It was really wonderful to see many of you in worship last Sunday for Mother's Day. We hope that you can join us this Sunday for a beautiful time in worship as we baptize or confirm students on Confirmation Sunday, May 21st at both worship services.
In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1, Luke continues his gospel narrative as he quickly adds:
I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This" he said "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:1-5
The promise of the Holy Spirit...
Kim Carroll, Director of Christian DIscipleship, has shared weeks of thoughtful reflection and study with our students prior to this Sunday. They have discussed their faith in and through Jesus and are now ready to accept an anointing of the Holy Spirit. They choose a life in covenant relationship with God in Jesus. We are overjoyed to celebrate with these students through their confirmation and beyond. We all remember our baptism and give thanks!
More about Baptism and Confirmation
"When persons who were baptized as infants are ready to profess their Christian faith, they participate in the service which United Methodism now calls Confirmation. This occasion is not an entrance into Church membership, for this was accomplished through baptism. It is the first public affirmation of the grace of God in one's baptism and the acknowledgment of one's acceptance of that grace by faith. This moment includes all the elements of conversion -- repentance of sin, surrender and death of self, trust in the saving grace of God, new life in Christ, and becoming an instrument of God’s purpose in the world. The profession of Christian faith, to be celebrated in the midst of the worshiping congregation, should include the voicing of baptismal vows as a witness to faith and the opportunity to give testimony to personal Christian experience."
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/gbod-assets/generic/BWASWITHINDEXINTRO.PDF https://umcmission.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TheologyMission-Handout-SinglePg.pdf
Join us and celebrate our confirmands this Sunday!
Pastor Paul