PRAYER POSTURES: (10 minutes)
During Confirmation Camp this summer, we will be transitioning from the third year of Deep Roots Confirmation, the Gospel of Mark, to the fourth year: Small Catechism and Creative Prayer. We will begin each session praying with our bodies by using yoga poses, Bible verses, and silent prayer to mark a change between the busyness of summer camp and the sense of “time out of time” during our confirmation time.
You can learn more about how to do this here: https://goodgodideas.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/postures-of-prayer/
You can find the Prayer Postures Card here: Postures of Prayer Mat Card
HIGHS AND LOWS: (10 minutes)
We will share highs and lows from the past 24 hours as a prayer practice. We will respond to highs with “Thanks be to God,” and lows with “Lord, have mercy.”
INTRODUCTION: (1 minute)
During Confirmation Camp this summer, we will be studying the events of Holy Week in chapters 14-16 in the Gospel of Mark. I plan to do a Holy Week timeline on butcher paper on the wall using Janelle Thompson’s images that grows as the week goes on. You can find these images in poster form here: Mark Posters Chapter 14-16
EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (15 minutes)
Today, we will watch Mark 15:39-47 and Mark 16:1-8 (STOP THERE) from “The Gospel of Mark,” a movie released by Lionsgate in 2016. I suggest the settings that have the audio as “English NIV” and the subtitles as “English NIV.” This will be the most similar to the students’ NRSV Bibles. You can purchase the movie here: https://smile.amazon.com/Gospel-Mark/dp/B06XCXZXWH/
Questions to think about as you watch (introduce before showing the movie, so they know what to look for)
- Tell me the story you just saw.
- What is different/the same about the story that you remember learning in the past?
- What was your favorite part?
- What is God doing in this part of the story?
Take a few minutes after watching the movie to let the students ask any questions that they might have. If possible, turn the questions back to the group for their wisdom.
DWELLING IN THE WORD (20 minutes)
Today, we will focus on the last four of the images from Janelle Thompson’s “Gospel of Mark: The Never Ending Story.” Take some time with your Bible to discover the verses that each of these four images depict, as well as the titles of the sections. Choose your favorite image of the four to fill out as a journal page (you may do this on your own or in pairs). Report back to the group and record other’s answers when you are finished.
Sample journal page: Gospel of Mark Journal Page Example
Images for journal pages: Mark Postcards Chapter 15 : Mark Postcards Chapter 16
Slide show of images: Mark ch 15 : Mark ch 16
PORTABLE PRAYER STATION ASSEMBLY (10 minutes)
To conclude our time together and prepare for the next year of confirmation, we will spend the last few minutes of class filling up our PPS with all sorts of materials to help us pray. Each item will be demonstrated more fully over the course of the year, but students are welcome and encouraged to explore the materials on their own time at any point. Included in this year’s kit are a prayer journal, a Prayer Starters bookmark, a labyrinth, a drawing pad, a prayer coloring book (from Etsy), a pencil, a pen, a pencil sharpener, a set of colored pencils, a pencil pouch, an LED tea light, a wooden cross with a stand, a set of prayer beads, a clear glass stone, a small container of Play-Doh, a small pouch for the beads, stone, and tealight, and their newly decorated cotton drawstring backpack.
You have completed Deep Roots Confirmation Year Three: The Gospel of Mark!
Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.
Deep Roots Confirmation 