The covenant is sealed. Promises are made.
Today we begin the first day of confirmation classes. At Zion, we have classes one week during the summer for two years during which time curriculum will include "Experiencing Real Living," published by Sola Publishing.. During the school year, the youth will participate in an online course, www.smallcatechism.org . Adults are welcome to join us for the educational part of the classes. Youth will also be expected to participate in service projects both within the congregation and the wider community. They are also expected to participate in worship as well as help lead at least two worship services each year. This is all done to prepare them to make certain promises at the end of the two years as they are confirmed and then to continue to live according to the promises they have made..
Just a reminder of some of the promises those affirming their baptisms make...
First off, they are asked to renounce the devil, the powers of this world and the ways of sin that threaten to draw us from God. After affirming their faith with the words of the Apostle's Creed, they are asked if they intend:
1. to continue to live in the covenant God made with them in baptism.
2. to hear the word of God and receive the Lord's Supper (this necessarily means they will
continue to attend worship)
3. to proclaim the Good News (they will share Jesus with others in both word and deed)
4. to serve all people (as Jesus did when he died on the cross for our sins)
5. to strive for justice and peace in all the earth (and this might mean that have to be just a little
less concerned about their own welfare as they seek justice for others)
Each of them will respond with: "I do, and I ask God to help and guide me."
Now here's the question(s) for this morning. Do they, will they, do you? Do you remember the promises you made? Have you seriously asked God to help and guide you in the keeping of these promises? So often many people think of confirmation as merely a rite of passage and we push our young people through the classes. Here's the problem with it, as I see it. They will make promises to God at the end of the two years. Do they actually intend to keep those promises? Will I ever see them again at Worship except for Christmas or Easter? Do their parents and godparents intend to encourage them to keep those promises.
Israel got in a lot of trouble by going consistantly back on their promises to God. God is the only one who has been known to keep His promises consistantly man cannot. Thanks be to God that His grace is enough to cover us when we fall short of keeping our promises. But, should we be making them if we really don't intend to keep them?
God's Peace - Pr. J
Today we begin the first day of confirmation classes. At Zion, we have classes one week during the summer for two years during which time curriculum will include "Experiencing Real Living," published by Sola Publishing.. During the school year, the youth will participate in an online course, www.smallcatechism.org . Adults are welcome to join us for the educational part of the classes. Youth will also be expected to participate in service projects both within the congregation and the wider community. They are also expected to participate in worship as well as help lead at least two worship services each year. This is all done to prepare them to make certain promises at the end of the two years as they are confirmed and then to continue to live according to the promises they have made..
Just a reminder of some of the promises those affirming their baptisms make...
First off, they are asked to renounce the devil, the powers of this world and the ways of sin that threaten to draw us from God. After affirming their faith with the words of the Apostle's Creed, they are asked if they intend:
1. to continue to live in the covenant God made with them in baptism.
2. to hear the word of God and receive the Lord's Supper (this necessarily means they will
continue to attend worship)
3. to proclaim the Good News (they will share Jesus with others in both word and deed)
4. to serve all people (as Jesus did when he died on the cross for our sins)
5. to strive for justice and peace in all the earth (and this might mean that have to be just a little
less concerned about their own welfare as they seek justice for others)
Each of them will respond with: "I do, and I ask God to help and guide me."
Now here's the question(s) for this morning. Do they, will they, do you? Do you remember the promises you made? Have you seriously asked God to help and guide you in the keeping of these promises? So often many people think of confirmation as merely a rite of passage and we push our young people through the classes. Here's the problem with it, as I see it. They will make promises to God at the end of the two years. Do they actually intend to keep those promises? Will I ever see them again at Worship except for Christmas or Easter? Do their parents and godparents intend to encourage them to keep those promises.
Israel got in a lot of trouble by going consistantly back on their promises to God. God is the only one who has been known to keep His promises consistantly man cannot. Thanks be to God that His grace is enough to cover us when we fall short of keeping our promises. But, should we be making them if we really don't intend to keep them?
God's Peace - Pr. J
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