Andy (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} emperoraf) wrote,@ 2009-11-08 18:10:00 |
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On Confirmation Sunday.
TODAY HAS BEEN a good day. My parish had its yearly visitation from our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg, who I think has the greatest name and Carolinian accent ever. Sundries aside, he came to confirm and reaffirm about twenty people -- the majority under the age of thirty (Yes. You read that correctly). They were all there, of course: white, black, male, female, conservative, liberal, gay, straight, young and old. Some were your standard Episcopal fare, some were wonderfully not. Their diversity is a testament to the Gospel of Christ that is shown at the Altar and incarnated in the lives of our family, however imperfect they may be. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the most of the Confirmands and am excited to see where and how God will use them in the future. During the liturgy, they all stood in front of the Bishop and when asked about their renewing their commitment to Jesus Christ, they responded: ". . . with God's grace I will follow him as my Savior and Lord." Amen.
AMONG THE CONFIRMANDS was my best friend, a fellow Milligan student and former roommate. I had the privilege to be his sponsor. And words fail me, except that it was an honor to stand with him.
AS I WAS waiting with him for his turn in front of the Bishop, the scene was striking. There we were in the middle of the Nave, in the middle of the line of twenty. Directly in front of us was the Bishop who was seated on a makeshift Throne. To his left stood a Deacon holding a Prayer Book and the Crozier. In front of the Bishop, on either side were some of the teachers of the Confirmation class, all facing each other. My Priest was standing along with with them. Directly to our left and right were pews filled with the faithful. It was as if we were in a tunnel that led to the Bishop. It struck me as being a foreshadow of the heavenly court, where Christ is seated amidst his faithful people, as they are presented to Him. We're all presented and presenting.
TODAY HAS BEEN a good day. My parish had its yearly visitation from our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Charles G. vonRosenberg, who I think has the greatest name and Carolinian accent ever. Sundries aside, he came to confirm and reaffirm about twenty people -- the majority under the age of thirty (Yes. You read that correctly). They were all there, of course: white, black, male, female, conservative, liberal, gay, straight, young and old. Some were your standard Episcopal fare, some were wonderfully not. Their diversity is a testament to the Gospel of Christ that is shown at the Altar and incarnated in the lives of our family, however imperfect they may be. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the most of the Confirmands and am excited to see where and how God will use them in the future. During the liturgy, they all stood in front of the Bishop and when asked about their renewing their commitment to Jesus Christ, they responded: ". . . with God's grace I will follow him as my Savior and Lord." Amen.
AMONG THE CONFIRMANDS was my best friend, a fellow Milligan student and former roommate. I had the privilege to be his sponsor. And words fail me, except that it was an honor to stand with him.
AS I WAS waiting with him for his turn in front of the Bishop, the scene was striking. There we were in the middle of the Nave, in the middle of the line of twenty. Directly in front of us was the Bishop who was seated on a makeshift Throne. To his left stood a Deacon holding a Prayer Book and the Crozier. In front of the Bishop, on either side were some of the teachers of the Confirmation class, all facing each other. My Priest was standing along with with them. Directly to our left and right were pews filled with the faithful. It was as if we were in a tunnel that led to the Bishop. It struck me as being a foreshadow of the heavenly court, where Christ is seated amidst his faithful people, as they are presented to Him. We're all presented and presenting.
