This would normally be the time that we would be posting pictures of all the celebrations and iConfirm services across the country. Instead, everything has changed and I imagine that like our church, there have been indefinitely postponed services and questions about how to honor the journey we were on with our CnC classes.
I was teaching CnC to nine teenagers in Portland, Oregon. We were headed into the last few sessions of our year when we had to close our church building on March 15th. Our final retreat at the coast was cancelled first. Then the last class. Then the Confirmation that was set with our Bishop Visitation for May 17th. My youth had to endure many cancellations and events that they were looking forward to and were fatigued by having all of their interactions with their friends and teachers and community move to platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
I wanted to honor their journey and not add to their disappointments. Here are some options that I would encourage your community to utilize:
- The youth recite their passages and talk about what their journey has been this past year with their mentors and family on a virtual platform
- Host a closing session with your class that asks what each person learned about their faith over the past few months Have a party on Zoom!
- Play one of the online games like Pictionary
- Be sure to stay in touch with your class about when you anticipate being able to gather in person and recognize the process you all had together
There are lots of ways to provide closure and get feedback from one another, the most important part is to do something. One thing. You were all a part of a spiritual, faith formative experience. Now is the time to remember and lean in to what you learned!
– Christopher Craun