Emmanuel Church, West Hampstead

Confirmation

Confirmation is a Sacrament which continues the process of new life which begins in baptism. 

It is a confirming of the presence of the Holy Spirit, which is already present in our lives.

As such it is both a stirring up and a seal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and a reminder that conversion is an ongoing process ‘til Christ be formed in us’ (Galatians 4:19).

 

 

In the liturgy of Confirmation, in words echoing Isaiah 11:1-3, the Bishop prays

Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given these your servants new birth
in baptism by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them all their sins.
let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;
and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.  Amen.

Then addressing each candidate by name the Bishop says

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

And, laying his hand on the head of each, the Bishop says

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Anointing them with the oil of Chrism, the Bishop then says

Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is never to late to be confirmed and so at Emmanuel we prepare both children and adults for Confirmation by our Area Bishop during the season of Advent.  The preparation sessions usually begin when the schools go back at the beginning of the autumn.  These are relaxed and informal sessions when we explore the basics of the Christian faith and how we might apply those liberating realities in the circumstances of our daily lives and the life of the world.

If you are interested in discovering more about Confirmation, either for yourself of for your child, please do not hesitate to speak to one of the clergy.