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How is Chosen Together like other catechism curricula we’ve used before?
What makes Chosen Together different than other available catechism curricula?
How is Chosen Together personalized for the specific context in my congregation?
This curriculum follow’s Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Does that mean it’s only for Lutherans?
What makes Chosen Together inclusive?
What is the pricing for Chosen Together?
Why should I have to pay for a personalized consultation? Why can’t I just buy the materials?
Can we purchase additional hours of personalized consultation with the writer?
Will this work with “non-traditionally aged” confirmation students (older or younger than the usual middle school)?
Will this curriculum approach solve all of my congregation’s problems?
How will the Chosen Together materials be distributed?
When will the Chosen Together materials be available?
What if I have other questions not answered here?
NEW: Join our Online Community for a private, feature-rich digital meeting space and Chosen Together as an online course. Perfect if you cannot meet in person due to COVID-19 or any other reason!
How is Chosen Together like other catechism curricula we’ve used before?
Like other catechism-based confirmation curricula, Chosen Together materials contains units on the Ten Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, and Sacraments with an additional section called Holy Conversations. Each of the 30 lessons will have background and teaching material for leaders to use in preparation and contact time, materials for participants to use in class, and materials to be used by the confirmands and their families. All lessons include:
- A Scripture text that helps place the week’s topic into a biblical context and connect with the confirmand’s contemporary experience.
- A brief reflection that helps confirmands understand the point and purpose of the week’s topic.
- An activity that moves knowledge to action, related to the week’s topic.
- A brief devotion for confirmands to practice at home with their families.
- A brief activity for use during or after worship that connects confirmands with others members of the church community.
What makes Chosen Together different than other available catechism curricula?
Most curricula assume that your confirmation class has multiple students, meets once a week for about an hour, and is usually led by a pastor, youth minister, or volunteer teacher. This is great for many, but what if this way does not work for your congregation? What if you have just a few students or spotty attendance? What if you want to focus on family faith formation or connecting the confirmands to the congregation they are a part of? What if you want to reorient confirmation as part of positive, lifelong engagement rather than a class to “graduate” from at the end?
Many curricula do not adequately address the variety of contexts and experiences of congregations. One of the most exciting aspects of the Chosen Together resource is that not only do you receive high-quality, flexible materials, but you also receive two hours of the writer’s time as a personalized consultation or coaching session, molding the confirmation experience to your specific context and priorities.
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How is Chosen Together personalized for the specific context in my congregation?
When you purchase Chosen Together you not only receive the written student and leader guides for each lesson, but you also set up a personal coaching session with the writer, the Rev. Natalie Gessert Hall. This consultation can take place via the phone, video conference, or possibly in person (in the Greater Pittsburgh area, contact the writer for more details about her coming to your congregation in person). You have two options for this consultation.
During a full consultation, Pastor Natalie will have a personal discussion with your leadership team to discuss your context and priorities, and to determine the format that best fits your confirmands, their family members, and the congregation (Online focus? Weekly gatherings? Other?). This conversation will also address your congregation’s needs, preferences, and culture to provide recommendations and encouragement to introduce Chosen Together successfully to your parish. After these conversations, Pastor Natalie will customize the printed material with appropriate details about your congregation, so that in addition to your congregation’s name throughout the materials, they will include congregation-specific contact information and community-based contacts in the written materials themselves.
During a limited consultation, Pastor Natalie will have a conversation with your leadership team and then she will customize the printed material with appropriate details about your congregation so that in addition to your congregation’s name throughout the materials, they will include congregation-specific contact information and community-based contacts in the written materials themselves.
Purchasing additional hours of coaching can be discussed with the writer.
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This curriculum follow’s Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Does that mean it’s only for Lutherans?
Congregations of any denomination interested in engaging confirmands and families in conversation about the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Sacraments can use these materials. Chosen Together uses the structure of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, exploring practical applications found in Luther’s words. While covering the catechism’s essential content, Chosen Together aims to create an environment of engagement that is flexible to our time and place, and among the wide variety of cultural and denominational expressions that exist within the Christian faith.
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What makes Chosen Together inclusive?
“Inclusive” means that everyone’s feet have a place under the table! Each person in a confirmand’s life is encouraged to participate, creating an intensely personal confirmation experience. Confirmands are engaged with trusted adults and can feel free to invite friends and other members of their community into their developing conversation about faith. Therefore, this flexible curriculum can adapt to meet the needs of an individual as well as an entire community. Every family member, every congregation member, every church leader, and every confirmand is already fully equipped to teach and to learn in relationship with one another, no prerequisites needed. Chosen Together supports all leaders regardless of the level of formal theological training, believing any invested person can serve as an effective and involved resource for their congregation’s confirmation ministry. A Chosen Together leader is simply a trusted adult who engages in the life of a confirmand. Because everyone’s questions are welcome, from parents and mentors to each confirmand and church member, participants learn to navigate their ongoing relationship with their faith in a supportive, genuine environment.
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What is the pricing for Chosen Together?
Pricing for Chosen Together is divided into two different parts. First is the cost of the written materials themselves (Column 2), which is based on a student attendance (Column 1).
| Number of students | Chosen Together Materials Price | Chosen Together Total Price (with Full Consult) | Chosen Together Total Price (with Limited Consult) |
| 1-5 | $45.00 | $245.00 | $145.00 |
| 6-10 | $102.00 | $302.00 | $202.00 |
| 11-15 | $145.00 | $345.00 | $245.00 |
| 16-20 | $190.00 | $390.00 | $290.00 |
| 21-30 | $240.00 | $440.00 | $340.00 |
| 31-40 | $314.00 | $514.00 | $414.00 |
| 41-60 | $400.00 | $600.00 | $500.00 |
| 61-100 | $589.00 | $789.00 | $689.00 |
| 101+ | $640.00 | $840.00 | $740.00 |
The second part of the pricing is for the personalized coaching session with the writer, as described above. The full consultation includes two hours of personal attention by the writer, adding a total of $200 to the materials price (Column 3). The limited consultation includes one hour of personal attention by the writer, adding a total of $100 to the materials price (Column 3). So, to determine your costs, find the average number of students participating in your confirmation ministry (or the estimated attendance numbers for the upcoming year if you know them) and determine your materials price. Then, add the $200 or $100 consultation fee and you have your total. If you are a leader in a small congregation, check to see if you qualify for our Small Congregation Discount.
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Why should I have to pay for a personalized consultation? Why can’t I just buy the materials?
Personalized coaching is an essential component of the Chosen Together experience. Meaningful relationships and lasting commitments to the community are fostered by connecting the material to your congregation’s unique context. Faith formation is not a matter of students checking off a list of assignments. It takes more than that to encourage students to become connected, faithful, and contributing members of the Body of Christ. The consultation allows your leaders to best equip themselves to develop a community that shares its faith and love for one another in healthy and inspiring ways. The written materials without the personalized consultation will not be as effective. To discuss this with the publisher, Gregory Rawn, please email him at G.Rawn@SpiritAndTruthPublishing.com.
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Can we purchase additional hours of personalized consultation with the writer?
Yes. Please discuss this with Pastor Natalie during your included consultation to determine how much additional consultation time will fulfill your needs.
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Will this work with “non-traditionally aged” confirmation students (older or younger that the usual middle school)?
This curriculum works best with students from middle school age forward, and can be comfortably used by non-traditionally aged confirmation students. High school students, young adult groups, and adults who may wish to revisit their confirmation can naturally adapt the conversations and activities to their own maturity and experience levels.
If you are interested in pursuing Chosen Together for a non-traditional group (confirmation at an age other than middle school, such as an Adult Education class) Pastor Natalie can assist you during the consultation time.
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Will this curriculum approach solve all of my congregation’s problems?
No. This curriculum is a tool, not a solution in and of itself. As with all high-quality tools, Chosen Together can help your congregation (leadership and members) make improvements to one aspect of your congregation, your confirmation ministry.
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How will the Chosen Together materials be distributed?
A general copy of the Chosen Together curriculum materials will be available for download from the customer account area of the Spirit & Truth Publishing website (www.SpiritAndTruthPublishing.com). However, the personalized written materials will be emailed or sent via other electronic means by the writer once completed.
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When will the Chosen Together materials be available?
All of the lesson material is available for immediate download once your payment is processed.
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What if I have other questions not answered here?
If you have any other questions, please call the publisher or use the contact form found on the contact page. We’d love to hear from you!
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