St. Andrew's Grand Rapids MN

Our confirmation ministry for youth in grades 7, 8, and 9 is called “FINK.”  That’s short for Faith Inkubators – the

ministry organization who developed the materials and approach we use.  It’s a combination of large group presentations, small group processing, fellowship events (goofing off!) and service projects.

 

combine music, skits, video clips, “game show” previews and reviews, analogies and images as the pastors teach the different parts of our faith.  We cover the major components of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism (Sacraments of Baptism and Communion, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments and Apostle’s Creed), Lutheran Worship and the Bible.

 

Small Groups are where “the rubber hits the road.”  This is where faith formation happens and relationships are built.  Youth are divided into small groups of between 3-6 youth, based on gender and grade level, and are joined by an Adult   Guide and a Youth Mentor, who is a high school student.

In most cases, the same people are in the same small group all three years of FINK.  The first thing – and perhaps the most important thing – that happens in small group time following each presentation is the sharing of Highs and Lows and praying for each other’s Highs and Lows.  Then guided discussion about the topic of the night takes up most of the rest of small group time, before all groups gather once again in the sanctuary for a wrap-up.

 

 

 

 

Fellowship Events and Service Projects –  On those Wednesdays we do not have a FINK Presentation, all 7th, 8th adn 9th grade students and their Guides will be engaged in Fellowship and/or Service.   Nikki Rud, Director of Children Youth and  Family Ministries, will be spearheading this so  that all the FINK Small Groups can do this together as a large group.  If a Small Group has a specific Fellowship event or Service Project they would like to do apart from what the Large Group, that’s fine.  What we want for Fellowship are times when the group gets together just to have fun being together. It could be a campfire, or going out fishing, or a movie night, riding bikes on the Mesabi Trail, a makeover night. The sky is the limit!  It is a way to build relationships through the sharing of common experiences.  We do Service Projects as serving is something followers of Jesus are called to do.  “We love and serve God by loving and serving people”. From projects at the church, to raking or shoveling for an elderly person, making a meal for someones grandma, baking cookies for someone in grief, visiting and reading to residents at a nursing home, washing the cars of all the group’s parents,cutting and stacking wood, providing child care so parents can go on a date night or shopping or attend an event at church.  The possibilities are endless!

 

FINK is now part of our Wednesday RECHARGE, which includes a meal for everyone served 5:00- 6:00 and worship at 6:00. Worship is part of FINK. Plan on being at St. Andrew’s each Wednesday evening 6:00 – 8:00 PM

 

DATE                          TOPIC                                                     MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS                 HOME HUDDLE SHEET

 

September 4th:         ORIENTATION FOR ALL  7th, 8th, and 9th grade youth AND parents – 6pm no meal or worship                     

 

September 11th:       FINK NITE – Creation                                      Unit 1                                OT02HomeHuddleHandout

 

FINK service and fellowship night

 

September 25th:      FINK NITE – The Fall                                        Unit 1                               OT03HomeHuddleHandout

 

October 2nd:           FINK service/fellowship

 

October 9th:           FINK NITE – People and the Promise                  Unit 2      AND      Unit 3

 

October 16th:         FINK service/fellowship

 

October 23rd:         FINK NITE– Moses and the Wanderings                Unit 4      AND      Unit 5

 

October 30th:          FINK service/fellowship

 

November 6th:         FINK NITE – Psalms and Wisdom Literature         Unit 13      AND      Unit 14

 

November 13th:        FINK NITE – Voice of the Prophets                      Unit 9     AND    Unit 10

 

November 20th:        FINK service/fellowship

 

November 28th:        FINK NITE – The Gospels Overview                     Unit 16

 

December 4th:         FINK NITE – Jesus’ Baptism and Wilderness          Unit 18

 

December 11th:  FINK service/fellowship

 

December 18th:  FINK NITE – The Teachings of Jesus                           Unit 19

 

 

January 8th:  FINK NITE – The Miracles of Jesus                                  Unit 21   AND   Unit 20

 

January 15th:  FINK service/Fellowship

 

January 22nd:  FINK NITE – The Passion                                              Unit 23     AND    Unit 24

 

January 29th:  FINK service/fellowship

 

February 5th:  FINK NITE – The Resurrection                                       Unit 25

 

February 12th:  FINK NITE – The Holy Spirit Comes                              Unit 26

 

 

 

April 15th:  FINK NITE – Peter and the Early Church                              Unit 27

 

April 22nd:  FINK service/fellowship

 

April 29th:  FINK NITE – The Journeys and Letters of Paul                     Unit 28  AND  Unit 29

 

May 6th:  FINK NITE – The Revelation to John                                        Unit 30

 

May 13th:  FINK service/fellowship – Church & Yard Cleanup and party/wrap up