May is always an exciting time as winter falls away and spring breaks forth abundantly. It is always such a time of new beginnings as our routines change, youth graduate, people get married and start new lives together. In the life of our church May is exciting as we continue to do new things. Our Visioning process is continuing with a gathering on May 16^th, our children will bless us by leading worship on May 2^nd, and we will be celebrating the new ways the Holy Spirit is working within us on Pentecost May 30^th. We have so much to celebrate!

One event that will be happening which is always amazing to me is Confirmation Sunday. Several ninth graders will lead worship and commit themselves to living the way of Christ. The same questions that were answered by their parents in their baptism (and in our baptisms) are the questions they will be answering for themselves. This is what our Confirmands are covenanting to live out:

 I renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of my sin.

 I accept the freedom and power God gives me to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.

 I confess Jesus Christ as my Savior, put my whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as my Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races.

 As a member of this congregation, I will faithfully participate in the ministries of Eden Prairie United Methodist Church with my prayers, my presence, my gifts, and my service.

These four promises are amazing! Like the vows taken in marriage, they seal us together with our God. They will not be easy to live into. In fact, we’ve talked about how hard it is sometimes to even want to live into them! These are not easy promises, and yet we know that God’s grace is abundant and that God is working through these youth in amazing ways. At their baptism, we told these youth that they are “inseparably bound” to us through Christ. As they confirm this tie to us and to God, we need to ask ourselves, “How are we living up to our end of the covenant? How are we living out our faith as partners with them in this journey? Where have we seen God’s grace in our lives?” As you watch spring come to life, may it remind you of the new things God continues to do in us, and may we all confirm our faith with these young people.

Pastor Leah Rosso

§ Janet Palmer

§ Linda Weegmann

§ Sherry Harms

§ Pat Spading