Bishop Lee is returning to St. Paul’s for his regular Visitation on Palm Sunday, April 10 at 10 a.m., and will be offering Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation.
Confirmation is an adult affirmation of our baptismal covenant. Most of us were infants at the time of our baptism, and parents and godparents spoke for us. Confirmation allows us to speak for ourselves and pledge ourselves to Christ. For those who were confirmed or baptized as adults outside the Episcopal Church are invited to affirm their baptismal covenant and be received into the Episcopal Church at the same ceremony. Those already have been confirmed in the Episcopal Church but wish to re-affirm their baptismal covenant and receive the bishop’s blessing are welcome to do so. Confirmation or Reception are expected for those who serve as Vestry members, and required for exercising certain ministries outside the parish, including ordination.
Confirmation instruction is strongly recommended, but not required, and does not have to occur prior to confirmation or reaffirmation. The Interim Rector intends to offer instruction, but also is pleased to recommend an online Inquirer’s Class, a program of confirmation instruction, being offered by the Rev. Matthew Buterbaugh from St. John’s in Burlington. That class will be offered on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. via Zoom, beginning this Monday, June 24, and continuing through the end of May. If you’re interested but not available early on, Fr. Buterbaugh will be recording the sessions, and you can catch up by reviewing those recordings. Fr. Buterbaugh is better at this than the Interim Rector (the author of this message), who recommends that course over his own for those interested in a thorough examination of the Christian life as offered through the Episcopal Church. And you don’t have to be pursuing Confirmation to take the class: If you want to participate, simply email Fr. Buterbaugh at curiouspriest@gmail.com.
If you would like to be confirmed, received, or re-affirmed during the bishop’s visitation, please contact the Interim Rector at lane.hensley@stpaulsmilwauke.org.
