Preparation begins
At the 9:00am service this Sunday, October 2, Fr Robert will bless those parishioners, youth and adults, who are preparing for the sacrament of confirmation, reception into the Episcopal Church, or re-affirmation of their faith. Fr Robert will use the ancient rite called, “The Admission of Catechumens,” which was originally used for those preparing for Holy Baptism.
The Bishop of Arizona, Jennifer A. Reddall, will visit Saint Philip’s on Sunday, January 29, and administer the sacrament.
The parishioners who will be blessed are: David Adah-Ogoh, Matti Bowen, Edina Hall, Eileen Hollowell, Mike Humphrey, Jim and Gretchen McGill, Jordan Paul, Kelsi Vanada, and Savannah Williamson.
What is Confirmation?
A special way of receiving God’s grace: the presence of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is confirmed in you through prayer and the laying on of the bishop’s hands for the life of Christian faithfulness, service, and witness.
A step of personal faith: you confirm that you take on for yourself that which was taken on for you at your baptism as a child, confirming your faith and your membership in the body of Christ.
Admission to Holy Communion: you confirm your full membership of the community of faith as it is expressed in the Eucharist.
A rite of passage: an act symbolizing the movement from childhood to adulthood in which the church community confirms your intention to assume the privileges and responsibilities of being an adult member of the community.
Therefore, those who are confirmed, no less than those who are received and who reaffirm their faith, need to be prepared: to expect to receive, to be open to God’s calling, to be ready for his embrace, to want to experience his presence and power. We need to want and desire God, to long and thirst for him.
Candidates are usually expected to take several weeks or months to prepare for Confirmation and explore what this might mean for them. It isn’t just the people being confirmed who need to be prepared; it is also the community to which they belong. It is good for congregations to reflect on how they will welcome and uphold those who are being confirmed. How they do this can make a lot of difference to whether those confirmed stick around, grow in faith lived out in the world, exercise a ministry, become faithful communicants.
--Drawn from “Confirmation: Christian Faith,” an Anglican resource of Gospel Imprint shared freely with all Christians who seek to learn, worship and witness to the generosity of the Kingdom of God.