A lot!

The confirmation curriculum explores the basics of Protestant Christian theology at an age-appropriate level, with an eye toward practicality and living our faith in the world. We are an open-minded, thoughtful Christian community, which means that we will spend more time helping students learn to think about and wrestle with Divine mysteries rather than telling them what to think.

The curriculum includes lessons on prayer, Scripture, worship, God the Creator, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Church history, spiritual gifts, the importance of church membership, and a basic look at world religions.

The curriculum is reinforced with experiential learning field trips to be involved in community service and understand the faiths of others.

Rooted in Robinson, TX for 140 years now, St. John United Church of Christ is a thoughtful, forward-leaning mainline Protestant church deeply grounded in the Christian faith. We were founded as a German Evangelical church in 1884, and throughout the years our denomination has morphed and evolved to become the United Church of Christ, a covenanted communion of about 5,000 churches nationwide who seek to respond to the God who is still speaking.

We do our best to play well with others, meaning that on any given Sunday you will find folks who grew up Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Adventist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Catholic in our pews. Our worship services are warm, reverent, thoughtful, and traditional. We don't have tests of faith in this denomination, but the Apostle's Creed and the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith would generally be a good summary or testimony of our shared faith. Learn more here: what we believe.

The confirmation program consists of:

• Monthly lessons for every month of the 2024-2025 school year, August-May. Teens meet in the "youth room" for about 45 minutes after church once a month for their lessons. Parents are welcome to stay and supervise, run an errand or two, or sit and enjoy coffee with other adults in the church. Students should attend every lesson and have no more than two absences. Make-up opportunities are available.
• Monthly field trip opportunities for service, learning, and fun. This gives students the opportunity to put real-world application to classroom learning.
• Two daytime "retreats". The confirmation program begins in August and ends in May with "back-to-school" and "end-of-school" Saturday retreats at the church. This gives students the opportunity to have more time with each other, explore subjects deeper, and prepare for leading worship.
• Opportunities to lead Sunday Worship at St. John. We ask that all confirmands lead something in our worship service at least once a month, taking care to cater to each student's social needs. This could look like passing out bulletins or passing communion plates, or getting on a microphone to lead a prayer, song, sermon, reading, or the benediction.

The confirmation is customizable, and the pastor would be glad to work with you to help your child succeed.

No. Just the gas money to get your student to events.

The confirmation and youth ministry programs are generously underwritten by the members and donors of St. John United Church of Christ. We would certainly welcome your offering to help keep this program going: give now.

It seems every church has a sign out front that says "Come on in!" or "You are welcome here!" But many folks are left wondering how wide a church's welcome may be for them.

At St. John UCC, We witness to God's love and grace for persons of every race, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, physical or mental ability, political stance, and theological perspective.

Though small, we have a very diverse youth ministry, and I'm confident your child can fit in well and make a friend here.

Our church is equipped with a nursery, should you need a place to play with or change a younger infant or toddler. Elementary-aged children are welcomed in our church with weekly "simple sermons" during worship, camp, and children's church opportunities. Please contact us ahead of time if you would like to make sure we have something available for elementary-aged children when you come.

While the confirmation program is designed for middle school aged students, older teens are welcome in the confirmation class, or just in our youth ministry as a whole.

As an adult, you are welcome to join in the many ministries of our church, including adult Sunday School, Wednesday evening Bible studies, choir, the quilting group, fellowship opportunities, women's guild, or churchmen's fellowship.