Pastor's Ponderings:
May 15th will be Confirmation Sunday for the Hebron United Methodist Church as Hope Hetrick, Andrew Thacker, and Owen Thacker take their membership vows. They have been meeting almost weekly over the last several months learning what confirmation is all about.
We have been using “CREDO” from Cokesbury. CREDO is grounded in three core principles:
Confirmation is the continuation of one’s faith journey (a journey begun at baptism) and the beginning of one’s covenant relationship
with the church—not an end unto itself.
Confirmation is more than just a series of classes. Confirmands must be fully
engaged in the life of the church through worship, service, small groups, and involvement in other ministries.
Confirmands should emerge from their confirmation experience prepared for a life of Christian discipleship.
Your confirmation program is an important Christian education ministry, but it is not likely the only education opportunity for these young people. In fact, it is impossible for a confirmand to learn everything she or he needs to know about the Bible, Christian faith, and Christian living before Confirmation Sunday. Christian education is a lifelong endeavor.
Worship is crucial to the life of the church and of each individual congregation. Worship is a way that we tell our story and pass down our beliefs and practices to subsequent generations; it is a way that Christians of all “ages, nations, and races” come together to express their common faith; and it is a way that we say yes to the God who said yes to us through our baptism. These confirmands understand the importance of worship.
Confirmation Sunday is an opportunity to lift up the ministry of confirmation while also creating a memorable experience for those being confirmed. Young people celebrate all sorts of milestones – earning the Eagle scout rank or Girl Scout Gold Award, being inducted into National Honor Society, winning an athletic competition, with memorable ceremonies and rituals. The rite of confirmation should be at least as meaningful and memorable.
I hope you will see this as an opportunity to both affirm them and their efforts to grow in their faith and become faithful members to this congregation and to the United Methodist Church and join with us in worship.
Blessings
Pastor Pete
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We have been using “CREDO” from Cokesbury. CREDO is grounded in three core principles:
Confirmation is the continuation of one’s faith journey (a journey begun at baptism) and the beginning of one’s covenant relationship
with the church—not an end unto itself.
Confirmation is more than just a series of classes. Confirmands must be fully
engaged in the life of the church through worship, service, small groups, and involvement in other ministries.
Confirmands should emerge from their confirmation experience prepared for a life of Christian discipleship.
Your confirmation program is an important Christian education ministry, but it is not likely the only education opportunity for these young people. In fact, it is impossible for a confirmand to learn everything she or he needs to know about the Bible, Christian faith, and Christian living before Confirmation Sunday. Christian education is a lifelong endeavor.
Worship is crucial to the life of the church and of each individual congregation. Worship is a way that we tell our story and pass down our beliefs and practices to subsequent generations; it is a way that Christians of all “ages, nations, and races” come together to express their common faith; and it is a way that we say yes to the God who said yes to us through our baptism. These confirmands understand the importance of worship.
Confirmation Sunday is an opportunity to lift up the ministry of confirmation while also creating a memorable experience for those being confirmed. Young people celebrate all sorts of milestones – earning the Eagle scout rank or Girl Scout Gold Award, being inducted into National Honor Society, winning an athletic competition, with memorable ceremonies and rituals. The rite of confirmation should be at least as meaningful and memorable.
I hope you will see this as an opportunity to both affirm them and their efforts to grow in their faith and become faithful members to this congregation and to the United Methodist Church and join with us in worship.
Blessings
Pastor Pete
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