First Presbyterian kids celebrate confirmation

The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan celebrated its 2012 confirmation class May 6. Eleven eighth-graders spent the year working toward adult church membership by meeting Wednesdays with a team of teachers led by the Rev. Katherine Stanford, the Rev. Paul Gilmore, and lay leader Steve Van de Graaf, to wrestle with questions about their relationship with God. In addition to attending worship services, performing local mission work and overnight retreats, students articulated their individual beliefs in a written statement of faith, as well as through art, music, creative writing or multimedia venues. The confirmation class will continue its faith journey by serving on a mission trip to New Orleans to help rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and making a pilgrimage to their Scottish roots, staying for a week at the Iona Community in Scotland during its annual youth festival. Above, front row from left, Ryan Gress, Elly Hersam, Rachel Beyer, Sarabeth Davis, Regan Wind, Natalie Wind and Quentin Gress. Back row, from left, Jackson Quinn, Miles Turpin and Alexander Kutner. Photo: Contributed Photo