Professing one’s commitment to live out the United Methodist baptismal and membership covenant vows is an important life decision for our confirmands. This year, Gretna Glen and Pocono Plateau hosted confirmation retreats, providing space for confirmands to join with youth from other congregations as they explore their identity and purpose as Christians in the Methodist faith.

As confirmands wrap up a series of classes in their local church, they might wonder what is next? Our retreats build off lessons learned in those confirmation classes and prepare confirmands to reflect on how to put the vows of confirmation into practice. See below for more details on each site’s confirmation experience for the youth of the EPA and GNJ conferences. 

Gretna Glen Camp Retreat Center- March 21-23, 2025

Theme: Are you ready to embrace your faith? 

Seven churches gathered at Gretna Glen for the Confirmation Retreat in March 2025—and what a weekend it was! The experience kicked off Friday night with games, snacks, a unique Night Senses Walk followed by worship and a lesson on the seeds of faith that we are planting which helped participants prepare their hearts and minds for the days ahead. Saturday was packed with meaningful moments centered around the five vows of confirmation. After breakfast, DS Rev. Jenny Freymoyer shared with confirmands and leaders about connectionalism in the United Methodist Church and discovering our spiritual gifts. The morning had a touch of fun and excitement at the “Flying Squirrel” high ropes activity which helped participants explore what it means to be fully present, while the afternoon’s service-learning projects at Ebenezer UMC, UMCOR, and Gretna Glen gave everyone a hands-on opportunity to consider what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Saturday evening is meaningfully filled with trust activities, prayer stations, worship with communion and a sermon by Rev. Larry Leister.

 By Sunday, the group of confirmands and adult mentors were ready to welcome Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm to dive into an interactive witness workshop. After the morning workshop, students worked on putting some of what they learned into practice as they planned their own church service. Following lunch the group went to church at Chapel in the Woods—a beautiful way to end a weekend filled with answering the theme question, ‘Are you ready to embrace your faith? Special thanks to DCM Rev. Dawn Taylor Storm and DS Rev. Jenny Freymoyer and the clergy and lay leaders from our seven churches for their leadership and presence at the retreat. And a huge thank-you to all the confirmands and churches who made it happen—we can’t wait to see how these young people continue their journey!

Feedback: 

“I appreciate how well thought out and intentional everything was all weekend. Thank you for all the support and encouragement. You guys rock!” Adult Mentor

“I learned that God loves me more than I know.” Confirmation Student

“I love the prayer stations because it was so calming. The prayer labyrinth made me feel connected to God.” Confirmation Student 

Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Center April 11-13, 2025

Theme: My Methodist Identity

Twelve churches from across EPA and GNJ gathered together for Pocono Plateau’s confirmation retreat weekend. Friday evening began with ice breakers and a session about our identity as children of God, focusing on Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” On Saturday, confirmands participated in team building programs, a spiritual gifts assessment, and activities dealing with shedding negative labels and identities to see themselves as Christ sees them. Confirmands also learned about how to work together as the body of Christ to live out their own purpose, the Methodist Social Principles, and John Wesley’s three rules: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God. 

Saturday evening’s vespers service included prayer stations designed around the theme of identity and gifts, closing with each confirmand lighting a luminary bag to create the form of the cross against the backdrop of an unlit room. It is a powerful representation of their connection to each other as Methodists seeking transformation in the world. To close, confirmands use their gifts to create and lead Sunday’s closing worship as an expression of their voice as a new member of the United Methodist Church. On Sunday, we also welcomed Bishop Moore-Koikoi who provided a powerful spoken word message about her faith journey, connecting perfectly to our theme of identity and purpose. A special thank you to Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm and DS Hun Ju Lee for their presence during Sunday worship while presiding over communion. We look forward to seeing how these amazing and creative youth grow in their faith and discipleship in the church. 

Feedback:

“My daughter had a fantastic time and actually cried as we were leaving. The camp had a huge impact on her life. Thank you!” – Confirmand Parent

 “I really liked the Saturday night prayer stations and candle cross. I felt closer to God this weekend.” – Confirmand

 “I loved singing and team building games and talking to people from other churches!” – Confirmand

Churches Attending for the 2025 Confirmation Retreats (83 confirmands, 46 adults)

Berwyn (GNJ)

Clinton UMC (GNJ)

Denville UMC (GNJ)

Effort UMC (EPA)

First UMC of Germantown (EPA)

Galilee UMC (EPA)

Haddonfield UMC (GNJ)

Neola UMC (EPA)

Paoli UMC (EPA)

West Chester UMC (EPA)

Lititz UMC (EPA)

Roselle UMC (GNJ)

St. Matthews UMC (EPA)

Grandview Church (EPA)

Wesley UMC (GNJ) 

Grace UMC (GNJ)

Trinity UMC (GNJ)

Cherry Lane UMC (EPA)

West Lawn UMC (EPA)

Thank you to all the churches, leaders, volunteers and confirmands for their commitment to the ministry. 

Save the Dates- 2026 Confirmation Retreat Dates:

• Gretna Glen Camp & Retreat Center: March 20-22, 2026
• Pocono Plateau Camp & Retreat Center: April 17-19, 2026