Sermon - 2018-05-13 - Confirmation/ Mother’s Day
Today’s sermon is more directed at the Confirmands and the rest of you, simply get to listen in. Many years ago, your parents brought you to church and had you Baptized. Now it is in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, that you are called and claimed as God’s Very Own Child. In doing so, your parents were acknowledging something. YOU ARE A GIFT TO THEM FROM GOD. They wanted you to know God and enjoy the blessing of having a relationship and connection with God. So they made promises on your behalf to make sure that you would do just that.
Thus for years, you have learned about God by coming to Sunday School, attending worship, going to camp and being part of this community. You would then be able to learn how God has been a part of the lives of others and also how God could be part of your life. Today, you are here to make the promises, the very same ones that your parents made years ago but now you will fulfill them in your own life.
These promises are so very important and yet can seem so simple as well. It is because of these reasons, that some people do not always see the value or benefit of these promises. However, like the gift that God gives you in Baptism, it is one that shall take your whole life to realize the value and importance of having God in your life and God’s blessings with you. These promises are not a checklist but a constant reminder of what you are able to do to experience God when you do not feel him in your life.
Now you are not the only one making promises today. The whole congregation including family, friends and people who you have not met. The people are making promises that they will support you. However, you are making a promise that you will be there for them.
It is our Baptism that connects us to God, to one another, and binds us together as God’s People. However, in the Affirmation of Baptism and in our Baptism, promises are made. Some by God for you. Some for you to God. And still some for you being part of the community. Yes, sometimes you come to church and it is for your own sake. That you need prayers, you need to feel close to God. However other times, you come to church for the sake of the person sitting across the aisle, for the person sitting next to you. They need to know that God and others are with them in their struggles of life and faith.
So as you reflect and hear those promises of Baptism once again. I wonder, what have you done to till the soil, to water the seed and help your faith grow. If you are feeling stagnant, how can we work together to all being growing in God’s love to share with the world the very Kingdom of God that we are now apart of.
Thus for years, you have learned about God by coming to Sunday School, attending worship, going to camp and being part of this community. You would then be able to learn how God has been a part of the lives of others and also how God could be part of your life. Today, you are here to make the promises, the very same ones that your parents made years ago but now you will fulfill them in your own life.
These promises are so very important and yet can seem so simple as well. It is because of these reasons, that some people do not always see the value or benefit of these promises. However, like the gift that God gives you in Baptism, it is one that shall take your whole life to realize the value and importance of having God in your life and God’s blessings with you. These promises are not a checklist but a constant reminder of what you are able to do to experience God when you do not feel him in your life.
Now you are not the only one making promises today. The whole congregation including family, friends and people who you have not met. The people are making promises that they will support you. However, you are making a promise that you will be there for them.
It is our Baptism that connects us to God, to one another, and binds us together as God’s People. However, in the Affirmation of Baptism and in our Baptism, promises are made. Some by God for you. Some for you to God. And still some for you being part of the community. Yes, sometimes you come to church and it is for your own sake. That you need prayers, you need to feel close to God. However other times, you come to church for the sake of the person sitting across the aisle, for the person sitting next to you. They need to know that God and others are with them in their struggles of life and faith.
So as you reflect and hear those promises of Baptism once again. I wonder, what have you done to till the soil, to water the seed and help your faith grow. If you are feeling stagnant, how can we work together to all being growing in God’s love to share with the world the very Kingdom of God that we are now apart of.
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