Dear People of St. James’,
Some of you have asked me about this thing we do called Confirmation or Reception lately. What better time to address this question than right before we begin a new Discovery Class on August 6! REGISTER HERE.
For those who grew up with the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, Confirmation was the opening of the door to participation in communion. It was a sealing with the Holy Spirit that said, “Okay, now you are ready to participate in the Body of the Church.” With the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, a more direct and open path was made from the baptismal font to the altar, with the understanding that all of the baptized, from the child to the elder, are called to play a crucial part in the Body of Christ and Christ’s Church. But, that left people wondering, what is confirmation, then?
Clues about how we now think about confirmation can be found in the titles of various courses for confirmation preparation: My Faith, My Life; Journey 2 Adulthood (J2A); Confirm, not Conform; Walk in Love. Each title seems to indicate that our baptismal faith is a journey, and that, in confirmation, there is an informed and inspired decision being made to choose a path that involves particular practices and a particular community of disciples. Confirmation has shifted from a gateway to the altar to a milestone on a spiritual journey with a community of faith.
We will mark this milestone with people from our community at the 10:30 am service and the 1 pm service on September 17 when Bishop Fisher visits us. Your voice and presence matters in this celebration, because this is the confirmand’s chance to hear loudly and and clearly from you that you will walk with them.
For those who have already been confirmed in another tradition with bishops in apostolic succession (we are mainly talking Roman Catholics here), reception affirms the statement you made in confirmation and welcomes you publicly into communion with the Episcopal Church. When I was received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Wimberly in 2004, at Trinity Church in Midtown, Houston, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I had been confirmed in the Roman Catholic tradition. I had actually helped put the confirmation class together at Trinity. This would be pro forma, I thought. I was a little sad, because my family wouldn’t be there to put their hands on my shoulders during the saying of the words. We’ll just do this, I thought.
When I stood before the bishop and felt the empty space around me, where I wished my family might be, I teared up for a moment. And then I heard him whisper to me, “Here they come,” and the sound of footsteps filled my ears. Hands pressed down on my shoulders, and I was surrounded by friends and people who were teaching me about ministry, who were calling me into my vocation. The weight of those hands lifted me and have carried me to places I did not expect. At Trinity, the people would loudly say, “Amen” after the bishop would pray. That “Amen”, their “yes” to walk with me, resonated with and strengthened the “yes” that I was offering to work of Jesus in my life and in the world. I am still grateful.
If you are interested in being confirmed or received when Bishop Fisher visits us on September 17, or you just want to learn more about this rich tradition of ours at St. James’ and in the Episcopal Church, I hope you will join us for the Discovery Class, 12-1 pm on Sundays from August 6 – September 3. REGISTER HERE.
Rev. Eileen
