Easter vigil/Confirmation

[omajoy]

I haven't been around here for a while - hope all are well.

I went to an LCMS Confirmation this past Saturday night that was held at the same service as the Easter vigil. I was curious as to why they were done at the same time, and was told by a parishioner that this was a tradition (old Lutheran tradition). The pastor there is fairly new, so having Confirmation the night before Easter was new to this church too. It was the 8th grader confirmation, not adult, that I'm talking about. Anyway, I was wondering if others have heard of this.

 

[DaRev]

Having baptisms and confirmations during the Easter Vigil service is not uncommon. It goes back to the early Church where newly catechized would be baptized and receive first communion on the Vigil of Easter. The Lutheran Service Book altar book has provisions for this for the Easter Vigil service.

 

[omajoy]

Thanks, Rev. First Communion was given at this service also. The pastor also talked about Baptism in this service. The way it was worded in the bulletin it sounded like there was going to be a Baptism, but there wasn't one. It was a little confusing.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Having baptisms and confirmations during the Easter Vigil service is not uncommon. It goes back to the early Church where newly catechized would be baptized and receive first communion on the Vigil of Easter. The Lutheran Service Book altar book has provisions for this for the Easter Vigil service.

When I was confirmed, we were "publicly" (we had to memorize the whole Cathecim and many of the "proof texts" as well, and it has served me well over the years) examined during the service the Sunday before Palm Sunday, we were confirmed Palm Sunday, and received first Communion Easter Sunday... I guess they liked to draw it out.

 

[neen1]

I have a 8th grader who will be confirmed in 2 weeks (April 29). I think it would have been a honor to have had first communion on Easter Sunday. But my church does confirmation after Easter. One Sunday is confirmation and first communion the following Sunday.

 

[Resha Caner]

Our church does first communion on Maundy Thursday. I like that even better than doing it at Easter Vigil.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Our church does first communion on Maundy Thursday. I like that even better than doing it at Easter Vigil.

That's a neat idea, actually.

When we first moved here, they had confirmation on Palm Sunday. When hubby took a look at the course he taught, there was no way that was gonna happen - he needed an extra four weeks to finish the course. So now they are confirmed right around the first week of May. Some of the parents of kids who went through the other course but now have younger children in the class say that they like his better. It's a more thorough course. And no one seems to mind that confirmation is in May.

 

[DaRev]

Ideally, I would like to have Confirmation on Reformation Sunday and First Communion the following Maundy Thursday, spending the time in between concentrating on the Sacrament and the Gospel proclamation during that portion of the Church year. I have not yet had the opportunity to implement that, but may do so with the new class starting in the Fall. My two current confirmands will be confirmed and receive the Sacrament on Reformation Sunday because the course schedule just worked out that way, but I don't want to wait with the Sacrament with them because they've been in the course for a long time already. It's best to start the course with that schedule.

 

[joyfulthanks]

Ideally, I would like to have Confirmation on Reformation Sunday and First Communion the following Maundy Thursday, spending the time in between concentrating on the Sacrament and the Gospel proclamation during that portion of the Church year. I have not yet had the opportunity to implement that, but may do so with the new class starting in the Fall. My two current confirmands will be confirmed and receive the Sacrament on Reformation Sunday because the course schedule just worked out that way, but I don't want to wait with the Sacrament with them because they've been in the course for a long time already. It's best to start the course with that schedule.

I'm a little confused. I'm understanding you to say that you want to confirm them in October of this year, and not commune them until March 28 of next year. Is that correct?

When you say that you're going to spend time on the Sacrament and the Gospel proclamation in between, are you meaning that their confirmation instruction won't yet be finished when they are confirmed?

 

[DaRev]

I'm a little confused. I'm understanding you to say that you want to confirm them in October of this year, and not commune them until March 28 of next year. Is that correct?

No. What i said was " My two current confirmands will be confirmed and receive the Sacrament on Reformation Sunday because the course schedule just worked out that way, but I don't want to wait with the Sacrament with them because they've been in the course for a long time already. It's best to start the course with that schedule."

When you say that you're going to spend time on the Sacrament and the Gospel proclamation in between, are you meaning that their confirmation instruction won't yet be finished when they are confirmed?

Of course not! They wouldn't be confirmed if their instruction isn't complete. Seperating first communion from confirmation allows more empahsis to be placed on the true sacrament instead of on an adiaphoric rite of the Church. Confirmation is merely a confession of their faith made at their baptism in their stead. Separating it from Holy Communion allows more time to spend on the significance of the Sacrament.

 

[joyfulthanks]

Thanks for clarifying.