Matthew 11:28–30 (NRSV)
Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
One of the meaningful things our 6th graders do during Confirmation is create a stole. This activity comes at the end of the Confirmation journey and invites students to reflect on who they are and who God is calling them to be. Together, we talk about the names they are known by, where they see themselves fitting into the church, how they understand the Trinity, who has influenced their faith journey, and how they can live into their vow to uphold this congregation with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.We use this scripture as a foundation for the activity. A stole symbolizes a yoke—the wooden harness placed around the necks of oxen to guide them as they pull a cart. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you,” and reminds us that “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Wearing a stole represents being tethered to Jesus and allowing Jesus to take the lead in our lives.
In the United Methodist tradition, ordained clergy are typically the only ones who wear stoles during worship. However, we believe—along with many other Christians—that all followers of Christ are called to lead, serve, and share God’s love in the world. This is why each of you is invited to create a stole that represents you—your story, your faith, and your sacred place in the Kingdom of God.
God calls each of us to commit our lives to the church, to help build the Kingdom, and to follow Jesus fully. That means offering all of who we are—our gifts, questions, passions, and hopes—to God. These stoles symbolize both our connection to Jesus and our call to leadership within the church.
As we celebrate our confirmands, we invite you to make this your own. The guidelines below are meant to help you reflect, not to limit you. You may simply write these things on a piece of paper and use them as a tool for prayer and reflection. Our faith journey is lifelong. It doesn’t always go where we expect, but it never truly ends. Even when we stray from God, God never strays from us. We remain tethered—held by Christ’s yoke.
Reflection Guidelines
- Write the word Christian at the top of the paper.
- Write the name you prefer to be called.
- List three positive adjectives that describe you.
- Draw a symbol that represents you. This might reflect an activity, interest, or something you are known for among friends or family.
- Write and/or draw the different roles you play in your life (for example: son, daughter, sibling, student, athlete, musician, gamer, scout, artist, friend, writer, performer).
- Add symbols, words, or short phrases representing the three persons of the Trinity (Father/Son/Holy Spirit or Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer).
- Include other religious words or symbols that are meaningful to you.
- Write one way God might be calling you to lead—through your character, a passion you have, or a change you feel called to make.
- Add the name of a Christian role model who has influenced your faith.
- Write the ways you served in 2025, or ways you hope to serve in 2026
Elaine Johnson, Worship Coordinator of FUMC-Fort Worth
