Stepping Stone Ministries Faith Formation Across the Lifespan

   “You can boil an egg in two minutes. You can fry an egg in two minutes. You can’t incubate an egg in two minutes. Incubation takes time, care, attention to detail, warmth, and nurture. Incubation is a process that requires a whole systems approach.  If any of the essentials are left out of the system, or if you try to rush incubation, eggs won’t hatch” (Rich Melheim).

    Similarly, the life of faith is a process of incubation that requires “time, care, attention to detail, warmth, and nurture.”  For many years we have tried to “incubate faith” through the teaching that a pastor or leader gives students during their Confirmation.  This is the equivalent of a boiling, or frying an egg!  Faith takes time to grow - faith is caught rather than taught - and the primary center for faith formation is the home as daily family members live out their faith.

   We begin this Stepping Stones process where God initiates our faith life - in the water’s of grace - in baptism.  In baptism not only is God committed to us but parents, sponsors and congregation promise to provide a community that will nurture the faith of the newly baptized.  The baptismal font is where our faith begins - and at each of the Stepping Stones - we gather parents and their children before the congregation for a blessing and the congregation recalls and affirms the promises made at baptism.

   Therefore, Immanuel is implementing various Stepping Stones: intentional times when parents and their children gather to be equipped to be the church in their homes.  This is a process that embraces Confirmation as a cradle to grave journey and calls Immanuel to be a faith community that supports, nurtures and equips families to be the church in their home.

   We begin by meeting with families preparing for their child’s baptism, and then we invite parents and child to gather for the following Stepping Stones (most include a 3-week parent and child series which culminates with a blessing before the congregation)...

Stepping Stone	Content/Format	Faith Memento	Public Blessing
Baptism	- Intro. to Baptismal living and 4 Keys of Faith Nurture	Candle, Baptismal Shell, Beginner's Bible, Water Come Down	Baptismal Service
Raising a Healthy Preschooler	3 Sunday mornings in December		During a worship service in December
My Church - 3 Year Olds/Parents	Spring	"My Church" Booklet	Welcome and Blessing
Stepping Into School Kindergarten	An evening in August	"Jesus Loves You" Bracelet	Before the first day of school
Stepping Out in Faith: The Ten Commandments 1st Grade/Parents	3 Sunday Mornings	10 Commandment Pin	Presentation and Blessing
The Lord's Prayer 2nd Grade/Parents	3 Sunday Mornings (Spring)	Lord's Prayer Book Mark	Blessing & Families lead the Lord's Prayer with hand/body motions
Stepping Into the Old Testament 3rd Grade/Parents	3 Sunday Mornings (Fall)	3rd Grade Bible & Bible highlighter	Presentation of Bible and Blessing
Stepping Into the New Testament 4th Grade/Parents	3 Sunday Mornings (Fall)	Books of the Bible bookmark	Blessing & Prayer
Stepping Into the Meal: First Communion 5th Grade/Parents	2 Sunday afternoons.  Re-enactment of the Exodus, sample Seder Meal, cup and plate making.	First Communion Plate and Cups	Maundy Thursday First Communion
Stepping Into the Apostle's Creed 6th Grade	3 Sunday Mornings (Winter)	Nail-Cross Backpack Clip	Blessing & Prayers
Stepping Into Confirmation 7th Grade/Parents	3 Wednesday evenings	Confirmation Bible	Blessing and presentation of Bibles
Living Faithfully as Guys & Girls 8th Grade/Parents	3 Wednesday evenings (November)	"Whatever" Pin	Blessing
Stepping Behind the Wheel 9th Grade/Parents	3 Wednesday evenings (January)	Key Chain	Blessing and Prayers, presentation of Key Chain
Stepping Out in Faith: Confirmation 10th Grade/Parents	3 Sunday mornings (Fall)	Confirmation Stole	Affirmation of Baptism
Stepping Out in Faith: Called to Serve 11th Grade	Spring Semi-Formal Dinner		Blessing of Calling
Stepping Into the World 12th Grade/Parents	Spring Breakfast	Devotional Resource	Blessing/Prayers

Theology

When a child receives the gift of baptism:  - God actively claims the child - God initiates a life of grace - God gives the child an awesome gift that can be daily lived, explored and unpacked - The child is connected to Jesus’ death and resurrection - We, as parents, sponsors and congregation make promises before God that  we will raise them so that they may lead Godly lives - Our responsibility is to provide opportunities where the Holy Spirit will work - The Holy Spirit enables faith to grow and flourish

So that living in the covenant of baptism and in communion with the church they may:
            - lead godly lives until the day of Jesus Christ      

 Philosophy of Faith Stepping Stones...

1.      acknowledge that faith development occurs at many different ages and at different times in an individual’s life
2.      recognize that faith grows in community
3.      recognize the family as the primary center of faith formation
4.      affirm the congregation as a secondary center of faith formation
5.      urge the congregation to intentionally support each Domestic or HomeChurch as a faith incubator
6.      are a way to celebrate each child, bless each family and call parents back to the promises given at their child’s baptism.
7.      are a faith formation process that pull parents and children back to the altar at key moments along the journey of a child's life
8.      are a system that helps parents see the church as an ally in Christian parenting
9.      are a system that enables parents to grow in the baptismal covenant with the child from baptism to high school graduation.