Do you remember your Confirmation Day?  I do.  I can picture our white dresses, palm branches and white Easter lilies.  I remember our somber elderly pastor, robed in black, placing his hand upon us and reading the Confirmation verse which would be ours for life.  But I also remember that our Confirmation Day did not happen as planned.  There were three of us to be confirmed on Easter.  The week before Easter, I came down with the mumps.  With just three of us, the decision was made to postpone for a week.   Well, after my week with the mumps, my girlfriend and next door neighbor also came down with mumps.  (Thanks to me.)  So, Confirmation was postponed for yet another week.   Finally, two weeks after Easter, the service proceeded.  We even had Easter lilies that my mother had worked diligently to save in the basement of our home.

A week ago I had the privilege of experiencing for the first time, a virtual Confirmation service.   This time it was the circumstances of Covid-19 that prevented a traditional service in the church.  The Confirmation of four young men was adapted and via Zoom they were confirmed on the planned date.  My youngest grandson was confirmed in this most unusual way, and thanks to the wonders of technology I was able to be there!

The Confirmands were safely at home with their parents.  Each was shown on the screen as he actively participated in the service.  They read the lessons and the prayers.  Each young man had written a personally  meaningful Statement of Faith.  Each read his confidently to all who were signed on to this Zoom event, members of the congregation and members of extended families.  During the year of Confirmation preparation, each boy had been assigned a mentor.  These adults offered special prayers for the young person they had come to know so well.  Finally when it came time for the Pastor to lay hands on the Confirmands, the parents reverently placed their hands upon their son as the Pastor’s words were spoken.  It was moving; it was meaningful.    

This most recent Confirmation was most definitely different. I commend the church staff for their creativity in making it possible.   But then, my Confirmation was also a bit “out of the norm.”  Circumstances change and we adapt.  We have no idea where the coming days and months will lead us.  One thing we know for sure, God’s unconditional love has not changed.  It will not change.  Of that we can be certain.

Judy