This year’s Confirmation workshop and discussion day took place at Christ Church Cathedral, Saturday, April 2nd. Over 40 people ranging in age from 12- 65 gathered to share their experience and to participate in workshops and activities specifically designed to prepare candidates for Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows . The day also served to introduce the Cathedral to those who have not visited before, and help demystify the confirmation process.
The Reverend David Taylor, Assistant Curate at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale began the day with some energetic singing and marching, joining together two Gospel style hymns. This served to wake everyone up and bring the group together in community.
Next on the agenda was a presentation consisting of a panel of four: Bishop Michael Ingham, the Reverend Patrick Blaney, Interim priest-in-charge, St. Thomas’, Lauren Byrne from St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale and the Reverend Kim Prokopchuk, Deacon at St. Dunstan’s Aldergrove.
Each panelist was asked to reflect on their own confirmation, on the event itself and how they felt.
Bishop Michael was the first to share and he spoke of the unexpected sensation of being filled with an incredible heat, electric in nature but totally different than anything he had experienced previously when the Bishop laid hands on him. He went on to say that the bishop’s hands are a conduit, they do not hold “confirmation.” Your participation is your confirmation of your commitment to the Christian way. He assured the group that their experience will be unique, but all will receive the same gift – the Holy Spirit, which is the “Freedom of God.”
Patrick looked at Confirmation as a “hoop,” an invasive process that was nothing more than a medieval remnant to compel people to attend worship regularly and something he had to do in order to follow his call to the priesthood. He retained this opinion right up to the beginning of the Confirmation service, but when the first hymn began, after all were gathered in the sanctuary, he began to weep. When Bishop Michael placed his hands on Patrick’s head he felt the rushing of what he defined as “divine energy” filling him up with the Holy Spirit. It remains to this day the most profound experience he has had in terms of his spiritual journey.
Lauren Byrne was confirmed in 2010. She recalled being very focused on the day and the event itself. Lauren knew that Confirmation would change her life and she expected a significant experience. Throughout the service she was keenly aware of feeling very close to God.
Kim was 12 when she was confirmed. She confessed to always being a “Jesus Freak” and from that early age she knew that she would do “something special.”
In her early 30’s her conversion experience deepened considerably and she wanted live out her call in a more intentional and committed way. During this time in her life she was regularly reminded of the promise of her commitment to Christ that she made when she was 12.
Bishop Michael summarized the Confirmation experience with these words, “yours are the eyes from which one must look out with Christ’s compassion on the world and on everyone in it.”
The rest of the day consisted of workshops, discussion groups, learning groups and prayer stations like Ransom Prayers and Scrabble Prayers.
Diocesan Youth Coordinator Phil Colvin has agreed to write a detailed report of Confirmation for the Rest of Your Life for the June, 2011 issue of TOPIC.
The Reverend David Taylor, Assistant Curate at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale began the day with some energetic singing and marching, joining together two Gospel style hymns. This served to wake everyone up and bring the group together in community.
Next on the agenda was a presentation consisting of a panel of four: Bishop Michael Ingham, the Reverend Patrick Blaney, Interim priest-in-charge, St. Thomas’, Lauren Byrne from St. Mary’s, Kerrisdale and the Reverend Kim Prokopchuk, Deacon at St. Dunstan’s Aldergrove.
Each panelist was asked to reflect on their own confirmation, on the event itself and how they felt.
Bishop Michael was the first to share and he spoke of the unexpected sensation of being filled with an incredible heat, electric in nature but totally different than anything he had experienced previously when the Bishop laid hands on him. He went on to say that the bishop’s hands are a conduit, they do not hold “confirmation.” Your participation is your confirmation of your commitment to the Christian way. He assured the group that their experience will be unique, but all will receive the same gift – the Holy Spirit, which is the “Freedom of God.”
Patrick looked at Confirmation as a “hoop,” an invasive process that was nothing more than a medieval remnant to compel people to attend worship regularly and something he had to do in order to follow his call to the priesthood. He retained this opinion right up to the beginning of the Confirmation service, but when the first hymn began, after all were gathered in the sanctuary, he began to weep. When Bishop Michael placed his hands on Patrick’s head he felt the rushing of what he defined as “divine energy” filling him up with the Holy Spirit. It remains to this day the most profound experience he has had in terms of his spiritual journey.
Lauren Byrne was confirmed in 2010. She recalled being very focused on the day and the event itself. Lauren knew that Confirmation would change her life and she expected a significant experience. Throughout the service she was keenly aware of feeling very close to God.
Kim was 12 when she was confirmed. She confessed to always being a “Jesus Freak” and from that early age she knew that she would do “something special.”
In her early 30’s her conversion experience deepened considerably and she wanted live out her call in a more intentional and committed way. During this time in her life she was regularly reminded of the promise of her commitment to Christ that she made when she was 12.
Bishop Michael summarized the Confirmation experience with these words, “yours are the eyes from which one must look out with Christ’s compassion on the world and on everyone in it.”
The rest of the day consisted of workshops, discussion groups, learning groups and prayer stations like Ransom Prayers and Scrabble Prayers.
Diocesan Youth Coordinator Phil Colvin has agreed to write a detailed report of Confirmation for the Rest of Your Life for the June, 2011 issue of TOPIC.
Images: Above left, the Scrabble prayer station, righ, Ransom prayers, below the Panel, Rev. Patrick Blaney standing.