This confirmation class is off to a great start! Last Sunday (21 September) during
class we learned what confirmation is and why it is
such an important part of our faith. The web site for the
Episcopal Church is a wonderful resource for learning about the church (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/)
Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of the Episcopal Church - yeah, this sounds serious because it is! So what are the Sacraments?
“Sacraments
are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” (Book
of Common Prayer, p. 857).
Besides baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the church
recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith. These include:
·
Confirmation (the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows), pp.
413-419, Book of Common Prayer
·
Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession), pp. 447-452,
Book of Common Prayer
·
Matrimony (Christian marriage), pp. 422-438, Book of Common
Prayer
·
Orders (ordination to deacon, priest, or bishop), pp. 510-555, Book
of Common Prayer
·
Unction (anointing with oil those who are sick or dying) pp.
453-467, Book of Common Prayer
These help us to be a sacramental people, seeing God always at
work around us.
I bet you never thought of yourself as becoming "sacramental people," but you are.
So Confirmation is the adult affirmation of your baptismal vows. Do you
remember your baptismal vows? Probably not because most of you
were baptized when you were very young, even a baby.
It is worth taking time to review baptism in Episcopal Church. Again, according to the Episcopal web site:
Baptismal Covenant
"Do you reaffirm your
renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 292).
A mini catechism used at baptisms
and on Easter and other special occasions, the Baptismal Covenant opens with a
question-and-answer version of the statement of faith that is the Apostles’
Creed and adds five questions regarding how we, as Christians, are called to
live out our faith.
The Baptismal Covenant
Celebrant
Do you believe in God the Father?
People
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth.
Celebrant
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord.
He was
conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born
of the Virgin Mary.
He
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified, died, and was buried.
He
descended to the dead.
On the
third day he rose again.
He
ascended into heaven,
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will
come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy
catholic Church,
the communion of
saints,
the forgiveness
of sins,
the resurrection
of the body,
and the life
everlasting.
Celebrant
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in
the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into
sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in
Christ?
People
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as
yourself?
People
I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant
Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the
dignity of every human
being?
People
I will, with God’s help.
In the meantime, check out this funny video about confirmation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPR41_lFSQU
