Confirmation

By Pastor Dwight Nelson

It is nearly 6:45 on a Wednesday evening, and 18 seventh and eighth graders are gathering for Confirmation class. There aren’t that many in the class, but tonight a few friends have come along. During the course of the evening, one of them decides to memorize a Building Block Question (catechism) and is rewarded with a Jolly Rancher, carefully doled out by Chris Anderson, Keeper of the rewards. She dangles the carrots and I brandish the stick!

Bobby and Randy are finishing up a game of “soccer” on the table, played with three coins, and Tom and Troy come in from Wednesday night dinner with a few extra cookies in their pockets. Carl is wearing his basketball shirt tonight, since he has a game later that evening, and Kyle is wearing his soccer uniform, having just come from practice. Willson is coming directly from school, where he has been rehearsing for the school play.  Elaine and Kevin, just seventh graders, are ready to complete saying all 26 Building Block questions plus a lengthy list of scripture passages. They are in line for some of the "fabulous prizes" given out on "Fabulous Prize" night. I am wondering what to have them memorize next year and questioning when this group is going to decide that Jolly Ranchers and glow-in-the-dark pens are not exactly "fabulous" rewards for all this hard work.

During the next hour, a discussion of the prophets ensues. Two students ask questions that I have no idea how to answer; three others ask questions that would really take me about an hour to answer well, but we only have 30 seconds, so I try to pick my words carefully. Bobby catches me in an error in telling the Bible story, and then speculates at some length on why Jonah did not want to preach to the Ninevites. When I finally ask a question that seems to stump everyone, we turn to Sarah, who immediately knows the answer.

After 45 minutes of this the lesson is abandoned, and the memory competition begins. “The Holy Spirit is God . . . Don’t tell me, I know this one . . .” And so it goes until 7:45, when it is time to go home. Except for Sonya, who has been quietly learning just one more question and waits until it is a bit calmer to recite it.

Confirmation is really quite an amazing experience. On Sunday, May 21, our six eighth graders will lead and teach you in worship. They will share with you their faith, and you will have an opportunity to pray for them. It is a special moment in the lives of these young people. They have completed a two-year study of the Bible, Christian doctrine and church history (well, we didn’t actually spend a lot of time on church history). For the most part they enjoy it. It is interesting to them. It has given them a foundation for life. More important, it has been part of a process of Bible learning, discipleship and relationship that began early in their lives and will continue for many years.