May 15, 2005
INVITATION
With all those desiring to affirm their baptism by confirmation please
come forward?
Friends, we are all received into the body of Christ through the gift of
baptism, something we either received as an infant or young child. The
people before you this morning have chosen to affirm the promises
made by their parents, or even the promises that made at an earlier
date—the promises made in their name and for their sake will now
become their promises in this act of confirming their earlier baptism.
They will become full bearers and recipients of a great gift, baptism, a
gift accepted in their names by their families many years earlier. They
now enter into full membership and covenant as equals in this church
body and in the church universal. They now fully take on the spiritual
work of following the Christ, and that we, we in this room, remind
ourselves of our responsibility to them and to each other—that our
spiritual work in this world is something we are asked to do together, as
the church of Jesus Christ. They are here for service to Christ and the
world, service that will be surely shared with us in this place, and with
the greater world that awaits their particular unique, sacred and good
gifts.
INTRODUCTION OF THE CANDIDATES
QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES
____________, do you desire to affirm for yourselves the baptism that
was made in your name or that you made earlier in life, into the faith
and family of Jesus our Christ.
Confirmands: (I DO)
Do you profess faith in Jesus our Christ as Lord and Savior?
Confirmands: (I DO)
Do you promise, by the grace of God,
To be Christ’s disciple,
To follow in the way of love as Christ did,
To resist oppression and evil within in yourself and in the world,
To show love by doing justice to and with others,
And to witness to the work and word of Jesus the Christ as best as you
are able?
Please reply with
I promise, with the help of God.
Friends, let us pray:
O God, you received in baptism these your servants into the church,
forgave their sins, and gave them life beyond measure, may you
increase in them the gifts of Your Holy Spirit. Grant them love for
others, joy in serving you by serving others, peace in the midst of
dissension, patience in suffering, kindness to all of your creation,
goodness in trying times, faithfulness when tempted to love less than
they have been loved by you, and gentleness in all things. Strengthen
them for your work of wonder and hope in this world, through Jesus the
Christ, Amen.
UNISON READING OF THE COVENANT—Conrad Damsgaard
We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves
in the presence of God to walk together in all of his ways, according as
he is pleased to reveal himself to us in his blessed word of truth.
ACT OF CONFIRMATION AND SIGNING OF THE COVENANT
I confirm you into the faith and fellowship of this church and in the
church universal. O God, in the grace of the Christ you have accepted
this your servant _______ through the water of baptism. Nourish in
him/her the power of your presence, your Spirit, that she/he may serve
you in this world. Amen
MEMBER’S RESPONSE
We welcome you with joy into the common life of this church. We
promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and
labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit
may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be
witnesses of our risen Savior.
PRAYER OF CONFIRMATION
BENEDICTION
SUNG RESPONSE—I was there to hear your borning cry—
