Confirmations at Pentecost

Have you been Baptised (or Christened)? In Baptism, we respond to God's love in prayer and action. It marks the beginning of our journey with God, which lasts our whole life.

Many of us are baptised as babies, offering an opportunity to give thanks to God for the safe arrival of a baby, and to commit to bringing our children up in the Christian faith. During a Baptism service, parents and Godparents make promises on behalf of the child; recommitting themselves to the Christian faith, promising to hold the children in prayer and to teach them the faith.

If we are baptised as adults, then we are able to make our own promises, committing to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. If we were baptised as babies or young children, we have the opportunity to make our own promises to God later in life at our Confirmation. A Confirmation service is led by a Bishop. The bishop lays their hands upon the heads of those to be confirmed and prays,

"God has called you by name and made you his own.

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit."

It was very special that 2 members of Holy Trinity were confirmed today at Birmingham Cathedral. Verity and Lydia made their own promises to God, to follow Jesus and to live the Christian faith. As Bishop Michael reminded us during the service, we cannot do this alone. In order to be a disciple of the Risen Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us to live out our faith. On this day of Pentecost, we were reminded of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the Apostles. Through the work of Jesus, we too can receive the gift of the Spirit.

As a church family, our commitment is now to support those who have been confirmed to live out their faith. Then, in return, Verity and Lydia will share their faith with others, possibly encouraging them also to confirm their baptism promises.

If you would like to know more about baptism or confirmation, we'd love to hear from you. God's love is for all people.

"I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 42:1

You can watch the service here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlxSspc2kZQ