Epiphany United Church of Christ
A home for the urban spirit
Chicago, Illinois
A 2014 confirmand proudly shows off his Jesus socks after the confirmation service.
Confirmation at Epiphany UCC
Epiphany, in partnership with Ravenswood UCC, has a thriving one-year confirmation program that usually begins in the 8th grade. Youth from other churches or faith traditions are welcome to join us. Classes usually meet twice a month during the school week from 7:00-8:30 PM. Periodically, local visits to other churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples are taken by the confirmands as part of the learning process about their own burgeoning faith and the faith of others. Confirmands are encouraged to make their own decision about whether or not to be confirmed at the end of their confirmation journey - and parents are encouraged to respect and honor that decision. Classes range from 3-12 students beginning the confirmation journey each year, with the fall focusing on learning more about the Bible and how to interpret it as young adults. The winter/spring focuses on the theology, history, and beliefs of the Church. Questions are encouraged - doubts are OK - and answers are often attempted, but none are guaranteed to satisfy. What is usually appreciated about our Confirmation program by both parents and youth is that youth are treated with respect and encouraged to think about their faith in God and to learn new ways of experiencing their Christian faith as young adults. Contact the Pastor in the "Contact Us" link above if you wish to have your young person join us!
Confirmation Schedule
(September 2021 – May 2022)
Fall - “The Bible”
September 2021
Meeting One: Intro/Welcome/ How to Understand And Interpret the Bible
Date: Thursday, September 16
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
Meeting Two: Our Fore Parents: Adam & Eve, Abraham, Sarah and How Christians Understand The Old Testament/Jewish Bible
Date: Thursday, September 30
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
October 2021
Meeting Three: The Liberator, The Exodus, and The Conquest: Moses, Joseph, and Joshua and David
Date: Thursday, October 14
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
Meeting Four: The Wisdom Books and Israel’s Prophets
Date: Thursday, October 28
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
November 2021 (only one meeting because of Thanksgiving Break)
Meeting Five: Introduction To The New Testament/Manga Messiah, Part 1
Date: Thursday, November 11
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
December 2021
Meeting Six: Jesus Story/Manga Messiah, Part 2
Date: Thursday, December 2
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
Meeting Seven – Visit to Another Religious Tradition/Jewish Synagogue/Dinner
Date: Friday, December 10 (evening)
Time: evening (TBA)
Location: TBA
Meeting Eight: Acts, New Testament Letters & Book of Revelation
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
Spring – “Theology, History, Ecclesiastical”
January 2022
Meeting Nine: Introduction to the Early Church Up Until the Reformation
Date: Thursday, January 6
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
Meeting Ten: The Protestant Reformation
Date: Thursday, January 20
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
February 2022
Meeting Eleven: Post-Reformation & The United Church of Christ
Date: Thursday, February 3
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
Meeting Twelve: United Church of Christ Statement of Faith / Uniqueness
Date: Thursday, February 17
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
March 2022
Meeting Thirteen: The Sacraments & Your Local Church/Prep for Confirmation Led Worship
Date: Thursday, March 3
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
Meeting Fourteen: CONFIRMATION-LED WORSHIP – Ravenswood
Date: Sunday, March 13
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Ravenswood
Meeting Fifteen: Meaning of Jesus’ Life, Death, and Resurrection
Date: Thursday, March 24
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Ravenswood
April 2022
Meeting Sixteen: Worship at another religious community/Trinity UCC/Ecumenical Conversation/Dinner (evening)
Date: Sunday, April 3
Time: evening (TBA)
Location: Meet at Epiphany
Meeting Seventeen: Meeting Sixteen: Exploring What you Believe/Creating Personal Creeds
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
May 2022
Meeting Eighteen: Testing of Confirmands
Date: Thursday, May 5
Time: 7:00-8:30
Location: Epiphany
Meeting Nineteen: Visiting Bahai Temple in Wilmette/picnic
Date: Sunday, May 15 after worship
Time: TBA
Location: Meet at Epiphany
Meeting Twenty: CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
Date: Sunday, June 5 during worship
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Epiphany