It’s Confirmation weekend at Central. Eight students will stand before the congregation on Sunday and claim the promises made at their baptisms as their own. As a reminder, those promises include things like living among God’s faithful people, hearing the word of God and sharing in the Lord’s Supper, proclaiming the good news of God in Christ Jesus, and striving for justice and peace in all the earth.
These eight students represent everything that is good and right with the church right now. As you read their faith statements, you will hear a common refrain that sounds something like this: “I am grateful for those who have brought me to faith, and I love my church because my church loves and welcomes everyone.”
Many of you made promises at these kids’ baptisms. You promised to teach and guide and pray for these young ones so that they would grow up as people of faith. You have fulfilled your promises. Because of you, Lucy, Rosebeth, Clementine, Natalia, Melanie, Elsa, Ben, and Caroline have completed their formal instruction and now cross a threshold that takes them into a new place of faith and life.
It’s ironic, and maybe mysterious is a better word, that our text this week is Jesus helping the disciples understand that they will be crossing a threshold too. As Jesus is preparing to return to the Father, Thomas asks, “How will we know the way?” Jesus responds by saying, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” In other words, “you will find your way in and through me.”
These students are followers of Jesus. Many of them are traveling this summer on youth trips to continue learning and growing in faith.
We trust now that the Holy Spirit has done her work, and we send these young ones with God’s Speed. God bless each of them as they begin the next steps in their journeys of faith.
Peace,
Pastor Stephanie