Preparation for Confirmation and Reception into the Church
In confirmation, young people or adults re-affirm the vows made at their Baptism and they receive the laying-on-of-hands of the Bishop, confirming God's gift of the Holy Spirit and recognizing a mature commitment to the faith of the Church.
Those who come to Saint mark's from other Christian denominations, and who have already been baptized and confirmed, may wish to be received into the Episcopal Church and welcomed by the Bishop.
Each year the clergy organize a series of discussions to prepare candidates for Confirmation or Reception into the Church. The discussion generally cover topics ranging from how we read the Bible to church history to talking about the personal histories of those participating in the group. Normally the series will last from six to eight weeks.
This year we are conducting a course called The Pilgrim's Progress.
What is the course?
St Mark's is offering a program called The Pilgrims' Progress. The course looks at what Christians believe, how Christians grow, and what it means to live a Christian life.
The Pilgrims' Progress is based on the following principles:
• Coming to faith and growing in faith are processes of discovery, not hoops to be jumped through or lessons to be learned.
• The walk of faith is best practiced as an accompanied journey.
• This process is one that transforms our whole lives.
Who should participate in the course?
• Newcomers to Christianity
• People who wish to be received into the Episcopal Church
• People seeking Confirmation or reaffirmation of Baptismal vows
• Anyone else interested in deepening her or his experience of the Christian journey.
When will this all take place?
Beginning in early January and leading into Spring of 2009 we will meet weekly for eleven sessions. We will gather over a light lunch after the 11:00 Mass for 90 minutes.
Course Calendar
The Pilgrim’s Progress:
Preparing for Confirmation and Reception
in the Episcopal Church
January 17th, 2010 – Introducing Ourselves: Telling Our Stories
A brief welcome from the clergy, the handout of course materials and a brief description both of the course and the expectations for the course, including attendance and confidentiality. After which each participant (including the clergy) will give a brief five minute précis of their life, formative moments, religious background, and what has brought them to consider confirmation/reception.
January 24th – Baptism and Faith
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 2 “Beginnings” p. 13ff
January 31st – God and the Scriptures
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 3 “Bible Stories” p. 28ff
A brief lecture on reading and interpreting the Scriptures
February 7th – God and the Creeds
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 5 “Faith: Whom Do We Trust?” p. 70ff
A brief discussion on the history, content and formation of the Creeds, and some of the theological issues involved, especially the doctrine of the Trinity, the person of Jesus, etc.
February 14th – The History of the Church
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 4: “History” p. 51ff
A lecture on the history of the Church from the early Church to the present, noting the key moments (Schism between East and West, Reformation), and touching upon the English Reformation and the development of Anglicanism.
February 21st – The History of St. Mark’s
A talk on the history of St. Mark’s Church, Philadelphia, some of its rectors and luminaries, the role that St. Mark’s has played in the Episcopal Church and Anglo-Catholicism.
February 28th – The Mission of St. Mark’s
Reading: The mission statement and Eight Ministry Areas
A talk about the St. Mark’s mission statement and the various ministries that St. Mark’s is involved in (St. James the Less, the Soup Bowl, the Food Cupboard, etc.)
March 7th – The Sacraments
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 10 “Sacraments” p. 168ff
A talk about the sacraments of the Church and their role in the life and pilgrimage of the believer. (Confirmation/Reception will be covered in more depth later).
March 14th – Prayer
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 8 “Spirituality: Created for Prayer” p. 125ff
A talk about the various kinds of prayer with a discussion about ways that people pray, what to do when you can’t pray, etc.
March 21st – Pilgrimage and Christian Life
A talk about the metaphor of pilgrimage for the Christian life: what pilgrimage is, the importance of pilgrimage, etc.
March 28th – Confirmation and Reception: What are they, exactly? (Palm Sunday)
A talk on confirmation and reception: description of the rite, why it is important, the connection to the history of the Church through a bishop.
April 4th – No class (Easter Day)
April 11th – Worship
Reading: Your Faith, Your Life, Chapter 9 “Worship” p. 148ff
A talk on the importance of worship for Christian life, and how worship specifically plays a role at St. Mark’s.
April 17th – Retreat at St. James the Less
A day retreat at our mission parish of St. James the Less from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. People will prepare a written spiritual autobiography.
9 a.m. – Coffee and gathering
9:15 a.m. – Morning Prayer
9:30 a.m. – Talk summing up the class
10:30 a.m. – Time of quiet and silent prayer
11:30 a.m. – Mass
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. – Spiritual autobiographies
2:30 p.m. – Break
2:45 p.m. – Spiritual autobiographies
4:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer
April 18th – Rehearsal for Confirmation/Reception following the 11 a.m. Mass
April 25th – The Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist with Confirmation and Reception – The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold, former Bishop of Chicago and 25th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.