Confirmation is a rite of the church wherein those who “are ready and have been duly prepared make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.“

[Book of Common Prayer p. 412].  The following prayer is usually prayed over the candidate:  Defend, O Lord, your servant N, with your heavenly grace, that he may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more, until he comes to your everlasting kingdom.  Amen.”  [BCP p. 418]

Reception is the welcome by the bishop of those who have been confirmed by a Roman Catholic bishop or received chrismation in an Orthodox baptism service.  The following words are addressed to the candidate:  “N, we recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion.  God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you.  Amen.”  [BCP p. 418]

It used to be that one was not a member of a parish until one went through either of the above rites.  Although that is no longer the case, it is still desirable and good to be confirmed or received.  Because of our troubles with the Episcopal Church it has been impossible to have the rites offered at St. Paul’s.  You are invited to attend, to witness, and to participate in the Rite of Confirmation being offered by Bishop William Murdoch of the Anglican Diocese of New England at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Westport, CT on Sunday, June 5, at 2:30 p.m.

Praise the Lord!

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark May 29th

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“If you survive life, you may well go on to become a great writer.”  Those were the words my college professor said to me in a final evaluation.  “YIKES!,” I thought. “Is my life that tenuous?, “ I asked myself?

As an eighteen year old, my subject for writing was usually the things of eternity, SO I started choosing different subjects such as those about daily living.  You could call it writing about “a slice of life”.  A slice of life also began to get more of my attention in general.  Janet and I called it “day-by-day”.  Our relationship went from dating to daily life in marriage.

What a difference it makes if you focus on one thing at a time – to dream big, but to start small.  In your relationship with Jesus Christ, it is important to know where you are going eternally, and to take one step at a time.

Richard of Chichester wrote nearly 800 years ago, “O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother:  May I know Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, and follow Thee more nearly day by day.”

Your brother in Christ,

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark - May 22nd

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One of my all-time Christian heroes is a Russian monk called St. Seraphim.  When he took holy orders, he was given the name Seraphim because of his fiery prayers – Seraph literally means “fiery one”.  In fact, the older St. Seraphim got, the more fiery his prayers became, until his face was said to glow like the face of Moses, transfigured in the presence of God.

One of Seraphim’s followers, Motovilov, described one such occurrence:  During the winter on a cloudy day, Motovilov was sitting on a stump in the woods while St. Seraphim was squatting across from him and telling his pupil the meaning of a Christian life, explaining for what we Christians live on earth.

“The entire goal of the Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. Everything good that we do, that we do for Christ, is given to us by the Holy Spirit, but prayer most of all, which is always available to us,”  he said.

“Father,“ answered Motovilov, “how can I see the grace of the Holy Spirit?  How can I know if He is with me or not?”

St. Seraphim began to give him examples from the lives of the apostles and the saints, but Motovilov still did not understand.  So the elder firmly took him by the shoulder and said to him, “We are both now, my dear fellow, in the Holy Spirit.”  Suddenly Motovilov’s eyes were opened and he saw that the face of the elder was brighter than the sun.  In his heart, Motovilov felt joy and peace, in his body a warmth as if it were summer, and a sweet fragrance began to spread around them.  Motovilov was terrified by the change, but especially by the face of the saint shining like the sun.  But St. Seraphim said to him, “”Do not fear, dear fellow.  You would not even be able to see me if you yourself were not in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.  Thank the Lord for His mercy towards us.”

My continued prayer through this fifty-day Easter season is that every one of us at St. Paul’s is increasingly aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  May we always ask for more of Him – His joy, peace, warmth, and radiant glory – as we worship the risen Christ!

Jordan

The Rev. Jordan Easley

Assistant

On the Mark - May 15th

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Last Sunday, May 1, Janet and I celebrated the 40^th anniversary of our first date.  Not many couples do that because they don’t necessarily remember the exact date.  But I remember even at the time thinking “May Day, May Day” – a term which means the ship is going down!  I said to Janet last week, “What a way to go” … and since we’ve been together for 40 years and 40 is a number in the Bible that is significant of a generation – we have a relationship of “Biblical proportions”!

Well, all that is to say I want to honor my wife, even on this day, May 8, Mothers’ Day.  Also I wish every one of our mothers at St. Paul’s a happy Mothers’ Day!  And I wish every member and guest here today a happy and blessed Mothers’ Day.

Our God is so good.  He gave us mothers who chose to keep us and to bring us into this world.  He gave us loving moms who did their best to nurture and raise us.

Today is a day of Biblical proportions:  let us join with those who keep the Scriptures,  “Her children arise and call her blessed;  her husband also, and he praises her.  Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.  Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting;   but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

[Proverbs 31:28-31]

Thank you God for our Mothers!

Christopher

The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton

Rector

On the Mark May 8th

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