Confirmation Class - 1882

First Row (left to right)-
Emma Stepler, Ida Rhoda, John Henry Frail.
Second Row-
Rev. J.H. Stepler, Tillie Snook, Emma Snook.
Third Row (standing)-
Mollie Zietz, Mary Beck, Ada Cook, William Zietz.

Special appreciation to Bettye Jo Frail for loaning the photograph. John Henry Frail was her grandfather, and great-grandfather of her nieces Jane King and Karen Elwer.  

Confirmation Class - 1938

Confirmands with Rev. Reuben J. Schroer (in alphabetical order)-

John Alstetter, Betty Rose Arnold, Amelia Benny, Jean Chenoweth, Jack Crumrine, Eugene Denison, Dorothy Fridley, Dorothy Gierhart, Dorthala Gilmer, Joan Jennings, Jean McClintock, Rose Mumper, Betty Reese, Bruce Ring, Marilyn Stilgenbauer, Ruth Timmerman, Mary Walker, Eleanor Wildermuth.   

Confirmation Class - 1908

Confirmands with Rev. A.G. Gekeler (in alphabetical order)-

Mary Andregg, Alvina Armbrust, Harry Bauer, Martha Boegel, Leroy Clausing, William Degen, Helen Dickman, Edna Dinkel, Irene Dinkel, Sophia Feil, Ernest Guenther, Myrtle Haege, Frieda Herold, Amelia Leidner, Rupert Neubrecht, Irene Rhoda, Fred Schlosser, Evelyn Woll.   

Confirmation Class - 1920

Front Row (left to right)-
Hilda Snook, John Smith, Rev. T.W. Hoernemann, Elizabeth Rable, Paul Blase.
Back Row-
Chester Badertscher, Margaret Heil, Alton Heil, Esther Wilhelm, Louise MacDonald.

Confirmation Class - 1897

John Urfer, Oscar Snook, George Bollinger, Philip Schnabel, ____Meckstroth, ____Loescher, Catherine (Snook) Lyle, Elizabeth Baker, Bertha (Wilhelm) Stump, Minnie Neubright, Bertha (Klein) Rable, Jon Weber, Catherine Schlosser.

Rev. Christian Baum, Pastor

Confirmation Class - 1935

Front Row (left to right)-

Dorothy Ridenour, Arthur Brutzer, Grace Griffith, Rev. R.J. Schroer, Eloise Stilgenbauer, Ennis Walker, Delores Timmerman.
Back Row-
Louis Wessler Jr., Helen Stelzer, John Neumann, Ruth Ella Dew, Paul Stueber Jr., Elfrida Wolf, Richard Neumann, Theresa Benny, Wilbur Bailey.

Earliest Certificate

     The oldest Confirmation Certificate in our archives dates back to 1874, written in German, issued by Rev. C.F. Waldecker to Friedrich Stuber.

     

  

      Young Frederick would grow up to be a prominent eye surgeon.

      Dr. & Mrs. Emma (Moser) Stueber were the parents of two "kinder" also confirmed in our Church.  Their son Dr. Paul Stueber was confirmed in 1901, by Rev. Paul H. Land; and daughter Ruth (Mrs. William Daniels) in 1907, by Rev. A.G. Gekeler.

Faith Confirmed

    
     Since our earliest beginnings, Confirmation is considered a sacred rite of passage for young men and women. At about 13-years of age, they begin a thorough 2-year instruction in the Bible, the Heidelberg Catechism, and church history.  
     The Heidelberg Catechism dates back to 1563, developed in Germany. But it has been translated into all European languages, as well as some African and Asian. The document consists of 129 questions and answers.
     After completing their studies, the Confirmands stand in the presence of God before the congregation; answering random questions from memory, asked by their teacher. This review traditionally occurs on Palm Sunday. Embraced by the Church body, our newest members receive their first Sacrament of Holy Communion on Easter Sunday.   
      

Confirmation Class

Easter Sunday ~ April 12, 1903

Front Row (left to right) -

Leonard Schanbel, Irvin Clausing, Nina Schulz, Charles Klein, Rev. Paul H. Land, Otto Rhoda, Winnie Rhoda, John Weller. 

Back Row -

Ethel Schaub, Otto Aue, William Kissel, Mary Bacher, Karl Renz, Clarence Frey, 

Charles Tiemeyer, Minnie Heil, Walter Haege.    

THE FIRST QUESTION IN THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

"Was is dein einiger Trost im Leben und im Stebern?"

(What is thy only comfort in life and death?)

"Dass ich mit Leib und Seele, beides im leben und Sterben, nicht mein, sondern meines getreuen Heilandes, Jesu Christi eigen bin..."

(That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ...)