AN OPEN LETTER TO THE YOUTH OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ST. MARYS:
For young people who have been brought up in the church, much of what it means to be a Christian and to take on the ministry of being a church member is already well known. You've listened in worship and in Sunday School classes, attended youth group meetings, and have an idea of why we gather regularly as Christians. You have seen what happens at baptisms and at the Lord’s Table during the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Confirmation is to organize all the stuff you've been learning over the years and fill in a few blanks you may have. More importantly it is to prepare you to make your own public profession of faith. I want to extend an open invitation for all youth who are at least entering the 7th grade in the fall of 2009 to attend confirmation classes so that you understand what God did for you through Jesus' life and death and that God's love for the world includes YOU! I want to make sure you understand how you fit in the history and ministry of the church, and how you can be part of its ministry locally and around the world.
Confirmation is about your becoming a member of the church and taking on the responsibilities of making the church do what God would have it do. When you were little, someone answered for you, now it is time for you to answer for yourself about what you believe, how you will treat others, and how you think the church should be speaking to the world.
Let me say something about readiness to attend Confirmation Classes. It is very important that first, YOU feel ready to do this. But it is also important that your parents and I as your pastor feel that you are ready as well. If any of the three parties feel that readiness has not been achieved, we will wait until next year and discern again your readiness to take this very important step in your Christian faith.
The Confirmation Class Orientation will be held on Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Season of Lent, February 25, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. in the church library. Those interested in attending should meet with me and a few of the elders of the church. If there is an academic conflict, a parent should be present to represent the youth wishing to attend. Information will be distributed during this meeting concerning meeting times, course expectations and class covenants.
If you are unsure about your own readiness to attend these classes, please discuss this first with your parents. Pray about it as I have been praying for YOU for some time now. Call me and we can talk about it. Or, if you would like to attend the meeting on February 25 and then decide, that’s okay as well.
This is a significant step in your Christian faith. There will be times in your life ahead when you will look back and see this as one of those milestones. It is my prayer that you will prayerfully think about this opportunity to grow stronger in the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you and considers you his very own.
I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you on Ash Wednesday, February 25!
Faithfully,
Pastor Rick
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