World Wide Communion / Youth Confirmation
October 5, 2003 - Food Bank Sunday
Conversation Time
Confirmands:
Shannon Won Mee Bergstreser
Clarke Young Croissant
Christina Lee Rachinsky
Mary Elaine Warnell
Danielle Janine Weiss
Heather Leigh Willette
Faith Statements
Shannon Bergstreser
What confirmation means to me? My faith journey started when my parents baptised me as a child. I think that baptism was a milestone in my journey. Questioning seems to help guide me on my path. If I didn’t question then I might be believing some things I don’t really believe in. Through my confirmation classes I have grown to understand, in my own opinion, that “Hell” to me is a state of mind. We, as I believe, can make our own “Hell” on earth. “God is like the light in my darkness.” It means to me that when things go wrong there is always something spectacular still in it. God helps us to see that. Confirmation to me is just another milestone, another step in my faith journey.
Clarke Croissant
Growing up in a United Church family, I never really knew how the United Church differed from other Christian churches. Through confirmation I have learned these differences, and found that the way the United Church accepts my beliefs makes me fit in here perfectly.
Christina Rachinsky
I have been in the United Church my whole life, and have always felt like I belonged in the church community. Confirmation has shown me many extra insights into my faith, such as giving me a clearer picture of my God. God to me is a guardian and friend, showing me the true path and helping me get back on track when I stray. I believe that Jesus came to Earth to help clarify God’s message to God’s people. I believe the Holy Spirit completes the Trinity, and is present in every part of our daily lives. I believe God loves everybody equally. And finally, I believe I am in God and God is part of me.
Mary Warnell
It is hard to put my faith into words. God is always there for me through good and bad. Confirmation has given me a better understanding of the church and its rules. It has also made me realize that church is more than the donuts. It is about building a community that cares for one another.
Danielle Weiss
Through confirmation, I’ve learned with this group, my friends, that everyone along with their opinions and beliefs are unique and that’s alright. I want to join the United Church because of its relaxed attitude and wonderful feeling of community that reflects in my life. While learning about the church, Jesus, God and discussing current problems in the world, confirmation helped me to understand where I fit in with all these matters.
Heather Willette
I don’t think that there are many teenage girls in this world that really get a chance to think about what they believe. Attending confirmation classes has done exactly that for me. It gave me a chance to question not only my faith, but myself as well. It was extremely refreshing to get the answers to the questions that everyone wonders, but no one asks. The answers that I did get helped me grow both spiritually and as a person. I have never been more honest in saying that. I am proud to be part of something bigger.
Today we celebrate with
six youth who are being confirmed. It has been a wonderful and blessed
time working with this group. We have spent since February working through
aspects of our faith and what and why we believe what we do. This group now
understands the United Church better and who we are and some of the polity and
practice of this United Church of ours and why they want to continue to be part
of it. These young people have decided to become members of this church
because they like the fact that they can ask questions and wrestle with the
answers. They feel part of a community. The gospel reading talks
about building a firm foundation. I believe that these folks are doing a fine
job of this. They struggled with questions like … What about God? What about
being a Christian? Sacred Space. Prayer. What about right and wrong? What
about the church? What about the Bible? What about Jesus? What about baptism,
weddings and funerals? They learned about how the United Church was formed and
what we believe. Did they come up with
answers to all these questions? I doubt it but I think they have answers for
today and probably these answers have in them more questions to ask. I hope and
I have encouraged them to keep asking questions not to just believe what someone
else tells them but to figure it out for themselves. In the months that we have
been meeting we have built a community. I feel blessed to have been part of
this community as these young folks have kept me honest about what I believe and
why. I believe that they have a very firm foundation upon which to build. The
building takes a life time and they are well on their way. I hope you take time to get
to know these folks if you don't already know them. Some of them have been an
active part of our congregation for most of their lives and others for the past
year or two. As I was reading this
portion of scripture earlier this week I thought back over my journey and how I,
at times, was like the foolish person whose house had been built on sand. It
would have been good to have a firm foundation from the start but it wasn't that
way for me. I am thankful that God is an understanding and forgiving God who
allows me to be foolish and yet allows me to rebuild my foundation until it is
solid enough to withstand the storms of life. To know that God is always with
me even through trying times. To know that God is with me in community such as
this. As we continue to move
through this journey together in this church I hope it will give you the
permission to ask yourself questions and to wrestle with them as this
confirmation group has. A good question to start with today is -- Is my
foundation built on sand or on solid rock? I am thankful to be part of
this community of faith called Westminster United Church where we gather
together to ask the hard questions. A place where we don't have all the answers
but we are allowed to work together to come to a place where each of us can grow
and accept each other for where we are on our journeys and continue to build our
faith. Amen.