It’s always interesting down in Dollar – David was baptised and confirmed; Jan was confirmed and Ramsay was admitted to Holy Communion. And, over the champagne which followed, I continued my mild professional researches from the previous evening in Glasgow. The question is how [or why] this congregation sort of seems to gather people up almost accidently and certainly without making a fuss about it. To be honest, the Diocesan Review does talk about creating ‘attractive congregations’ – but it doesn’t say how to do it. And I doubt if it is accidental. People here certainly feel a real sense of being a welcoming, caring, interested-in-people congregation – but it’s not just friendly, there is deep spirituality there too. And there is leadership which is sure-footed and authoritative but which guides with a light touch. And they enjoy themselves .. and the music is good. Sounds like a fortunate series of accidents – which must mean that the Spirit found a way in somewhere.
Dear + David,
I much enjoyed your comments regarding Dollar.
Jeremy, Take a bow, you are doing well, as we all expected.
I thought that might be it, but I wasn’t sure. A very large & vibrant cathedral parish that I belonged to when I lived in another state did a special sort of “First Communion” thing for the first graders after they’d spent the Sunday School year studying about Communion. They did it on a Sunday morning at the main mass, but unlike Confirmations, it was done sans Bishop.
This year the small urban parish I belong to is having the first Confirmations since I joined the parish 2+ years ago. This will also be the first time I’ll see anyone younger than 17 or 18 Confirmed. I think only one of the Confirmands is over 18 and she’s quite a bit over 18. There seems to be quite trend towards Confirming people after high schools instead of at a younger age on this side of the pond. I think that has to do with the idea of only requiring Baptism to participate in Communion instead of requiring Confirmation, which does make sense.
Well – in theory no space between those two statements. In practice, we mark the admission to Holy Communion of children who are believing and practising christians – leaving Confirmation to serve as a later Affirmation of Baptismal Vows which is disconnected from admission to Holy Communion
What is the difference between “baptised” and “admitted to Holy Communion” on your side of the pond?