Rite of Affirmation

Our thanks to Trinity Episcopal Church in Excelsior

for permission to adapt their liturgy.

This rite marks an important transition toward faith maturity for the 8th graders completing their pre-Confirmation studies.

(Those making this transition and their parents

will come forward after the Nicene Creed

while the congregation remains standing.)

Celebrant: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, when Jesus was a youth, his parents took him to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. While there, he separated from his parents in order to go to the temple. He sat among the teachers, listening and asking questions, and all those gathered were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Today these young people accept responsibility for their individual journeys to claim the promises of Baptism. As Jesus went into his Father's house, these young persons come into our midst to take their rightful place in our community of faith.

Youth turn to their parents and say:

We ask for your blessing and trust on this journey.

Parents (facing their own children) respond:

We bless you. We trust you. Go with God's grace.

Celebrant (to the congregation): As a community of faith, we have promised to do all in our power to support these persons in their life in Christ. Do you reaffirm your commitment to this promise?

Parents and Congregation: We do.

(Youth ask the following questions in unison.)

Youth: Will you tell us the truth about your own faith?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

Youth: Will you challenge and help us as we try to understand God in our lives?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

Youth: Will you hear us when we speak?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

Youth: Will you respect us in our doubts and honor us in our failures?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

Youth: Will you show us by word and example what it means to repent and to forgive?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

Youth: Will you acknowledge us and know us by name as brothers and sisters?

Parents and Congregation: We will, with God's help.

The congregation sits.

Celebrant: You have bid us to maintain our steadfast support with honesty, integrity, and respect. We now ask the same of you. Will you promise, therefore, to continue to learn and to ask and to pray as you enter a new stage in life's journey?

Youth: I will, with God's help.

Celebrant: Will you faithfully participate in the life of the church, challenging the congregation to live a faithful and honest account of itself?

Youth: I will, with God's help.

Celebrant: Will you resist the urge to separate yourself from the faith community when you doubt our relevance, sincerity, and purpose?

Youth: I will, with God's help.

Youth Minister: In the day-to-day experiences of growing up, there are moments we would all like to forget. We hear hurtful words, we see people in pain, and we don't always do or say what is right. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We take comfort in the fact that we have already been marked as God's own and that God's love for us will never end. We now ask for healing of these young people for all past experiences that have caused them to step away from or doubt God's love.

Parents lay hands on the shoulders of youth.

Celebrant marks each youth with chrism.

Celebrant: Stay with us, and remember that you have been marked as Christ's own forever.

After all have been blessed, the acolytes light a candle for each young person.

Acolyte: Receive the light of Christ as a sign that you have passed from darkness into light. Shine as his light in the world to the glory of God.

Senior High Youth: We ask for God's help to provide these members of our community with advice, encouragement, and acceptance. We thank God that you will be walking with us. You are God's own and we ask Him to look over us all as we grow within this community of faith. We will not walk away from you.

Parents and Congregation: We invite you in the name of Christ our brother to take your place among us.

Celebrant: I present to you these young persons to live among us as brothers and sisters - to learn, to listen, and to question.

One youth steps forward to lead the Prayers of the People.

The Prayers of the People

We pray today for these young people standing before us {Names of those being affirmed}. Give them inquiring and discerning hearts. Strengthen their will to persevere as they grow in faith. Help them to know and love you more deeply. Give them the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.

Bless them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose lives have been no small part of the lives of these young people. We thank you for their families, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, teammates, and classmates.

Bless them all, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We remember all those who struggle in sickness and in sorrow. Help restore peace and harmony in their hearts.

Comfort them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for the mission of the church; for our Presiding Bishop Frank; our bishops, James and Dan; and our priests, Jay and Stephen. We pray for all who proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth and for all who seek the Truth.

Strengthen them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for all the leaders of the world that they may make wise choices for everyone and that they may lead us to honor one another and serve the common good.

Guide them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for Your wonderful creation, the Earth, and its streams, trees, mountains, and plants.

Guide those who manage the world, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for all who have died, especially those whose faith is known to You alone. We pray for the people who miss them and ask that they may find peace and strength in You.

Bless all of us, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

We pray for those who do not understand or have not found Your love, that they may seek a deeper knowledge of You.

Guide and bless them, O Lord, and hear our prayer.

Please add your own petitions and thanksgivings.

The Eucharist continues with the The Peace.