The journey of faith should be chosen, not forced. 

Confirmation at GUC happens every other year for 8th-9th grades. Senior High students that have not previously been confirmed are also welcome to enroll. The next class begins in September of 2026. Learn more here. 

Confirmation at Glencoe Union Church includes three key elements:

Class

Confirmation Class meets the first Sunday of the month, October through July, from 11:15am – 12:30 pm. View the full schedule.

These monthly gatherings are the core of the experience. It is a place for confirmands to ask big questions, learn more about the Bible and Christian faith, and explore what it means to live faithfully in the world today. Through conversation, activities, and time together, students will engage topics such as Scripture, theology, prayer, worship, service, and the practical ways faith shapes our lives.

There is no expectation that students will have all the answers. Confirmation is a space to be curious and to learn alongside one another as they grow in faith.

Community

Being an active participant of the GUC church community—and the community around us—is integral to understanding what it means to be part of the church. Confirmation is not only about learning what we believe; it is also about practicing faith alongside others, listening to their stories, and discovering how we can serve with care and compassion.

Throughout the year, students will participate in the life of GUC and the wider community through worship, service, and adult mentorship. They will:

  • Attend worship 10 times, including at least 8 services at GUC and 1 service in a non-Christian faith tradition.

  • Volunteer for 6 hours with or through the church.

  • Meet with an adult mentor from GUC 3 times.

Through these experiences, confirmands will encounter a faith that is lived in community across generations, beyond the walls of the church, and in service to the world.

Calling

Frederick Buechner once said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Through conversation, reflection, prayer, and shared experiences throughout the year, confirmands are invited to explore their gifts, questions, hopes, and the ways they may be called to love and serve in the world.

As the culmination of Confirmation, students will travel to the Pacific Northwest for a week-long backpacking and camping retreat. Together, they will hike, set up camp, and meet the challenges of life on the trail. Away from everyday routines and distractions, this shared wilderness experience creates space to deepen friendships, encounter God in creation, reflect on the faith they have explored together, and consider where God may be calling them next.

If you’re interested in learning more about Confirmation at GUC, email our Associate Pastor, Rev. Georgia McKee.