First Service
Rite of Confirmation
April 19, 2025
AS WE GATHER
Family, friends and guests: Today is a special day in the lives of those who have prepared themselves for the Rite of Confirmation. Today they will profess their faith in Jesus Christ and embark upon a special journey in the Church for the remainder of their lives. As important as this day is for them, this day can be a day of reflection for all of us. We can take this opportunity to reflect upon the meaning of our own confirmation experience and how the Holy Spirit has guided us toward a fuller understanding of the Scriptures and how He has guided us toward a more complete participation in this congregation and the Church at large.
+ PREPARATION +
SONG We Are God’s People CH 399 vs 1 & 4
We are God’s people, the chosen of the Lord, Born of His Spirit, established by His Word.
Our cornerstone is Christ alone, and strong in Him we stand;
O let us live transparently and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.
We are the Body of which the Lord is Head, Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead.
He wills us be a family diverse, yet truly one;
O let us give our gifts to God and so shall His work on earth be done.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen
CONFESSION and THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Drawn from the Six Chief Parts; Exodus 20)
Pastor: For the times we have had other gods in our lives . . .
People: and for the times we have trusted in things other than You, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have misused the name of the Lord . . .
People: and for the times we have failed to call upon You in prayer, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have forgotten the Sabbath day . . .
People: and for the times we have despised the preaching of Your word, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have not honored father or mother . . .
People: and for the times we have failed to respect others in authority, forgive us good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have murdered . . .
People: by hurting people in thought, word, and deed, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have committed adultery . . .
People: with thoughts and actions unbecoming to Your design for love and marriage, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have stolen . . .
People: and for the times we have hurt someone’s good name, forgive us, good Lord.
Pastor: For the times we have coveted our neighbors’ possessions or family members..
People: and for the times we have tried to acquire things not belonging to us, forgive us, good Lord.
ABSOLUTION and THE OFFICE OF THE KEYS (Drawn from the Six Chief Parts)
Pastor: Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
SONG Ancient Words
Holy words, long preserved, for our walk in this world.
They resound with God’s own heart, O let the ancient words impart.
Words of life, words of hope, give us strength, help us cope.
In this world where e’er we roam, ancient words will guide us home.
Refrain: Ancient words, ever true, changing me and changing you.
We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.
Holy words of our faith handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice, O heed the faithful words of Christ.
Ancient words, long preserved, for our walk in this world.
They resound with God’s own heart, O let the ancient words impart. (Refrain)
COLLECT
Pastor: Gracious Lord, through water and the Spirit You have made us your own. You have forgiven us all our sins and brought us to newness of life. Continue to strengthen us with the Holy Spirit, and daily increase in us Your gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen
FIRST READING Acts 2:42–47 (The life of the first Christians includes learning and fellowship.)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:19–25 (Christ, who suffered for us, sets an example for us.)
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
HOLY GOSPEL John 10:1–10 (Jesus says He is the gate of the sheep.)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light my strength my song
This cornerstone this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life no fear in death This is the pow’r of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final death Jesus commands my destiny
No pow’r of hell no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand
SERMON
CREED and AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM (Drawn from the Six Chief Parts)
Pastor: What is Baptism?
Confirmands: Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s Word.
People: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
Pastor: What benefits does Baptism give?
Confirmands: It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this.
People: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
Pastor: What does such baptizing with water indicate?
Confirmands: The Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
People: We were therefore buried with Him through Baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4
Pastor: In Holy Baptism we are forgiven our sins and granted a new life in Christ, our Lord. We solemnly renounce the devil and all his works and ways; we confess the gift of faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I ask you anew: Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?
Confirmands: I do renounce them.
Pastor: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?
All: Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son?
All: Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Pastor: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
All: Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
RITE OF CONFIRMATION (10:30 service only)
Tatum Fox Makya Seabolt
Cooper McDaniel Braddock Tharp
Gavin Moreau Sam Walania
Jacob Rangel
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. For those whom we name in our hearts who have recently come to faith, that You would nurture them through the Word, let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For those whom we name in our hearts who have had faith in Jesus from their day of Baptism, that You would guide them to fuller service in the Church,
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For those whom we name in our hearts who are weary of life’s hardships, that You would bring them strength; let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: For those whom we name in our hearts who are worried, that they would put their trust in you; let us pray to the Lord,
People: Lord have mercy.
Pastor: For those whom we name in our hearts who are sick, that You would bring to them healing; let us pray to the Lord.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen