Young people in the eighth grade or older prepare to become members of our church. The Confirmation program is held at 9:30 a.m. from September through May. 

Young people study basic Christian beliefs (why do you believe what you believe?), United Methodist history (what's in a name?) and what it means to be a member of the church (Princeton UM Church).  On the Sunday when they join the church (at the end of May), there are many festivities to celebrate their achievement and welcome them as new members. The year-long program teaches them the meaning of being a disciple of Christ and church membership.

Maybe you have seen the wall chart in the second floor hallway -- it's a timeline of church history put together by this past year's Confirmation Class.  Eighteen eighth graders explored basic themes such as prayer, sin, salvation, the Holy Spirit and the end of the world. This included a history study that started with their Jewish heritage and continued to the early church, Roman Catholic heritage, Protestant heritage, United Methodist history and even PUMC's own story. 

It's not just classroom learning. Activities in the past have included a retreat to the Pinelands at Mt. Misery, attending a service at the Jewish Center of Princeton, a visit by the Center's cantor to their class  and a visit to St. George's Church in Philadelphia, the oldest Methodist church in the United States.