Affirmation of Faith

“Celebrate!”  “Praise God!”  “Hallelujah!”  These words might be spoken when a youth is about to reach their “confirmation day.”  A lot has gone into reaching this milestone – Sunday school, Christmas pageants, confirmation classes, service hours, confirmation camp, worship notes – all of which are designed to teach and pass the faith on in meaningful ways.  Faith begins in the home and Lord knows there have been many prayers spoken and challenging conversations shared by parents to explain “why” faith and worship are important.
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Life is not exempt from painful and mountain top experiences.  We all are works in progress.  Youth are especially watching and developing their responses to the decisions they will face along life’s journey.  Continue to surround youth with positive experiences, spiritually mature adults because faith development does not end on confirmation day.  This is just the beginning!

The day of confirmation in the Lutheran Church is called “Affirmation of Faith.”  Our young people will affirm their faith.  The promises shared on the day of their baptism will be “affirmed” or shared again publicly, this time, by the youth.  They are declaring that they want to take on the baptismal promises that began, for many of them, when they were infants.  They are making faith their own.  Please don’t let it stop there. They still need guidance from parents, Godparents and many other trusted adults.  High School Youth Group, mission trips and volunteering at church and in the community are all ways we continue to exercise our faith.

I am sad this year is not going to look or feel as it usually does for our confirmands.  With the pandemic in full swing and our area of Wisconsin being in a state of emergency – being gathered in person is just not safe for families, volunteers and pastors.  I wish it could be different.  However, we don’t want to continue to postpone this important day another time, so we are making the best of it.  Sunday worship (10.25.20) will be live streamed at 9:15am as normal and confirmation youth will be involved in the worship service.  The actual Rite of Confirmation or the Affirmation of Faith will happen in a separate Zoom call with families gathered safely in their homes, lighting candles, laying on hands and celebrating in their home spaces.  Collectively we will be brought together by the Holy Spirit and the technology of Zoom to affirm faith.  Our 9th grade class has 42 students in it!

Sunday will truly be a day when God’s love comes to life and not even a pandemic can stop it!  I hope everyone of CtK congregation will join along with parents, Godparents and many relatives to give thanks to God for the milestone that will keep giving throughout a lifetime!
 
Christ’s Blessings & Peace,  Pastor Nate

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