Friends,

I am going to be out of town this Sunday! Ross Kane, a professor at Virginia Theological Seminary and all-around great guy is going to be covering for me. Kate Weber-Petrova (organist) and Sue Bentley (parish administrator) are also out of town. It appears that the three of us know enough to know that it’s good to take a break before we get into Lent at St. Luke’s. It is going to be a busy time. I hope you read my little blurb about Burger Nights, and why you should make getting to know your neighbor one of your Lenten disciplines. Before we get into the great craziness of the season, I want to emphasize the significance of the Bishop’s visit at the Easter Vigil on April 4th at 7:00 pm.

It is incredibly rare to have a Bishop visit at the Easter Vigil and somehow, we have the great fortune of having a Bishop visit every year on this very sacred night. Not only will we be celebrating Easter and the miraculous saving works of Jesus, but we will also be welcoming in new members to the Church and having a party afterwards!

First and foremost, know that your participation at St. Luke’s is our priority. If you do not want to seek membership, know that we value your ministry and presence with us without condition. However, if you do want to seek membership, here are some things that you can seek from the Bishop when she visits on April 4th:

1. Baptism: We are all bound together by our common baptism, and being baptized at the Easter Vigil is a particularly special thing. Fun fact: priests can baptize, but when a Bishop baptized an adult who is prepared, they are also confirmed! This is specifically for those who have not been baptized before.

2. Confirmation: Only the Bishop can do confirmations, which dates to the early Church when Bishops would delegate priests to baptize infants, and they would come around pray for the Holy Spirit on those who have already been baptized on a rotation. This is specifically for those who have been baptized but not confirmed.

3. Reception: This is what I did when I joined an Episcopal Church when I was 16! I was confirmed in the Catholic Church, and then my family promptly stopped going. After we found the Episcopal Church and I got into it, and I asked what I need to do to join us. The priest shrugged and just signed me up to be received by the Bishop when he came around. This is specifically for those who have been confirmed in Churches that have Bishops and apostolic succession, which typically means the Roman Catholic Church and most Lutheran Churches.

4. Reaffirmation: Ok, let’s say you got confirmed a while ago and you wanted to touch up on your Episco-facts, so you go through the class with everyone else, you feel the spirit move you and you want to reaffirm your confirmation. This is the one for you. The Bishop will be reaffirming the good work the Holy Spirit has already done on you.

Frequently asked questions about this process:

· Q: Doesn’t the Episcopal Church have special agreements with other Churches, so I can just transfer in?

A: Yes, and I am so glad you asked! The agreement you are referring to is called being in full communion with another Church. This applies if you grew up Moravian, Evangelical Lutheran, and probably Church of India, and a few others. If you think this applies to you, come talk to me.

· Q: I want the Bishop to do one of the things listed above. What do I need to do?

A: We will be offering classes on Wednesday and Sundays throughout Lent. The first Sunday (Feb 22) is just an informational session, where you can ask any questions you may have about being confirmed. The main class will be taught on Wednesday as the adult program for our Lenten Dinners from 6:00 to 7:15 in the library. This will be taught by Ross Kane. Kyle (the seminarian) and I will offer a makeup session each Sunday at 9:00 am in the library. Go to most of these in good faith, or do your own independent work with me, and you’ll be good to go on April 4th.

· Q: Will there be a test?

A: No. The purpose of the class is to make sure you feel equipped to make an informed decision. If you say that you feel ready and you made a faithful effort, we will believe you.

· Q: I just want my baby to be baptized. Do they have to go through all that stuff?

A: No. We do baptisms pretty much any Sunday except during lent. Just let me know you want your baby to be baptized, and we’ll do it with a bit of instruction the day of. The Easter Vigil goes late, and Bishops aren’t always great with babies. You know who is great with babies? This guy! (I’m pointing at myself). Consider having your baby baptized on Easter Day. That way it will be earlier, your priest will get to do it, and there will be eggs afterwards.

More than anything, I hope you consider going to these classes. When Ross taught these classes two years ago the best part of watching people make connections with those they were sitting next to. Even if you go just to learn something and socialize, I hope you give it a shot. The Holy Spirit does not always dwell in the bureaucracy of the Church, but I have yet to go to a confirmation service and not feel that divine presence.

Blessings,

Nick