EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 2.5 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and the deepening of my theological mind. This sermon originally took place on Sept. 1, 2019.
Well, Claire. …
I can sincerely tell you that my only regret today is that I wasn’t more involved with confirmation so much sooner. … Because I would have had a blast hanging out and learning with you.
I admire so much about you.
Your kindness that radiates from your very soul.
Your quick wit which I’m sure has confounded many a teacher … and your parents.
Your easy and quiet confidence that seems to tell everyone in the room when you walk in … I … Got … This.
And trust me, I’ve seen a number of situations where you definitely got all of that and more.
And finally, that inner courage that allows you to be who you are in about any situation I’ve seen you in. Comfortable in allowing your inner goofiness to flow when you’re overtired and in hyperdrive. The willingness to stand up and question what it is you don’t understand. The strength to see things in a new light.
You are smart and talented and funny, and I hope that you retain all of these traits as you grow into an adult, despite however much they may confound your parents and teachers today.
All of these things will serve you well.
The challenge, of course, to not having been involved with your confirmation classes is that I didn’t get a chance to help with your faith teachings, but I do hope that there will be other opportunities here throughout high school before you move out to conquer the world.
So, being I didn’t get to ever teach you a confirmation class, per se, I thought I’d steal this opportunity this morning to impart on you three lessons that I pray will stick with you the rest of your life.
Is that alright? … Do you have one more confirmation lesson in you?
Whew! … That’s good. I was really afraid that you might tell me no in front of all these people.
Ok, so Pastor’s Devlyn’s big confirmation lesson wrapped up in three succinct chapters. … Are you with me?
Chapter One is entitled “Forever Young.” … Chapter Two is entitled “Plan For You.” … And Chapter Three is entitled “Homecoming.”
Now, Chapter One.
As you may recall from last year, I opened the confirmation message with the lyrics from Bob Dylan’s hit for all times “Forever Young.” … Well, this year, I upped the game and brought the experts in so that I didn’t have to torture you with my rendition.
But besides enjoying their overflowing musical talent, I hope that you took the time to listen to the words. Because there is just so much wisdom there.
I could spend a series of confirmation messages on this one song alone, and everyone one of them would be meaningful. So let me sum it up this way …
My prayer for you, on this confirmation, day is that you have learned that God will always be looking over you, blessing you and keeping you.
I also wish, as Dylan does, that all of your dreams come true, because I so look forward to seeing the ladder to the stars that you build. … Knowing you, wherever it is that you decide to build that ladder, it will be a site to behold.
Secondly, I also pray that you grow up to be righteous, true and with the ability to see the light around you. … I don’t mean self righteous. Lord knows we have far too many people running around who are self righteous.
What I mean is, I hope that you carry with you the ideals that this church and your family have taught you, and use them to make this world a better place. ... There is a truth out their, Claire, and we learn that truth every Sunday right here at Faith Lutheran, as I’m sure you do every day at home. … And my prayer is that you maintain the courage to show the rest of the world that very truth.
Third, I would also pray that you always remain courageous and strong. … But something tells me you have that covered.
So finally, I pray for you that you always recognize that you have a strong foundation -- and you do, because I’ve gotten to know your parents, and I’ve gotten to know this faith community. … And please know that this foundation will serve you through all of the winds of change. … Because in your lifetime you will see many of them.
So, more on that foundation thing in a minute, but for now, let’s talk about those winds of change.
Which brings us to Chapter Two of today’s lesson. … “Plans For You.”
I also hope you listened to “The Very Brave Little Flowers” song just before I started this message. … It was called, “Plan For You.”
Claire, you might already know this. … But, God does have a plan for you. … A very specific plan, just for you.
None of us here today knows fully what that plan is. … And I suspect it will take decades … no, a full life time … for God to reveal what that plan for you is.
But what I can be absolutely sure of today is that there will be ups and downs. … Peaks and valleys.
There will be times that you will find yourself so confused about the things swirling about you that it will be dizzying.
People will come into and exit your life … sometimes without the faintest indication of why either happened.
There will be opportunities that will take your life in directions you never could have imagined sitting her today.
And then there will be times where it feels like the very floor you are standing on just up and disappears. … In an instant. … Poof. … And you are left with a distinct feeling that everything you’ve known and counted on just vanished.
During the course of all of these events, the temptation will be to try to figure it all out by yourself. To put the puzzle pieces in place. To wrap your head around it. … To make sense of all. … Because, trust me, all of the adults sitting in this room, try and do just that every day.
But, for me, my prayer is that in those moments, this is what you fall back: Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”
God has a plan for you. … Neither of us knows what that plan is. … And neither of us could even begin to predict the unknown turns it will take. … But I pray that when you are amidst the most dizzying or terrifying or bewildering portions of that plan, that you don’t despair. … Even though you don’t know the outcome, the plan is there. And I pray that you can enjoy the ride.
And, finally, Chapter Three: Homecoming.
It is homecoming season. We just lived through two in one weekend at our house. And I’m sure that you will soon or already have had your own homecoming.
But the homecoming that I am referring to is … here.
This place. … The people sitting around you today. … The feeling I’m hoping that you are feeling sitting here today.
Because this is a special place.
I’m not talking just about the home that your parents have created for you. … I’m not talking just about Wolverton being your home town. … Or even Faith Lutheran being your home church.
I’m talking about the sense of home of knowing that no matter where you go, both geographically and in your heart, that you always have a place … a people … a God who knows who you are and welcomes you back with open arms.
I had the honor of presiding over a funeral here on Friday for your great-great aunt. … And I can tell you that, was a woman who valued a home place. … But, during the day, your family and this church and this community shone like a bright beacon and welcomed her home in a fashion that was special. … Dare I say unique in this day and age. … That is the homecoming to which I am referring.
And I pray that you can come to know the same sense of homecoming as you continue to grow older.
I know that at times that growing up here may seem like the rest of the world is passing you by. That there are so many more greater adventures out there than here. So many more people to meet and things to check off your list. … I know. I grew up in a small town not much bigger than this. .. And so, I do encourage you to build a very long to-do list.
But while you are doing that, I also pray that you remember this: You can always go home. … I see that your parents have already done a good job of helping your brother and sister to know that.
And I pray that we are doing the same here at Faith Lutheran for all of you young adults.
But I also want you to know that God feels the … very … same … way.
There is no path you can go down. … No trouble you can get yourself into. ... No relationship that can go awry. … In fact, “neither life nor death itself,” we learn in the Book of Romans can separate us from God’s love.
In his mind, you can always go home. … In his mind, there is always a joyous homecoming, complete with open arms and welcoming heart.
So, there it is, Pastor Devlyn’s “Big Confirmation Lesson” wrapped up three easy chapters.
Claire, please stay “Forever Young,” know that there is a “Plan For You,” and always know that value of home, because it and God are right here waiting for you.
And that is the Good News on this Sunday. Confirmation Sunday … Amen.
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