- Are you interested in engaging a little more deeply in your Christian practice?
- Have you heard this word Confirmation, and wondered what it might mean?
- Are you a little bit new to the Episcopal Church and you’d like to learn a little more about how we do things in our branch of the Jesus Movement? There’s something coming up for you!
As we go through our journey in the love of God, we may find that God is calling us to express our commitment to Christ in new and more mature ways. God has blessed this part of our spiritual journey and given us the rite of Confirmation where we receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by our bishop.
It has become traditional to prepare for this step of our life in Christ with a period of study, reflection, prayer, and growth. For many people, this season of preparation takes place in their own parish with their parish clergy and friends. Here in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, we have the opportunity broaden our experience by taking advantage of the depth of knowledge and wisdom across the diocese. We have invited leaders to share the best of their expertise in this class.
This course is intended primarily for those looking to be Confirmed, Received into the Episcopal Church, or for those who wish to Reaffirm their baptismal vows. Confirmation is for those who wish to make a mature declaration of faith. Reception is for those who wish to become formal members of the Episcopal Church. Reaffirmation is for those who have already been confirmed but who wish, as part of their spiritual journey, to make a public restatement of their faith (Don’t worry. We’ll cover all of this at our first meeting.). Regardless of where you are in our spiritual journey, we would like to invite you to be part of this group.
This class is open to adults and younger people. Younger folks will meet together with a facilitator, and we will create small groups for adult participants. These groups will meet consistently across the program so people from around the diocese will have a chance to get to know each other a little better. At each session, there will be a brief presentation followed by small group discussion. We will be meeting via zoom from 6-7:15pm on Wednesdays. Each class will last about an hour and fifteen minutes.
Our time of reflection and study will prepare us for these celebrations with Bishop Fisher at a service on Sunday May 21 at 5pm (details to be determined later this spring). This is a wonderful opportunity to refresh our understanding of the faith and to learn with people with might not otherwise get to know.
• March 1 – What is Confirmation?
• March 8 – The Holy Scriptures with the Reverend Canon Vicki Ix
• March 15 – The History of the Church
• March 22 – The Gift of the Episcopal Church with the Reverend Tanya Wallace
• March 29 – Care for God’s Creation with the Reverend Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas
Break for Holy Week
• April 12 – God’s Justice in the World with the Reverend Harvey Hill
• April 19 – Living as a Christian
• April 26 – The Sacraments of the Church
• May 6 – Ways of Praying (Please note that this session will be on a Saturday, in- person. Details coming soon!)
• May 21 – Confirmation Service and The Mystery of Easter with Bishop Fisher (Sunday at 4:30pm)
We are blessed to have such a depth on insight in our diocese, and we hope that you will join us to share your experiences and wisdom as well.
Michael+ and Tanya+
The Rev. Michael Tuck
Dean, Berkshires clericus
The Rev. Tanya R. Wallace
Dean, Franklin/Hampshire clericus
