.

 

If you signup by filling in the form below you will be invited to the Shine Services or Adult Preparation.

 

What about the old confirmation classes with the vicar?

Confirmation is the start of an adult journey of faith, we ask you to come to the Shine services as this will prepare your child for confirmation and expect you to continue to come to the services when they are confirmed. So we only do one class to explain the confirmation service and a rehearsal for the service itself.

 

I’m not baptized either what am I supposed to do?

If you were not baptized as a child you could be baptized as an adult. This can either done as part of a Sunday service or on another large or small service prior to confirmation.

 

I’m not very religious, really am I good enough to be confirmed?

Everyone is welcome to be confirmed if they want to. The preparation is there to help you decide not to see if you are good enough. Jesus gives us confirmation as a gift not as a reward for being good.  Jesus asks everyone to follow him no matter who they are, if you think that you are good enough then you are defiantly on the wrong track.

 

That sounds a bit heavy?

Confirmation is a big commitment, but that doesn’t mean that the preparation must be boring or bible bashing.  Preparation is usually an enjoyable experience.

 

My friend is already confirmed, can she come do the preparation with me?

Anyone is welcome to come to the preparation with you. We encourage  anyone who lives in the ministry area to come to join in, in fact it often works out far better if they do.

 

I was brought up in another Church can I be confirmed?

Different Churches have slightly different ways of doing things. It is best to ask the clergy as each church is different.

 

When is the Confirmation?

In Cynon Uchaf we have one or two confirmations per year one in St Elvans in April and another in St Fagans in October.  

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