Do you, or don’t you? Oh, it’s that Sunday again!
Do you preach Reformation, and remember the history of the Lutheran Church? Or do you preach Reformation for a future and perhaps call the church to action? Or, do you not preach Reformation at all and hopefully have some confirmation students and preach about that instead?
I have done them all. Some Sundays it’s been a solid historical reminder of Luther and our traditions, and other times it has been a strong (I felt it was strong) call to continue to reform the church NOW since we were/still are at a pivotal time.
And, yes, I have skipped it all and preached to just to the classes of confirmands, too.
I do love Confirmation Sundays. Each one is special, I carry stories of the students in my head as I lay hands and offer a blessing over them. Over the years, I have confirmed over 200 students. I am friends with most of them, still, on Facebook. As time goes on, I see them graduate from High School, then often secondary school of some kind, and I see them move into their first place, first home, see their first pet, perhaps a wedding and sometimes even a baby or two. I have relearned new names, I have shared birthday greetings, and I have sadly even mourned the loss of a few, too–way too soon.
For these reasons alone, I love Facebook because it keeps me connected. I keep track of the one who couldn’t spell Genesis. I watch and pray over the one who lost a parent in middle school. I follow the pictures of their lives as they live them out loud online, and I smile. I remember.
Teachers and pastors are alike in many ways. But most teachers have a student or two for one year, maybe 2, and then the students move on. Pastors, if we are blessed, we see a child from baptism through confirmation, perhaps even a wedding, and if we can, we comfort the grown-up child when a parent or grandparent dies.
More than any other time, truly, Confirmation Sunday reminds us that a church IS a community. It’s a third space, as the younger generations call it. But church is UNIQUE! It’s a place where people of all ages come, know one another, watch each other grow, and share in each other’s milestones like confirmation.
Clubs and other places are not the same in this. Here in a church community, we offer a place for babies and the oldest to be cherished. The familiar rites create memories we didn’t know we needed, until they aren’t there. I am always surprised when people share with me memories of long ago church events, that meant so much, but that they have not personally continued wherever they are.
And if they don’t continue them, then the newly baptized children will not have them at all.
Yes, I said that.
You see, if we do not continue to teach and be church together, then who will?
Heavy thoughts, I know. Perhaps you have struggled with them, too.
I don’t have any quick answers, but I do have faith and hope. And I do believe that communities like Bay Shore Lutheran Church are too important to leave to others to hopefully continue. It’s our job, wherever we are, to keep community going and cherish these milestones and keep the memories alive.
I pray that this year, as you see the three students be confirmed, you will remember your own confirmations, and perhaps the people who helped you reach that day, who may no longer even be alive. But guess what—they did what they did, for YOU, and you now can do what you can do for others who will follow YOU, TOO.
Because churches have always been about community. And communities, they require people.
See you on Sunday,
Pastor Sarah