Today, we are observing the Church’s time-honored tradition of Confirmation. The Rite of Confirmation comes at the end […]
confirmation
“Pastor’s Wall of Shame.” Yeah, that’s what he called it. As I scrambled around a few weeks ago […]
By Bob Hiller –
This past Sunday, our congregation rejoiced with all the saints and angels over four eighth graders who stood up to confirm their faith in the triune God. At our church, we enjoy personal testimonies from each of the confirmands. I always enjoy listening to the students talk about how they believe in the death and resurrection of the incarnate God for them. I love hearing the pro me in action! But the part of the service that really gets me is the old rite of confirmation. In it, these eighth graders renounced the devil, confessed their faith in the truth of God’s Word, committed themselves to a life filled with and formed by the Word and Sacraments, and said they were willing to stake their lives on this confession. What is not to love in this rite?
By Joel Hess –
Time and time again I hear a friend say with complete sincerity, “I don’t want to force my kids to go to church,” or, “I want my kids to choose what they want to believe in.” They brag about it as if it’s a badge of honor and an enlightened sign of good parenting.
By Joel Hess – A father and son went hunting for morels on one spring evening in May. […]