Rector’s Update: Celebrating +John and Meg+
Hi Restoration,
“Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.” Hebrews 13:7-8 (The Message)
This weekend, we have the opportunity to welcome Bishop John and his wife, Rev. Meg, back to Restoration. We are so grateful for their leadership. John has served as the bishop of our diocese since 2011. As you may have heard, our diocese is currently in a process which shall lead to the selection and consecration of his successor. Consequently this is Bishop John’s last official visit to Restoration as our bishop.
On Sunday, Bishop John will confirm or receive about 40 people into the Anglican Communion. We will hear testimonies from youth and adults who are confirming the promises that were made on their behalf at baptism. Bishop John will lay hands on our friends and family members while asking for the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower them for service and to sustain them all the days of their lives.
The people who are being confirmed or received have been active participants in our confirmation class which has been taught by Beth Tipps and Scott Buckhout on the adult side and by Ryan Goyer, Lexi McMann, and Chris Lugo for the youth. Thank you for working hard at this content! We look forward to celebrating all that Christ is forming in you.
Guess what we eat when we celebrate? CAKE!! So come ready to have cake on Sunday after both services.
We are grateful to Bishop John and Meg, grateful for everyone who is making commitments to God through confirmation and reception, and grateful to Jesus for the redemption He has secured for us all.
See you on Sunday,
David
P.S. Wondering what it means to ‘be confirmed’ or ‘received’? Check this out from page 174 in the Book of Common Prayer:
Every adult believer in Jesus Christ should make a public and personal profession of the Faith. Confirmation or Reception by a Bishop is its liturgical expression.
In Confirmation, through the Bishop’s laying on of hands and prayer for daily increase in the Holy Spirit, God strengthens the believer for Christian life in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Grace is God’s gift, and we pray that he will pour out his Holy Spirit on those who have already been made his children by adoption and grace in Baptism.
In Reception, those who have made adult professions of faith in other Christian traditions (including those confirmed in other traditions) are received into the Anglican Church with prayer and the laying on of hands by a Bishop.
Interested in being confirmed or received next time? Drop us a message.
