October 29, 2025
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| ps from ps “Let us confess our faith together using the words of the Apostle’s Creed….” We do it together as a community almost every worship service. And Sunday at St. Paul’s Eggertsville, we did it together with two young women as they celebrated their Confirmation in church. Back in the day at Resurrection Lutheran, where I was Confirmed, the whole confirmation class, me, Matt, Ray, Penny and Sue, had to memorize the Creed and then recite it alone in front of the Council and then the church during the Confirmation service. The church community didn’t say it with us. We had to do it alone. So we memorized. Practiced. Messed up. Rehearsed. And then did it live. At that point of my age and brain function, I was pretty good at memorizing and spitting things back out. To this day, I still know most of the lyrics to Michael Jackson and Men at Work songs from the ’80’s. Not that helpful in the big picture of life though. I could memorize most everything short term. But I’ve forgotten most of those things. Now at St. Paul’s, we don’t make the kids memorize the Creed anymore and recite it alone. We changed that a few years ago when during one Confirmation service, unintentionally, the whole congregation chimed in with the kids as they started saying the Creed. And I loved it. It was a perfect mistake. Instead of feeling like they were being tested or doing something on display, the kids heard the voices of “all the saints” around and behind them. They could hear the faith, the doubts, understanding and the confusion. They could feel that they were part of something bigger. They were united with a Lutheran Christian community. The Creeds of the church are not there for us just to memorize and regurgitate. They are there to remind us of a powerful, creative, redeeming and present God. They are there to connect us to a faith that we may just be starting to understand. They are there for us to know we are part of something bigger. As you read through the Creed again today, know you’re not reading it alone. You’re reading the same Creed that everyone who opened these Devo’s are reading. The same Creed churches proclaimed together last weekend and will next weekend. As you read, you’re connected to a larger community and a larger God, even if you’re on your own today. Confirm that faith today, connect to that God and community, using the words of the Apostle’s Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.. Lord, thanks for reconnecting me today. Amen. Still in One Peace, ps |
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