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Let me begin this morning with a question, A question for the confirmands: What are the first three words in the Bible? Right! But don’t worry, confirmands – this sermon is not a test. I won’t be asking you to answer a series of questions to see how much you know or remembered about all the topics we studied over the past two years in confirmation class. Whew, that’s good, isn’t it? To be sure, There are some things about being a follower of Jesus, About being a member of Christ’s church, that are good, even important to know - The stories of the bible, The ministry of Jesus, The meaning of his life, death and resurrection, The history of Christianity, Why we pray and how we worship, Our two sacraments, And many other things. But today – today’s Scripture, The very first lesson in our bible- invites us to go back to the beginning, and even before the beginning – to look at who God is, and who we are, and to remember as we all proclaimed together, that at the center of all our beginnings is our God who declares all things good. In the beginning. . . The biblical story is similar to other creation stories told by the people of the Middle East, neighbors of our Biblical foremothers and forefathers who first shared this understanding of how the world began in six days. But the story is unique, not only because it doesn’t have a cosmic battle between two creatures, but because it is story of God who is connected to the creation. In fact, it is more than that – this story tells of a God who calls the creation good. And the mystery and awe of this story is that even before the beginning, God desires to be in connection, in relationship with us. Perhaps Biblical scholar Walter Bruggemann says it best: “God and God’s creation are bound together by the powerful, Gracious movement of God towards that creation. The text announces the deepest mystery: God wills and will have a faithful relationship with creation. This connection, this binding, Is irreversible. We are forever, friends, We are forever connected to God and to all of the creation. In the beginning… At the center of our beginning as human beings, Is the truth found in our Genesis reading: We are made in God’s image. On the sixth day - - just before God rested, God spoke us into creation. Through the power of the divine word, Human beings are created in the divine image. That means that every one – Every single one of us - is created in the likeness of God. At our very essence, At our very core, We mirror to the world and to one another God’s creative love and grace. And that image friends, not only makes us good, as Scripture testifies, it is also good news. This means that there is nothing we need to do to earn this goodness - by being smart or doing good deeds or accumulating possessions. There’s no ipod, or iphone or fancy computer that can make us any more precious to God than we already are. Likewise, there is nothing that can change that reality. Oh, it is true that we can sometimes distort that image with inappropriate choice of words or deeds, But no matter what we say or what we do, no matter if we run away from God, or forget about God, this image, this divine signature, is forever emblazoned on our hearts and in our spirits. In the beginning…. I suspect that your parents, your grandparents, other members your family, and even some members of your church family are thinking of other beginnings as well today. They are remembering you at your birth – perhaps some even before your birth - and the way you have changed and grown over these years. Their hearts are full of memories – Of your learning to talk, and walk, and ask questions, And sing, and cook and fish and build a fire, Or ride a skateboard and play an instrument or throw a baseball or kick a soccer ball. They are remembering moments of joy and awe and struggle and frustration and wonder and love. They are delighting in you today, I think, Just the way Genesis tells us that God delights in all of creation. In the beginning… Do you remember the beginning of our confirmation journey? Each of you stood in the front of the congregation, Declaring your intention to learn and grow more fully in the ways of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit? And then later that evening, You gathered in the Fiorelli Room and parlor with your family And we made a covenant together, Shared our hopes for the year, and began the journey of fun and fellowship, learning and questioning, snacking and serving, writing and praying and snacking some more! - all which brings us to this place, this hour, this day of beginning. This is the day when all of you – in front of God and God’s people - affirm baptismal promises, promise to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, witness to his work of love and justice, and become a faithful members of the church, I invite you to turn around – Look at the people gathered here this morning. They are your family of origin, And also members of your church family. Today they celebrate your new beginning, And pray for you and with you. And to the congregation, I invite you to look at these young people, Soon to be the newest members of our congregation. In the days and years ahead, They will work with you, Worship with you, witness with you, As together we seek to understand what it means to be the church in this place and time. Let us see each other as God saw creation, And say – it is good, it is very good. Let me end the way I began – With a question – Again to the confirmands. What’s the last word of the bible found in the book of Revelation? Amen! Yes, amen, Meaning “so be it.” It is perfect word to end the sermon, And begin our rite of confirmation, For amen is a word of affirmation – A word of “yes!” that on this confirmation day, God’s presence hovers over us, Just as the wind hovered over the waters. In this beginning, On this confirmation day, Let us say amen to the fact that God gathers us together, just as God gathered the waters together to make the seas. In this beginning, Let us say amen! that God is still speaking, just as God spoke the world into being, Calling us into a new creation, A new people, A new church. Let the church say together, AMEN. |