Sunday Reflections
This is the week before Easter and today we celebrated Palm Sunday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The sermon was not about Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, but based on Philippians 2:5-11 and the young in the church as this church uses Palm Sunday as Confirmation Day. It did cause me start thinking about how different it was when I was part of a Confirmation group.
Confirmation is not a sacrament to us. It is the culmination of two years of study about the Word of God and why we believe as we do. Once the Confirmation is over, the young people are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In other Lutheran churches, those being confirmed are members of that church, not of the Synod the individual church may have chosen to be associated with to be able to call a Pastor or ask for support. That part hasn't changed. What has changed is the manner in which the ceremony is conducted.
There were seven of us in my confirmation class, four girls and three boys. It was two of the most enjoyable years of study that I have ever experienced as our Pastor also taught the underlying history of the different centuries. His scholarship awakened a love of the Word of God and history that has remained.
On the Sunday that we were examined, we sat in a circle in front of the altar facing the congregation with Pastor Kaning in the middle. Today’s families are smaller and there were only three being confirmed. They stood facing Pastor Jennings and the altar.
We were not allowed our Catechisms while Pastor Kaning asked the questions that we had memorized the answers to during class. He had already appointed which ones were to recite the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, the words to the Sacrament of the Altar, and the words from the Bible where Christ commissions the disciples to go forth and baptize all people. We were also asked ten questions which we were to answer in unison. Two of the people appointed to recite the longer portions went into stage shock. Pastor Kaning would then call on me and I would recite the words. He did assure the congregation that the other young people had been able to recite them when there wasn't a crowd. At that time the congregation was allowed to question the ones being confirmed, but fortunately none did. The prayer for us was said and we were welcomed into the congregation. When communion was served the new members and our parents went first. Pastor Kaning blessed the newly confirmed and then distributed the Sacrament.
Today, the young people had the hymnal with the questions and answers. As Pastor asked them they all read in unison. The prayer was said and they knelt for the blessing and then turned to congregation to return to their seat in the front pew. Now the people clap to welcome them into the fold. That would never have happened in 1951. The young people went first during the distribution of the Sacrament, but their parents did not accompany them.
Three things remained the same. All were dressed in their Sunday best clothes, afterwards pictures were taken, and there was a social gathering for the congregation to celebrate.
There was one more difference on my Confirmation Day. Our Pastor had also had a large adult class that were confirmed. They celebrated with us, but they did not have to recite or prove they had studied.
I thought all that have read this might like to take a peek back into 1951. http://www.davidkusel.com/manning1/tr... When it takes you to that site, click on 1951 in the bar on the left side.
By the way, it’s a great site to explore to learn about rural America.
Confirmation is not a sacrament to us. It is the culmination of two years of study about the Word of God and why we believe as we do. Once the Confirmation is over, the young people are members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In other Lutheran churches, those being confirmed are members of that church, not of the Synod the individual church may have chosen to be associated with to be able to call a Pastor or ask for support. That part hasn't changed. What has changed is the manner in which the ceremony is conducted.
There were seven of us in my confirmation class, four girls and three boys. It was two of the most enjoyable years of study that I have ever experienced as our Pastor also taught the underlying history of the different centuries. His scholarship awakened a love of the Word of God and history that has remained.
On the Sunday that we were examined, we sat in a circle in front of the altar facing the congregation with Pastor Kaning in the middle. Today’s families are smaller and there were only three being confirmed. They stood facing Pastor Jennings and the altar.
We were not allowed our Catechisms while Pastor Kaning asked the questions that we had memorized the answers to during class. He had already appointed which ones were to recite the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, the words to the Sacrament of the Altar, and the words from the Bible where Christ commissions the disciples to go forth and baptize all people. We were also asked ten questions which we were to answer in unison. Two of the people appointed to recite the longer portions went into stage shock. Pastor Kaning would then call on me and I would recite the words. He did assure the congregation that the other young people had been able to recite them when there wasn't a crowd. At that time the congregation was allowed to question the ones being confirmed, but fortunately none did. The prayer for us was said and we were welcomed into the congregation. When communion was served the new members and our parents went first. Pastor Kaning blessed the newly confirmed and then distributed the Sacrament.
Today, the young people had the hymnal with the questions and answers. As Pastor asked them they all read in unison. The prayer was said and they knelt for the blessing and then turned to congregation to return to their seat in the front pew. Now the people clap to welcome them into the fold. That would never have happened in 1951. The young people went first during the distribution of the Sacrament, but their parents did not accompany them.
Three things remained the same. All were dressed in their Sunday best clothes, afterwards pictures were taken, and there was a social gathering for the congregation to celebrate.
There was one more difference on my Confirmation Day. Our Pastor had also had a large adult class that were confirmed. They celebrated with us, but they did not have to recite or prove they had studied.
I thought all that have read this might like to take a peek back into 1951. http://www.davidkusel.com/manning1/tr... When it takes you to that site, click on 1951 in the bar on the left side.
By the way, it’s a great site to explore to learn about rural America.
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William
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Apr 13, 2014 04:58PM
I'm struck by the similarities and the differences between then and now. And there are some similarities and differences with the Reformed and Presbyterian denominations from what the Lutheran church does.
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William wrote: "I'm struck by the similarities and the differences between then and now. And there are some similarities and differences with the Reformed and Presbyterian denominations from what the Lutheran chur..."You are right, William. We parted a long time ago over the issue of, "This is my body..." and "This is my blood..." The other two churches say that it only represents, whereas we say that Christ's words are true. The Presbyterians say they are not a "Creed" church, but the last time I went to one, they had a statement of belief that all recited. The last time I looked, the word creed meant a statement of beliefs.
Hi Mari, a lot has changed in 60 plus years... I'm surprised they were in their Sunday best, that seems to have gone by the wayside in even some of the more traditional Catholic churches.
Ida wrote: "Hi Mari, a lot has changed in 60 plus years... I'm surprised they were in their Sunday best, that seems to have gone by the wayside in even some of the more traditional Catholic churches."This was their confirmation day & grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, etc. were all there for the occasion. They aren't necessarily that well dressed every Sunday. I was shocked at the casual dress of the Lutherans in Washington when we moved there from Phoenix. Now it seems normal.
