Confirmation

THE SERVICE OF CONFIRMATION

Next Sunday, Bishop John, our Diocesan Bishop will be coming to this parish (North Mymms) to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation, within the context of the Parish Eucharist to Barbara, Dorris, Joan, Michelle and Maurice.

This will obviously be a special day for them, but it will also be a special day for the parish. As part of our preparation, I thought we might look at what will happen. In particular, I would draw your attention to three aspects of our service next Sunday.

FIRSTLY; WELCOME TO THIS BISHOP

The Bishop ls a very important person as the focus of unity within the church. On the one hand he is the direct descendant of the apostles and therefore the vertical link between the church of the New Testament and the church of today. On the other hand, he is also the horizontal link between the church throughout the world. That is why, when he is made a bishop at his Consecration, at least three other bishops must be present to lay hands on him as a visible reminder of that wider church, of which he is a representative. So the Bishop is not just the managing director of a Diocese but a symbol of the unity of the universal church.

The bishop is also the chief pastor, teacher and administrator of the sacrament in the diocese. Therefore, it is he who will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation and preside at the Eucharist next Sunday. It is his parish, but because he cannot be in two places at the same time, he delegates some of his authority to the parish priest to act in his place. Hence, when I was appointed to this parish he said "Receive your charge and mine".

It is therefore appropriate that when the Bishop of the Diocese comes to his parish, he should be welcomed by his flock, the congregation.

The service will therefore commence with the congregation facing the West Door and express in words a special welcome as he enters the church.

SECONDLY; THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

Before the five candidates are presented to the Bishop to be confirmed, they will each light a baptismal candle from the Paschal candle at the font.

It was the ancient custom for the Initiation Rite, which originally consisted of Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion, to take place at Easter and for the Bishop to preside.

As the Christian church began to grow in numbers, particularly after Emperor Constantine became a Christian and the subsequent decline of persecution, it was no longer practical for the Bishop to preside, nor for the Initiation Rite to occur only at Easter. To solve the problem, the Bishop delegated Baptism to be administered by the parish priest, and for it to occur more frequently throughout the year. So the original Initiation Rite became split into three parts - Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion.

You may recall that we lit the Paschal Candle at Easter and it remained lit throughout the season of Easter which came to an end at Pentecost. The Paschal Candle was then placed by the font and it is lit every time we have a Baptism so that those being baptised can receive a lighted candle, lit from it.

But why a candle, and what has it to do with Baptism? The Paschal candle is a symbol to remind us that Jesus died and is risen. It reminds us of our need to die spiritually to the past, and rise to the new life of the future. In Baptism, we share with Christ, the overcoming of the darkness of the past with light of the future. Hence St John describes Jesus as "The Light of the World" and in receiving our baptismal candle, we are reminded that we are to be little lights in the world of today.

It is therefore appropriate that the candidates should recall their baptism by carrying their baptismal candle, as they come before the Bishop to renew their baptismal promises, since Confirmation is a continuation of the Rite of

Initiation started at Baptism.

THIRDLY; THE CONFIRMATION

It is important, for all of us to be reminded that the candidates' preparation for Confirmation did not start in October when the classes began, nor was the Vicar the only person involved in that preparation.

For one person that preparation has been going on for sixteen years. For another, it has been going on for over 60 years. Preparation for Confirmation is a slow and gradual process whereby a person becomes aware of the presence

of God in their lives, and their need to respond to that presence by self surrender. It involves a considerable amount of heart searching and wrestling. Confirmation is not something one does at a certain age, like getting one's driving licence.

Over those years of early Christian formation, many people will have had an influence upon the lives of Barbara, Dorris, Joan, Michelle and Maurice. Some more than others. This is particularly the role of godparents. In addition

to the influence of individuals, there has been the influence of the local Christian community.

Again, it is appropriate that in addition to the parish priest each candidate should also be presented to the Bishop by a sponsor, who represents ail those other influences of the past. The sponsor will stand behind their candidate when they are Confirmed. After all, Confirmation is not the end of the spiritual journey and there will be times when the candidates will fall back and need the support of individuals as well as the local Christian community.

The Bishop will then lay his hands upon the head of each candidate, as he did a week ago on Giles, at his ordination to the Deaconate. Whereas Giles was authorised to exercise his ministry within the ordained ministry of the church, Barbara, Dorris, Joan., Michelle and Maurice will be authorised to exercise their ministry within the lay ministry of the church. In other words, Confirmation is lay ordination for ministry.

This simple act recalls the pattern of life of the early disciples. They were called lo follow Jesus. Over a period of time, probably lasting three and a half years, they lived close to Jesus and learned more about him, day by day. At times, they undoubtedly struggled to maintain their friendship with him, particularly when he did not come up to their naive expectations of him.

Finally, they reached the stage when they were so committed in their friendship that they not only felt able, but wanted, to share with others the good news of friendship with Jesus.

This was the moment when the wall of personal resistance to God in their lives fell down, and God was at long last able to fill their lives with his presence. This we call the Holy Spirit and it occurred at Pentecost.

So, as the candidates share in the Pentecostal experience, the Bishop will pray "Confirm, 0 Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit".

At the end of the service, the candidates will precede the Bishop out of the Church, carrying their lighted candles as a reminder that they are going out into the darkness of the world to witness to their friendship with Jesus, the Light of the World.

But this is something they do not do in their own strength, no more than any of us can do it in our own strength. We all need the help of God. Help which is made available in a unique manner in the sharing of the very life of Christ himself, in the form of bread and wine at the Eucharist. So the Rite of Initiation concludes with the candidates being admitted to Holy Communion as members of Christ's family by their own choice.

I therefore hope, as they depart from the church upon their new ministry as members of the family of God at North Mymms, that you, the family of God, will welcome them with applause.

o0o.

So let us now pray for Barbara, Dorris, Joan, Michelle and Maurice as they prepare for that special day next Sunday. Let us pray for our special guest next Sunday, Bishop John, as he prepares to visit his people at North Mymms.