Time with Sharon: We Are One

March 2009

“ As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer males and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. ”

Galatians 3:27-8

In the month of March, we will be celebrating another Confirmation class at LPUMC. The confirmation experience is a process of growth and introspection...a time of learning about God, about ourselves, and about Christianity as it is expressed through the United Methodist tradition. Most generally, a Confirmation Class is composed of young people in their junior high or early high school years. This year's Adult Confirmation Class has yielded folks from many faith traditions, or noneall, some who have already made their first confirmation journey many years ago in another church or denomination, and some who have never attended a religious class before in their life. Together, all have laughed, questioned, made new discoveries (and friends), and thought about whatmeans to be a follower of Christ, and more particularly, to be a United Methodist Christian.

During our time together, we have explored the early roots of the Methodist revival planted by John and Charles Wesley in England and cultivated by the Circuit Riders crossing the frontier of the American colonies. We have learned how the Methodist movement has been characterized by Wesley's unique understanding of God's Grace,connectional system, and the deep value of holy conferencing. We've discussed the pro's and con's of the itinerancy system, the beauty of apportionment model, and how each member of the church has the potential of effecting change at the General Conference level. We have shared precious conversations about the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, and pulled the Social Principles apart and put them back together again, looking for the truths that we each hold dear. Finally, we have celebrated that this is a church body that holds each person to be uniquely and wonderfully made, inviting all persons to the Lord's Table of Grace.

On March 29th, we will celebrate the conclusion of our Confirmation experience by honoring those who have completed their study. Some may make the decision to wed their spiritual journey with Lafayette Park United Methodist Church by becoming members. All will be acknowledged for their presence with us and their desire to seek deeper understanding of a life lived in Christ through faith. I know you will join me in celebrating their hunger to (re)connect anew with God in a meaningful way.

It has bee thrilling to watch God's Spirit weave together the hearts of these folks who are from such diverse paths into a caring group. There is "no longer Jew or Greek,... slave or free,...male or female". God's Spirit has drawn us together for purposes of learning, sharing, and ultimately serving. That's what the Holy Spirit does so well. As our spirits are touched by God's, we become One in Christ Jesus. It's amazing grace.

Peace,
Sharon

Time With Sharon…Clothed in Christ Jesus

March 2008

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
there is no longer males and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27-8

In the month of March, we will be celebrating another Confirmation class at LPUMC. The confirmation experience is a process of growth and introspection...a time of learning about God, about ourselves, and about the United Methodist tradition. Most importantly, it is a time of decision for our young folk.

In the early church, (I mean the church formed in the first 150 years after Jesus walked among us...not the 8:00am service), those preparing to take their vow of membership went through an extended time of instruction in the sacred rites and rituals, of learning the gospel accounted of Jesus and his ministry, death, and resurrection, and of prayerful meditation. Then as the day of their inauguration into the church neared, they would fast and pray, and others would join them in the final stretch. Then, often on Easter morning, these persons would don a robe, which they would drop before entering the pool (don’t get too excited-men baptized men, and women tended to women), and be baptized into “new Life”; Paul described it like putting on the clothes of Christ. Then the newly-baptized would join the faithful in sharing the bread and the cup at Christ’s Table of Grace.

Over the last 8 weeks, our Confirmands have been learning and exploring too. Together, we have explored the character of God, the wisdom and truth found in holy scripture, the elegance of the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, and how the way we live our lives can (if we so choose) carry on Jesus’ ministry of compassion and justice. We have come to know about the passion of John Wesley to help people experience the grace of God through reading scripture, prayer, worship, and Christian dialogue. We’ve talked about what we do in worship and why we do it. We’ve met with Bishop Schnase and heard his personal testimony, joined with our Jewish neighbors at Central Reformed Community to experience the worship of our spiritual ancestors, and served our neighbors supper at Centenary UMC.

Yup. We have been exploring what it means to be followers of Christ...and more particularly, to be United Methodist Christians.

As infants, some were baptized into the faith of their parents, and it was the adults and the church congregation who took the vows of discipleship. Now it is our Confirmands’ turn. On March 30th, these young folk will be given the opportunity to stand before their congregations of choice (Lafayette Park and Centenary), and make for themselves the promises of the heart. They will declare whom they will call “Lord” of their lives. And they will choose with whom they will continue their faith journey moving forward, promising to support The United Methodist Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service.

As members of the church, I invite you, just as the members of the early church were, to be in active prayer for these young people as they complete their studies, and meditate on God’s claim on their lives. As we do this, may we be reminded what it means in our own faith journey to be “clothed in Christ”. Do Christ’s clothes still fit? Hmmmm....

- Pastor Sharon