I love confirmation class!! You gather a group of people who unapologetically want to be Episcopalians, which warms my heart. And then you get to hear about why church, this church and Jesus matters to them. I keep asking the question why are you doing this just to hear the answers. These are the top 3.
1. Community. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They want to be attached to a group that has similar values (Jesus). They want to be in a place where people are positive, where they can make friends. They experience at St. John’s a community with a lot of really nice, really engaged, really willing people. Not people with all the answers, but people who care about the questions. Who we choose to grow in our faith with is important.
2. Outreach. People understand that God and church is intensely personal, but not just about them. Over and over people lift up the important work we do at St. John’s to be good neighbors, and what it means to them to participate in it. We know that our faith is meant to be shared, we know that God’s generosity to us is meant to be shared. Seeing people care about the world and working to make it better is very inspiring.
3. Love. And here is the most heartening thing for me. Over and over I hear people say they want to be in a place that teaches and offers the love of God. No judgement. Minimal guilt. But a focus on the goodness of people, in God’s delight in us, and in how we take that love out the doors after the services Sunday and give it away. I am deeply moved by people who celebrate God’s love for us. It gives me hope.
The Bishop is coming to confirm and receive these amazing people June 18 at our 10:30 service. I hope you will join us and experience the joy of Christian community!