Pentacost Sermon: Confirmation Sunday

Holy Spirit, you come among us to help us speak the truth of God’s love in the Word that is Jesus.  Jesus is the Word of Truth the World needs now.  Amen.

This morning three young people of Grace and Maria will make affirmation of their baptisms as we, their family in Christ, bear witness to their promises.  We also will make promises with them.  What is more, we are all invited to remember the promises we ourselves have made as members of the body of Christ.  One of these promises is to live among God’s faithful people.  There are a variety of ways to look at this specific promise, but no doubt, one of the ways to live among the faithful people of God is to attend church.

Here in church we hope, we pray, we work…to create a place where the Spirit of Christ is felt.  Our readings from Acts, Roman, and John this morning all focus heavily on that Spirit that comes so often when the people of God are gathered together.  This Spirit of Truth that Jesus sent in his stead to guide and walk alongside us, which blazes within us and warms our hearts to speak of God’s great love, is active in us and should be active here in the church of all places.  So we pray that we will not lose our new confirmands to the world. 

James, Jenna, Reagan—these are amazingly gifted young people.  They are generous.  James excels at music, has a great sense of humor, sees work that needs doing and does it.  Jenna loves sports, is artistic, and takes joy in her family.  Reagan loves running, reading, and writing; asks thoughtful questions, and helps wherever help is needed.  All three of these young people are amazing with little children and show leadership skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.  They are gifts to their families, these churches, these communities and to the world.

All that being said, I know the thought of not seeing them at church is frightening.  I have heard the fear when we talk together about the future of the church.  I have seen the anger, the frustration, the confusion, and the concern.  Why do our young people leave?  Will they come back?  What can we do to make them stay?

I have seen people cry that their children and grandchildren do not feel the pull to gather here in worship.  I don’t take it lightly.  I do not think it is unimportant.  I know that it matters.  We want to remind our young people that this isn’t like Graduation where you have reached a new level and are ready to move on.  Confirmation is just a marker for a small part of a lifelong faith formation.  God is never ever done with you.  God will always want to be a part of your life.  In fact, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit WILL be a part of your life, forever.  Just as you didn’t have the power to start the relationship, you don’t have the power to end it.  Even if you were to stop coming to church.  And I am not just saying that to the young people here today.  I am saying that to all of us—even myself because God knows I need that reminder too at times.

I don’t want to spend a lot of time focusing on this fear of all that the church might lose.  Because I think we could better focus on all the church has gained and all that the world is gaining because of these young people.  And because we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.  We have received a spirit of adoption.  We are not slaves who labor by force, we are servants who labor in love.  And we don’t need to be fearful of what may or may not happen to the church.  We need to be faithful in what is happening to/for/with the body of Christ.  These young people are bringing something new to the world.  They will share God and Jesus in ways we may not imagine.  They will carry Love into the world and return with messages of hope and grace.

How do I know?

I believe.

James carries these words on his heart: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” 

The strength of Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit is upon this young man.  We bear witness.

Jenna’s heart carries this: “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
   we are the clay, and you are our potter;
   we are all the work of your hand.”

Jenna knows, and we know, that God has created her to a purpose.  We bear witness to her creativity.

Reagan’s heart verse is this: “Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’”

Reagan believes in God’s greater plan and trusts in the will of the Lord.  We bear witness to Reagan’s faithful courage.

Of course I want these young people here with us in worship.  I want all who live in Christ’s body to be as active as they are able.  Still, my faith is in this, God will use James, Jenna, and Reagan no matter where they go in this wide and wonderful world.  And they will always have a place right here among us.

As will you all.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.