Reflections From Sunday Evening

The Master's -- exciting golf
Royals Baseball -- not so exciting
Perfect weather -- thankful for spring
Great worship services this weekend -- thanks Angie for starting off the "Faith in Action" series so powerfully
A church full of Emmaus participants -- lives being changed
Great worship attendance in this "post-Easter" season
I could go on about the ways God is at work among us -- but one thing I want to emphasize -- Confirmation!
Today we baptized 12 young people
We confirmed 53 young people in their Christian faith and received them into the church.
I have special feelings for Confirmation Sunday. I don't remember the first class I worked with. However there are a number of confirmation classes that stand out. When I had the joy of starting a new church we confirmed three in our first class. I remember Shawn, Mark and Tammy. As a matter of fact I heard (via Facebook) from Tammy this week.
At the same church there was the class with around 30 young people - our son Bobby was one of them. It was memorable to confirm my son and receive him into the life of the Church.
When it came time for our daughter Andrea to be confirmed Bishop Ann Sherer came and confirmed her class and received them into the church. That was pretty special -- to work with my bishop in confirming our daughter.
There have been many groups of young people I have worked with - usually along with youth directors and associate pastors - and been able to confirm them in the faith and fellowship of all true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Today was a memorable Confirmation Sunday. It was a large group but more importantly there seemed to be a connection. It seems that Roy and Rachel have done a great job working with these young people this year. It is a joy to watch parents stand with their child and place their hands on their shoulders. It is a group I pray will experience many blessings from God in the days and years ahead.
Today I prayed for this class - that they would go forth and grow in the love and grace of God -- that God would be present in times of trial -- that God be present in times of joy -- that God call some of these to ministry -- that all go forth to know the Lord and serve him.
It's been a great day. Even as I watch the back nine of the Master's - it cannot compare to the experience of young people confessing their faith in Jesus Christ and moving forward into all the possibilities of the life of grace that awaits them.
blessings,
steve