May 4, 2025 — Confirmation Service

• Print
• Email this Page
• Share on Facebook
• Share on X
• Share on Pinterest

PRELUDE
“Courante” (Corelli)
Rachel Calvert, Tim Graf

GATHERING HYMN
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
ELW #807

WELCOME
Pastor Kristin Skare

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM
Pastor: We gather in the name of God, who creates, saves, and calls us with love that
lasts forever.
ALL: Amen.
Pastor: Even before you were born and baptized, God delighted in you and called you
Beloved. You were claimed and named in baptism by the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. The baptismal promises were spoken to you, with Your family,
sponsors, and the congregation gathered around you declaring God’s love and
salvation for you.
ALL: We can affirm our faith as belief that is still becoming, with wonder, doubts, and more to learn. We believe that our baptismal promises move and adapt with us throughout our life and that it will continue to tell God’s truth about love, power, and value.
Pastor: We gather as witnesses as you affirm your baptismal promises today. We cele
brate your participation in Christian community, worship, service, prayer, and study
for the sake of your sacred calling. The Holy Spirit has equipped you with unique
gifts and talents to share, as a partner in God’s creative work in the world.
ALL: Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray,
God of grace and mercy, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who has called,
sanctified, and enlightened each of these beloved children of God. Help them to
shine the light that you have given them so that their gifts may be used in service
to a world that needs to receive the love, hope and peace that come from you.
Strengthen all your children in faith so that our lives and our witness bear the mark
of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

---

READING
Ephesians 3:16–19

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Pastor: The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

---

SERMON
“Child of God”
Shawna Berg

HYMN
“Will You Come and Follow Me” (St. 1–2, 5)
ELW # 798

PRESENTATION OF THE CLASS

PROFESSION OF FAITH
Your baptism gathered a cloud of witnesses to speak promises on behalf of the whole
Christian church. Your spiritual family grew to include sponsors, friends, and church
members who have been keeping those promises and carrying your faith on your behalf. Today we ask you to make these same promises claiming your call to active participation in the nurturing of your spirit and the work of the church on earth.

Pastor: I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of
the church. Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you believe in God the Father?
All: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
All: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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.
Pastor: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

AFFIRMATION OF THE BAPTISMAL PROMISE
Pastor: Confirmands, will you join us in practicing your faith and keeping these responsibilities: to live among God’s faithful people, to pray daily, to hear the word of God and share the Supper, to learn the prayers, creeds and commandments, to open the holy Scriptures, to be nurtured by the faith and prayers of others, so that you learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace?
Confirmation students respond: “I do, and ask God to help and guide me.”
Pastor: People of God, do you promise to support these women and men and pray for
them in their life in Christ?
All: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

BLESSING
(Families are invited to join students for the individual blessing. You’ll be directed forward by the ushers for your blessing.)

CONGREGATIONAL BLESSING
All: We celebrate your faith, your voice, and your unfolding story as beloved children of God! On behalf of the whole church on earth, we will continue to pray for your faith and give thanks for you.

PRAYER AFTER BLESSING
Continue to bless these confirmands with dignity, belonging, and purpose that comes
from you. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon them, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence. Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“By Our Love” (Christy Nockels)
Elliana Meier, Tim Graf, Rachel Calvert

OFFERING PRAYER
Pastor: Risen One,
All: you call us to believe and bear fruit. May the gifts that we offer here be signs
of your abiding love. Form us to be your witnesses in the world, through Jesus
Christ, our true vine. Amen.

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER
ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

BEFORE YOU GO

BENEDICTION
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and † give you peace.
All: Amen.

HYMN
“Go, My Children, With My Blessing” (St. 1 & 3)
ELW # 543

SENDING
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
All: Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
“Lift High the Cross” (arr. Tim Graf)
Tim Graf

---

2025 Confirmands

---

THANK YOU TO OUR SMALL GROUP GUIDES
These people have dedicated countless hours, supporting the faith formation of these confirmation students. Thank you for your love of the gospel and for shepherding these young people through this time of spiritual education and renewal. Your efforts have helped to instill a love for God, a dynamic faith, and a life that will serve God’s world. Please take a moment to thank the small group guides for their work.

OUR THANKS TO PARENTS!

Thank you for the commitment you made to your confirmation student. Your continued nurture and support of your child’s faith life remains important now more than ever. The people of St. Andrew Lutheran Church are excited to walk with you in that journey.

---

The Musicians for Today’s Worship

• Tim Graf (Worship & Music Director)
• Rachel Calvert
• Elliana Meier

---

Prayers

As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

• Prayers for Brian Nordman and family on the death of wife/mother Martha
• Prayers for Carol Hagberg and family on the death of her brother, Hal Kintigh
• Debora, Ben, and Elliott, who are grieving the death of their beloved husband and father, Larry Ness
• Brian Nordmann and family on the death of Martha, his spouse
• Kirsten Hanninen and family on the death of Kirsten’s mother
• Brian Wellman and family on the death of Brian’s mother, Phyllis

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

• Madelyn Astry
• Tatijana and Teagan Doerksen
• Diane K’s sister, Lori
• Harlan & Margie Oeltjenbruns, the parents of Brenda Jerich
• Marilyn Boorsma

Long Term Prayers:

• Madelyn Astry
• Sara Goke, daughter of Curt and Jane Goke
• Paul Skoog’s Brother Dan
• Joyce Butler
• Jim and Racee Hornbacher
• Julie Bergquist
• John Rostad
• Kathy Hoagland
• Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
• Ron Wolfbauer
• Dick Smith
• For the people in California and emergency responders fighting the fires in LA
• For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
• For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
• All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.

---

See what’s happening at St. Andrew

There’s always something happening here at St. Andrew and we’re so glad to offer ministries and events for people of all ages! Visit our Events Page to see all of our events, and visit our Ministries Page to learn about all of our communities of faith!

---

The Pastors of St. Andrew

Meet our pastoral staff! Click on each pastor’s profile picture to learn more about them and find information on contacting them directly.