I went to two of Michele’s kids’ confirmation yesterday. David and Casey were confirmed at the Episcopal cathedral in Baltimore. While Lutherans just have a special church service where the confirmands are recognized in their own congregation during regular services, Episcopalians have everyone in the whole diocese confirmed in one afternoon ceremony and the bishop blesses them all. I think the difference may have to do with church structure and apostolic succession and such.
Anway, it was a nice service. The procession had a super-cool fishing pole thing with ribbons on the end that some guy swung around while he walked up the aisle. The bishop preached. He was very easy to listen to. We sang some good songs. Episcopalian worship is strikingly similar to Lutheran worship. Except for the bishop’s pointy hat. And the fact that there’s a bishop. And the fact that everyone is Episcopalian.
Here is the swishy ribbon thing. Though I’m not so good at guessing lengths like this, I’d say the pole was twenty feet long.
Here is the moment of Casey’s confirmation. If you squint, you can just barely see her in the middle. Hehe… just kidding. The members of each church were invited to the front as their confirmands were being blessed so they could lay their hands on them. Casey really is in the middle of this crowd. David is just to the left of her.
Very cool! Congratulations to Casey and David! That church is beautiful.
… “strikingly similar..” Ha! You funny.
Daniel had a public questioning in the Catholic church. I had a separate public questioning with recognition in the service.
Having read your conjecture in paragraph one, do we now expect David to “run” for bishop when he is of age? He’d look very dapper in a “pointy hat”, no?
…and reading that the pole-thingy was about 20′ long…I gotta ask………….wait for it!………..does that mean you could touch it? [See, it's longer than 10'....the standard length of not touching things...see? Ah, never mind.]
(As I recall, it is indeed a lovely church building – eldest son Michael’s confirmation sounds similar to the one you experienced, pointed hat celebrant and all!)
Back when I was confirmed the bishop would come to our parish and about 15 or so of us would be confirmed. Our parish is much smaller now as are other parishes and this method was adopted a while ago. I miss the intimacy of a parish service, but LOVE the pomp and circumstance in the cathedral. The procession is grand with banners and the red ribbons to mark the day of Pentecost. The best part is the music – when the place is packed and everyone is singing it is a glorious sound. Of course I haven’t been able to talk much less sing for five days now so I just had to listen. At least I could hear Brad singing next to me (what a treat!)