Confirmation Sunday welcoming young members to the church

These six young adults made a commitment last October, as they entered their eighth grade year, to explore their faith more deeply through Confirmation.

We began our journey by delving into scripture, learning about the historical and theological arc of the Hebrew Bible. We considered how Jesus drew upon his Jewish tradition, allowing these sacred stories and texts to shape his ministry and inform his central commandment to love God and neighbor. We studied the gospels, paying attention to key moments in Jesus' life: his baptism, temptation, death and resurrection. We learned about the miracles he performed and the parables he told. Then, we set out to embody Jesus' love in the world through the Outdoor Church in Cambridge and L-Street Mission in Brockton. The confirmands met other youth making their confirmation at a retreat through the SNEUCC and had the experience of engaging with people of other faith traditions without fearing the loss of their own when they attended a Shabbat service and dinner at Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. The scripture they choose for Confirmation Sunday was John 15, "I am the vine, you are the branches," focusing on the theme of connection, as they experienced in the confirmation process how the Holy Spirit connects us in powerful ways through our church community, and in ways that transcend differences in religion and life circumstances. This is not an end, but a beginning.

To our confirmands, you will always have a spiritual home at UCC Norwell. May God bless you all with love and fortitude on your journey of life and faith!

📸 by: Will Larson