CONFIRMATION
Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, is also the day we here at Delavan UMC will be celebrating Confirmation. Confirmation is more than just a rite of passage. It is actually a chance for those previously baptized to claim for themselves the faith that their parents promised to raise them in. It is an opportunity to make a public affirmation of their faith. And from this point forward these confirmands will be recognized as full members of Delavan United Methodist Church.
Our confirmands began the process last fall by studying what it meant to be a Christian, discussing where they were in their own faith journey, learning about the history and uniqueness of our United Methodist Church, and asking lots of questions. On May 15, Pentecost Sunday, they will confirm before God and congregation that all of these things are not just something that their parents and others want for them, but that they freely desire to commit to and be part of this faith community themselves. They will confess Jesus as their Savior, affirm that they put their whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as their Lord.
But that is not all. According to the grace given them, they will also each one declare their intention to remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church and to serve as one of Christ’s representatives in the world.
I say “declare their intention” because we know from our own experience that this is often easier said than done. So much can throw even faithful disciples off track. Even mature saints of the church sometimes drift astray from this call that has been placed on our life and don’t follow through. Rather than go into why this can happen, I would like to call our collective attention to that part of the ceremony which is instructive on how to prevent this from happening. The liturgy of Confirmation at this point in the service turns from asking questions of the confirmands to asking questions of the congregation:
“Will you support and encourage them in their Christian faith?”
“Do you, as the body of Christ, the church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?”
“Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include these persons in your care?”
Confirmation is not the end of a journey. It is but a milestone, an important milestone but still just a milestone, along the way. There is much more growing and nurturing and faith formation to take place. And the instruments of that faith formation are we who welcome them into our community.
Very specifically, we need people who are willing to take some responsibility to continue to mentor these young people who come to join us in their continuing growth in faith. Many congregations have mentors for confirmands that connect with them for a season. I am asking who would be willing to be present for a lifetime? Who will come alongside our young people and work to form relationships that will be part of their faith formation, the maturing process that we never outgrow? Nearly every writer in the New Testament writes about the importance of the elder men and women of the church providing guidance to the younger ones. As our young people confirm their commitment to Jesus Christ and living that out through their relationship with this congregation, who among us will take just as seriously the affirmations we also will make?
Confirmation may be over. But the work and ministry we have as a church toward them has just begun. If you would be willing to take on the role of mentor, please contact Pastor Gene directly (309-555-XXXX) or leave word at the church office (309-555-XXXX) for more information.
