Rev. Susan M. Craig
I Samuel 3: 1-10, Matthew 28: 16-20
Hebrews 11: 1-3
"You’ve Only Just Begun"

It's spring! The trees are in spectacular bloom. Azaleas are bursting forth. The Senior Prom was last night! Graduations are approaching at all our schools. Our college students are coming home. Sports teams are approaching their final tournaments, and in the middle of all these high points, today we are celebrating one of our own here at First Church as we welcome Jody Peters and her son, Tucker, into our church family and also are just about to welcome all 24 of our confirmands into the life of this congregation as full adult members.

But, while we may be here to celebrate efforts which are coming to completion this morning, to applaud and to welcome, I would like to suggest, that this morning also comprises an invitation to all of us to either begin or to pick-up, with renewed spirit, our own faith journeys.

Just a few minutes ago we were witness to a bold and courageous sharing of faith as we heard and received our confirmands’ gifts of thought, conviction and questions concerning their faith. But what I will continue to suggest today is that we are not here merely as spectators, present to listen and receive these gifts. Rather, we are here as a congregation gathered, as fellow journeyers in faith now challenged by these young people to do some of our own faith exploration.

This time of confirmation is in some ways an end point for our young people after a year of Tuesday night classes and two retreats. Today is also a point along their faith journey approached and chosen by each confirmand. It is their free choice to become a part of this congregation after having considered their faith, and taken part in the life of First Church.

I would underline the phrase after taking part in the life of this congregation. These young people have taught church school, traveled and volunteered in Honduras, sung in the Youth Choir, and visited many of our senior members in their homes this Christmas. (David). They have taken part in SPF, our youth fellowship, and even helped with a Benefit Concert for Home and Honduras. They are well acquainted with us and have made an intentional decision affirmed by our deacons to become members of First Congregational Church.

Shortly, you will see the class make their vows confirming those made earlier for them by their parents at the time of their baptisms. And in the case of four of our class, their vows will confirm those made earlier this week, when they were baptized as young adults.

But for all the praise we heap on today, Confirmation Class, I have to tell you that you do not have the market cornered in the area of faith exploration. In fact, for all the good work you have done, I also have to say that you have only just begun. And for the rest of us, one lesson which I hope we can take from the wonderful sharing and efforts of our fourteen and fifteen year olds, is that we are all capable of further seeking and discerning our faith.

How you ask? Let’s look to our scripture lesson that Beth Beam shared with us from I Samuel. The boy Samuel, serving in the Temple, heard a voice calling him, "Samuel, Samuel." Upon hearing it he got up and went to Eli the priest assuming he was the one who had called. Three times Samuel got up and went to Eli responding to the call, until finally, he was led to understand that it was not Eli, but the Lord who was calling. After which, upon the fourth time he was called, he stood up and said, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Those were very courageous words. And we know that Samuel listened and did as God instructed.

As people of faith, as God’s children of every age, it is important for all of us to listen for God’s call in our lives. That call may take various forms. Words that come to us, thoughts that come to us, people that come to us, situations good and challenging - into which we are cast. But by listening, and watching for God and inviting God to speak, with God’s help, I believe we can and will discern God’s call.

Responding to God’s call may guide us to unexpected places, and provide most unexpected challenges. But I also believe, that the faithful actions we take, will indeed touch our world in ways that serve to bring about the kingdom of heaven on earth. Bring about that which we pray for in our Lord’s prayer, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth – as it is in heaven."

So how do we begin? Like our Confirmation Class, it may help for us as a congregation, to get better acquainted. God bless our nametags. But get better acquainted so that we can consider our faith – in some cases we may want to do this with one another, while for others, you may choose to pursue your faith as a personal discipline. I would call to mind Mahatma Ghandi’s comment suggesting that the discernment of faith is a gradual pursuit. He said: "Faith is not something to grasp. You grow into it." Also Martin Luther King Jr’s suggestion: "Take the first step. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."

The exploration and discovery of our faith can be wondrous and it can be frightening, but there is reason not to fear. Reason put so clearly in Matthew’s gospel as Jesus was taking leave of his disciples. His parting words are there for all of us as well. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Words to hold onto. Words with which we can conquer fear. Words which will let us encounter our faith alive in thought and prayer and action. Jesus spoke those words to his disciples, but they were for all who would love him and be faithful. Even you and me, in our tenuous efforts to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. It is our challenge to respond to such faithful love and commitment with our own, and complete the loving relationship to which Jesus calls us. Jesus parting words at the end of John’s gospel are also telling. There Jesus speaks to Peter, saying, "If you love me, feed my sheep." Our loving God challenges us to respond, challenges the depth of our love and our faith.

It is almost time for our service of confirmation, and as we have recognized, our confirmands journey has only just begun. As a family of faith, we have much in common journeying together in faith, sometimes pausing, sometimes doubting and questioning, and then beginning again.

I hope that in the days and weeks ahead, that today will be remembered not only as a point of completion, but as a time of beginning again for all of us. Picking up where we left off, or continuing forward putting our faith into action. Making it real. Saying and living what we believe – and sticking our necks out! We have spoken about what this class did across the year. But what about the rest of us? The Church School, the Soup Kitchen, our medical mission in Honduras, the Stephen Ministry, Hats Off, the Rummage Room, the choir - there are many ways known and still to be revealed within and beyond the church for us to put our faith into action.

What is God calling us to do? And if we hear that call, will we hesitate? Will we worry about not being able to do something as well as we would like? I don’t think God worries about that. And if God is calling us to do something, then I trust and believe that we need not fear! For our God, will be with us. In God’s hands we will be all right – even in the most frightening places– we will be so much more than all right.

But "Can we be sure?" I don’t’ know. It depends upon what you mean by being "sure". It comes down, it all comes down to having faith and trusting God. As it was expressed in the early Letter to the Hebrews, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." As one of our confirmands put it, "Faith cannot be explained, it just is. If it were a simple proven fact, I would not gain such comfort from it." Or as put by another, "Everyone thinks differently, and everyone has a unique faith." And still another, "It has always been said that seeing is believing, but can you really see love? Or hear it? Literally? I know you see it around you when it’s between two people or a whole family. But the spirit of love is an unknown, unpredictable and unheard voice within someone, kind of the way God is to me, an unseen, unpredictable force that I choose to believe in."

What do you think? I am not asking what are you sure of. Maybe all of this is something about which we should pray. Deitrich Bonhoeffer believed much was revealed of God through solitude and prayer. Others look to one another to encounter their faith. Today at 1 PM there will be a gathering of women standing in Binney Park, a gathering open to all women, and those they hold dear. They will ring bells at 1o’clock, and then stand in prayer for five minutes for the world’s children, grandchildren, and the generations to follow. This is what they understand as the original purpose behind the celebration of Mother’s Day. Then they will close ringing their bells once more. There are many ways we can act upon our faith.

Now is the time for a new beginning, and a wonderful welcoming, surrounded by the grace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Let me close with a very simple poem about a faith journey by Charles Spurgeon.

"Faith goes
Up the stairs
Love has built
And looks out the window.
Which hope has opened." Amen!!!!

Benediction
"Take the first step. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

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Confirmation 2007 Statement of Faith

Kim Dempsey

I am here to answer the question that has been in my thoughts for many years now- the question of my faith. I know my statement will not be definitive; it will grow and change as I do. But what I believe now is important, as it guides me in my everyday life... My only belief that I am sure will not change is that I will never be able to fully explain my faith. Faith cannot be explained – it just is. If it were a simple, proven fact, I would not gain such comfort from it.

Henni Hietala

Confirmation has been an amazing experience, right from the beginning. The statement of faith has simply deepened by understanding of Christianity and intensified my beliefs. Writing this statement made me really think about what I believe in and what my thoughts are on certain subjects. I realize now that everyone thinks differently, and everyone has a unique belief, a unique faith.

Sarah MacDougall

For me, God is a mystery. While he was seen on earth as Jesus, today God is not someone or something we can be sure of, so he is like a secret, like our faith, which is not something we can be exactly sure of. God is the one in charge, whom we can go to. He can work miracles and is a good listener when you need someone to talk to.

Taylor Stafford

It has always been said that seeing is believing, but can you really see love, or hear it? Literally? I know you see it around you whether it’s between two people or a whole family, but the spirit of love is an unknown, unpredictable and an unheard voice within someone, kind of the way God is to me, an unseen, unpredictable force that I choose to believe in.

David Fraser

One of the biggest pieces of God that I hold close to heart is the advisor aspect of him. In our everyday lives I feel he gives us choices and advice. Maybe he is not so much guiding us with simple things … but he guides us with the major decisions in our lives. He is in all of us to give us advice and lead us in the right direction. It is up to you to listen to him.

Leah Tagliarino

As of now, I’m still not sure what I believe. I’ve been taught all the stories and lessons, but I’m still trying to make sense of it all and relate it to my own life. When I’m going through a problem in my life, I find myself talking towards the sky, looking for answers. Does that mean that I believe God is sitting up there answering my calls? I don’t know. All I can rely on is my hope that there is a higher power watching over us all.

Michael Lepoutre

It is said in the Bible that Jesus is the Son of God, sent down to forgive us of our sins… His word was revolutionary… He was influential to those who chose to listen, and seen as a threat to those who were cynical. To me, Jesus was the most powerful man of his time. Not because he was the Son of God, but because he always spoke the truth and was never afraid of what was to come in the future. I believe he wasn’t afraid because he knew that God intended for everything to happen a certain way.

Alex Ghaffari

The teachings and lessons of Jesus Christ should always be remembered and applied to our daily lives. I do not know for sure if Jesus’ actual body was resurrected on Easter morning, but I do know the ideas of his life and what he lived for revived and should be held dear to our hearts when living our busy lives. I try to incorporate all of the morals from Jesus’ teachings in my daily life.

Dan Maxwell

Jesus Christ, in my mind, is the Son of God. He is a teacher, a preacher, an inspiration, and a true leader…He was raised under the beliefs of Judaism and it was his mouth that spread the teaching sand words of God. I believe he was God’s voice to the world; sent to us to tell us how God would like to see us live; in peace, harmony, and in respect.

Becci Rieke

Jesus was an amazing man – for many reasons. Most importantly, what he did and said during his short life influenced more people to try to do good, than any other person in world history… performing the miracles, healing the sick without using medication, or feeding thousands of hungry people with only a few loaves of bread. And even if it is difficult to hear about these miracles without searching for scientific explanations, his acts and words were so unique, so exemplary and so unexplainable, that I can only believe he was God’s son.

Nicole Wheaton

Prayer is one of the most important elements of faith because God is always there to listen …Praying helps you look at things more positively because God is very forgiving and can help you regain hope. That is not to say that people should only look to God and pray in hard times. People should also look to God in times of happiness by acknowledging it and being thankful. No matter your mindset when you pray, prayer can lead to realizations. For example, you may have lost something or feel like you failed, when you really just planted seeds for something great to begin.

Christina Assing

It is important to connect to God through prayer. When I was younger, my family would gather every night to say a prayer. We blessed everyone in our family, including the pets. Later in life, I turned to God with any problem, big or small. I think that any prayer works for God. There is no right or wrong prayer. One of the amazing parts of God is God’s acceptance. God accepts everyone for who they are and who they will be.

Brad Davis

I have become a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, or maybe if there isn’t a reason for it, there is a lesson to learn from it. Within the past few months there have been a lot of incidents where I have tried to see if there could be a reason - somewhere beneath all the tears and anger, a lesson God is trying to teach us, and I come up empty-handed. However, I have seen such good things come from this very difficult situation. Family, friends, and people from all over the community have rallied around supporting me, encouraging me, and helping me to try to make a positive difference with cancer research and helping children with life-threatening illnesses. It is amazing the strength you get from good people helping and actually making things happen.

Campbell Johnson

The Holy Spirit can be linked to God in many ways. It is always present wherever you go. I can feel the Holy Spirit around me, especially when in church. In some ways I believe the Holy Spirit is connected to feelings in your body. It is in my body and I can feel its presence. The Holy Spirit works in many ways and works thorough the lives of people in different circumstances. It creates, nurtures, and helps us throughout our lives. The Holy Spirit can be felt in daily life, and in the church, and especially during the celebration of the churches sacraments.

Morgan Wolfe

Communion is an essential moment in any Christian’s life – young or old. When I first received communion, I felt as though I was traveling back in history a few thousand years to the time when Jesus Christ was spreading his revolutionary ideas. Maybe I didn’t quite feel exactly like one of his disciples, but I did feel I was part of the Father/Son relationship between Jesus and God.

Mike Miller

I believe that Communion is what reminds us of God and Jesus, and what they have done for all of us. It reminds us of what God has done in creating us and all of Jesus’ accomplishments. It also reminds us of all that they have taught us. Communion is the time for us to remember the Last Supper and what God and Jesus mean to us.

Will Trask

Celebrating communion was the simple request that Jesus made of his disciples as a way to remember him…While some churches celebrate communion once a month, others only celebrate at Christmas and Easter, and still others every week. The meaning behind this I feel is very deep and to do it once a month seems like a great way to remember Jesus and his great deeds. While we can never repay Jesus for his love and sacrifice, communion serves as a simple way to honor and respect him.

Sarah Kramer

Unlike many in my class, I did not go to church school. Therefore, thinking about baptism is new to me. I am one of the four people in our class who were not baptized before this year. For me being baptized is a big deal because it is really telling you that you are part of the church.

Sara Anibal

Baptism to me is a very important and symbolic part of Christianity. It shows that you are dedicated to your religion and that it means something to you. I also see it as a way of introducing an individual to God. I think of it as a congregation of people accepting and welcoming a person into their community.

Greg Riddell

Baptism to me is like meeting God. When you are baptized, you are truly welcomed into the church that is God’s home. You are recognized formally by God and you are telling God that you will be faithful. As I join the church I am finding an eternal home. The church is the center of everything. It is a place to connect with your faith and God. It is a home that you will always have, and a place of welcome that is open to everyone.

Alex Jensen

The church is a place of prayer, a place to remember and a place to contemplate. The church is the center for our faith as well as the foundation of our faith. The church is the place where we are reminded of Jesus, his life, and death as well as God’s infinite love and forgiveness.

Nick Stewart

The church is there to support people; also to educate its youth and even older people. The church is also there to have people feel that they have a safe place to go. The mission of the church is to help people who are in desperate need of food, clothes, and even Christmas presents. The mission of the church is also to give others faith and make them feel welcome.

Hank Schless

When I look at the mission of the church, I see something that isn’t common in our society, that is accepting everyone no matter what his or her background or current life may be like. This is exactly what a church should be like and how it should present its ideas to the public…We also have baptisms which bring new members into the community of God, who each add their own views to our understanding of religion.

Christian Thalheim

Throughout Confirmation our class has explored a wide variety of ideas ranging from current events to the life of Jesus. All of this is deeply influential on the way I think about life. This is largely due to the churches open and affirming nature of which I am a huge proponent. I believe in Jesus as the Son of God solely because his teachings were revolutionary and timeless. They have affected our society undoubtedly for the better…God on the other hand is not meant to be understood, nor is his plan which is perhaps more brilliant than we know. This is the basis of religion - faith. We must believe in the idea of God, not have it be proven.