Okay, so when I was in Confirmation I didn't think it rocked. In the Lutheran church, Confirmation lasts for two years, one hour every Wednesday night. Sunday school was a seperate lesson. We learned Luther's Small Catechism, memorized the words and meanings of all the creeds and were pretty much prepped for seminary if that was the direction one wanted to go...This past Sunday I had the honor of leading the FUMC Dallas Confirmation class in United Methodist Heritage. At first those kids were characteristically squirrley and thinking they were going to eat my lunch! But man, are they sharp! I enjoyed that hour more than most in leading Sunday school classes. We discussed our heritage of grace given to us as a free gift of God. We talked about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, and his understanding of service, study and spirituality. We discussed how our family heritage and our faith heritage sometime go hand in hand. Most importantly, I think, we talked about what Confirmation actually means to them. When I asked that question, one boy said it means that when I'm confirmed, I become a full member of the church. And the truth is, on their day of confirmation, they get to choose for their very own selves whether or not they want to be a member of the church. For all their years previous, they've been brought to church by their parents, been taught by their parents and leaders here at the church and for the most part been told what their faith is all about. But at the end of confirmation they get to say, "I am a Christian not only because my mom and dad said I am...but because I myself chose to be".
That is a very powerful moment in the lives of our youth as they become mature in their faith and realize and use the gift of free will that God has blessed them with. They are on their way and I'm so blessed to have had that hour with them.
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