2016 Confirmation Trip

My favorite part of this year's confirmation trip was visiting the Old Swedes' Church (the oldest church building in Pennsylvania). I liked it because it was so quiet in there, Pastor talked about the angel heads. There were pews and an organ and a stained glass window. I also liked looking at all of the names on the stones in the graveyard. ~ Elizabeth Joy Haussmann

Confirmation trip Gloria Dei is the oldest church in Pennsylvania. It is the second oldest Swedish church in the country. The first Lutheran ordination in the US took place there. People coming to America from Sweden started the parish, which worshipped as a Swedish-Lutheran congregation until 1845, when it became an Episcopal church. It is a national historical site. I liked the models of the boats hanging from the ceiling of the church; they were replicas of the ships on which the people from Sweden came. Other things I remember are the church's organ, which was located in the balcony; how the former pastors were buried under the floor; and a plaque that told how Betsy Ross was married there.~ Jonah Schreckengast.

Confirmation trip The Independence Seaport Museum is a Museum located in south Philadelphia along the Delaware River. This is an important place to visit, because you can learn about ship building, the importance of the Delaware River to the area and interesting historical events that happened along the Delaware River. I liked looking at all the ship models on display and watching men and women build a real wooden ship inside the museum. I also liked the gift shop because my parents bought me a t-shirt with a big boat on it. There was a section that talked about slave trade and "The Middle Passage". The Middle Passage was the name of the journey on the ocean between Africa and North America. I am studying this in school, and some of the same information on display was in my school history book. I stood on a box where slaves were sold. I talked with my parents about how terrible it would have been if I was sold away from my family. Slavery was a terrible thing. I also, wrote a note card and put it on the display wall about what freedom meant to me. ~ Gabriella Gregory

Confirmation trip The Cruiser Olympia is a battleship that began its service in the Spanish American War. It is best known as Commodore Dewey's ship that defeated the Spanish fleet in the Baffle of Manila Bay. I liked the cannons best because big and huge and they put ammunition in them. I also saw the hammocks where they slept-I remember because one hit me on the head. ~ Owen Gair

The Submarine Becuna is a WWII submarine. It also served in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and ended its career as e training submarine, I liked the torpedo room the best; it was responsible for the sinking of several Japanese ships in the Pacific. They slept in berths that were very crowded and were stacked with only about 2' clearance between them. ~ Dylan Ott

I went to the Egyptian Lower Gallery at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Egypt was important because that's where Joseph was a slave. I liked the temple the best because it showed how they worshipped. I also liked seeing the Sphinx because I learned about it in Social Studies. - Ashton Ott

Pr. Elkin, the youth the parents, and one mentor had a wonderful time and are grateful for being able to travel and see all these wonderful things pertaining to our faith, our church, and our history." Be sure to ask them about their travels !