When asked about the significant moments of our lives, many would say the day I was born, or the day I got married. However, there is one other moment in the lives of an Anglican where the significance of birth and marriage converge. That day is our confirmation. It is the day where were are reborn, renouncing our old life, to live as a new creation in Christ Jesus and entering a union with him, with us as his bride, and him our bridegroom in the presence of his church as witnesses of the rebirth and union.
The Church of the Epiphany had its confirmation service on the 26th of September 2021. It was such a blessing and honour to have Bishop John Chew confirm 12 candidates during our 12pm service held at Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church. Red was the colour of the altar linen for this special day to remind us about the salvation that comes from the blood of Jesus and to remember and honour the Holy Spirit, our help and comforter sent by God to empower the church to rise up as witnesses for Christ and to guide us on the path of righteousness. During the confirmation service, the church witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit over the candidates as Bishop John Chew laid his hands to pray for each candidate. We celebrated along with the candidates at that moment cheering on their decision to follow Christ and commit to his church.
The journey towards confirmation for the candidates was not a simple one. It was one that involved time, effort, and sacrifice. Confirmation classes were conducted weekly on Saturdays virtually through Zoom for several weeks leading up to the confirmation service. The time and effort that they had put into these classes were encouraging and they had responded towards God and his church in a positive manner, testifying boldly about what Christ has done in their lives. Here are some short testimonies from the candidates about their confirmation Journey.
“Taking confirmation was a new experience that I have never felt before. I experienced the presence of God so strongly and my heart was filled with joy and my mind was at peace when Bishop John Chew laid his hands on me to pray and confirm me. Taking my very first holy communion was such a significant experience for me as I learned about the reason behind why we do it during our confirmation classes and knowing the importance of it made the experience even more special for me” – Christina Kanmani
“My testimony for the confirmation is that I felt the love of God showering upon me and I was renewed. It was a different feeling, very special and I felt that my relationship with God had strengthened and my love for him had deepened, making me happier and stronger. During my first Holy Communion, I actually coughed because it was my first time and the experience was new to me. But then I realized that the holy communion was not just about eating the bread and drinking the wine but it was remembering the sacrifice Christ made for me on the cross and how good and merciful God is towards me. – Faith Rubavathi
The Church of the Epiphany congratulates the newly confirmed candidates and is committed to supporting them in their Christian walk with God. May they shine brightly and be used by God as effective witnesses for Christ, his gospel, and the Church. Amen
