Over the centuries, the Church has developed rituals that have helped people to see the glory and magnificence of God and to feel God’s presence.  These rituals are the things that are hard for us to see change.  We have grown up with them and they have given us a sense of God at worship or at home.  The Lord’s prayer, for instance, has been said in some form for a two thousand years and we think that the for we use today (the older version) is the only version that is true.  The one we use think of as traditional is from the 1611 King James authorized version.  Forty years or so ago a NEW version was written in more modern English which some people really like and yet, some despise because it is not the “original” version.  The original version was in Aramaic which we do not speak and most cannot read.  What I am saying is that rituals do change.  When they become nothing other than rote repetition without meaning behind them.  Remember it is not the ritual that matters, but your faith behind the ritual.  Faith in God trumps all ritual.  Today at JOY, we are conducting the rite of confirmation, now called “Affirmation of Faith”.  It, too,  is a ritual that has changed over the years and yet for the young person who has gone through the confirmation process, it is an important step in their faith formation.  in confirmation, God comes  to the young person who has now affirmed their faith in Jesus as Savior.  No matter what form of confirmation we use, we, the Church, need to support and pray for all confirmands that their faith may grow and their lives reflect the One who loves them so.  That is our part in the faith and lives of our confirmand this day.  Pray for the youth of the world for they are our hope for the Church.  Their faith will carry the Church when we are gone.  Read  Genesis 22:1-18 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Pastor Ed