The “2021 Statements of Faith Sermon” was professed at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on June 6, 2021 by twelve confirmation students using excerpts from their own individually written faith statements. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 32:44.
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Rev. Taylor Hall
This past year we had twelve of our ninth graders enroll in the confirmation program. They came together to learn more about the Presbyterian tradition and build a confidence in their own beliefs. We did this program virtually for nearly the entire year. It was also a time for our youth to discern whether they want to join the Presbyterian Church as full adult members. The twelve students before you have made the faithful request to join the church! And we get to celebrate it as we as a community return to the sanctuary for the first time in over a year.
Today we get the joy of seeing the Spirit at work as we hear our young people profess their faith before us. As part of confirmation, each of our ninth graders had to write a statement of faith. Through excerpts from each of their statements, you are about to hear one collaborative, cohesive, confirmation profession of faith.
As they profess their faith before you today, listen to the Word of God through their voices and their beliefs. Hearing them state what they believe about who God is and what God has done for us is the highest form of thanks and praise. And that is what Psalm 138 is telling us to do: to give God our thanks and praise!
The Lord will fulfill God’s purpose in each of us. The love of the Lord endures forever. Listen for the work of Christ’s hands in our confirmation students this day. Let us praise the Lord!
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Ella
I believe that confirmation is an important part in my life that I will remember forever. I feel that I am ready to take this next step in my faith journey. Confirmation class has allowed me to open up my faith and really think deep into my relationship with God.
I believe in God and that God is the trinity. I believe in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. God presents himself in many ways through the Holy Trinity. I believe that Jesus is the son of God who lived to spread God's word and died by sacrificing himself for our sins. Jesus is the “Christ, the Messiah.”. I believe that this means that Jesus is the leader or savior of the people. Jesus sets an example for us on how we are supposed to live by following God's word. The Holy Spirit is a reminder to us that God is always with us. I believe that the Holy Spirit guides us to God when we start to stray away from him and his word.
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Tommy
God is one God in three - the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe each of this trinity represents a different aspect of God. First, I believe the Father represents the perfect all-powerful being, the lord of heaven, the one we think of when we hear “God”.
I believe in God. God is omnipotent, all powerful. God is omniscient, all knowing. God is omnipresent, always with us. God is within all of us, guiding our lives and our universe. I also believe in reason. I believe that God guides us to and through wisdom and God wants us to learn for ourselves and from our mistakes.
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Maddie
Jesus was the son of God who spread God’s word to us all and helped form Christianity. We call Jesus “Christ, the Messiah” because he was our spiritual leader and savior. Calling him Christ signifies that he is connected to God. He was the savior of mankind. Jesus lived as a preacher of the word of God. He found 12 apostles and they all traveled across the country to spread God’s word. He lived trying to understand his role and gift in life. He was there as a guide and teacher for everyone. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. Resurrection can be described as rising from the dead. To us, Jesus was resurrected when he rose from the dead. When we die, we go to heaven. The easter story gives us hope that in the future people will still have faith in God and in Jesus Christ.
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Mandy
I believe that the Holy Spirit is here to guide us through life and create a plan for our lives. The Holy Spirit is alive in our world today because of the constant guiding through life that the Holy Spirit continues to show. I have felt the Holy Spirit throughout many times in my life. I can feel the Holy Spirit's presence most when I am praying or during confusing times in my life. The Holy Spirit guides me through my entire life and I believe that the Holy Spirit knows me well and is able to give me power, truth, and strength, in times of need.
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Brett
I believe that the Bible is the word of God and it teaches us as Christians to be kind, loving, and caring. My favorite bible passage is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”. I think it emphasizes the importance of trusting God’s love over our own thoughts. I believe that mission and outreach is a way of spreading the word of God while also giving in a robust and literal fashion. It is a meaningful way of honoring God’s teachings to love thy neighbor. We can love our neighbor by being kind and caring, and by respecting their beliefs.
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Lucas
The Bible to me is a book full of knowledge and teachings that can be used in our present day. These lessons show me how to be a true Cristian. If I am ever troubled about something, the Bible has the answer. The thing that I enjoy the most about the Bible is how it’s teaching can still be taught 2,000 years later. The Bible will always be special, it is the light in the darkness for me.
As I look to the future, I believe that God will guide me down the right path, through both hardships and times of great happiness. When I struggle, I believe that God has a plan for me. When I am happy, I will pause and give thanks to God for all the blessings he has provided me. Proverbs Chapter 3, verses 5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
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Josh
A sin is an act or behavior that is considered to be breaking what God and Jesus believe to good for all people or to go against God’s expectations. I believe some people sin because they don’t think it will affect others and sometimes they don’t think it through all the way. Some people may not have been taught right from wrong in their lives and don’t know any better. I believe there is evil in the world because some people have mental problems and don’t get the help they need. And also that some people don’t think about others and how their actions may affect others. I often ask myself what God is doing about evil and how God could have been present in times when mass shootings happen or people dying during the pandemic. I struggle with this question and not sure anyone knows the answer to that. I believe that there are more good people than bad in the world. My mom always tells me to look for the people helping others in the bad situations. There are always those good people out there willing to help.
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Olivia
The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. I believe mission and outreach are important for us to do, so we can share with our neighbors. Mission and outreach are when we go out into our community and share our faith with each other. I believe you can show love to your neighbors by giving back and helping one another. I have shown love to my neighbors when I have helped with various mission mornings as well as volunteering for VBS. We live in a Christian community so we can share our faith, pray together, and support one another.
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Ashley
Mission and outreach are opportunities to go into the world and support fellowship with and be examples of God. I can help people in my daily life and provide support and love in every opportunity available to me. We should love our neighbors because you never truly know what someone is going through and it is God’s work to be kind to one another. We live in a Christian community to unite with each other and celebrate Him. When I join, I will be committing to the unification of love and God within the church. I like being a part of a church because it makes me feel like I belong somewhere. It gives me a sanctuary to go to no matter what.
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Nash
The Church's mission is to carry out and continue the work of Jesus Christ on Earth. Community outreach is an essential part of a church's mission to be “salt and light” to those around them. Love other people more than yourself. By doing kind things in the world like saying nice things to people and doing favors for people.
Christian communities are important for our happiness and growth. Worshipping, going on missions and doing other church events.
The two Sacraments are Christian rites recognized as of particular importance and significance. Baptism is a symbol of being cleared of your sins, dying, and rising with Christ. Remembering Christ and he went over his promises with his people. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His body and blood for us when we take the Lord’s Supper.
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Sam
I believe that my relationship with God is similar to my relationship with my family. I love God with all my heart. I believe that prayer is when you take a moment to talk to God about things you are going through. This is when I can talk and I know He is listening. My faith journey is far from over but I will continue to pray and learn.
I believe that our spirit goes to live with God when we die. The Easter story gives us hope because it is proof that when Jesus died, his soul went to heaven with God, and all of his pain was gone.
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Victoria
I feel like my relationship with God is a friendship. He is someone I can always count on. You should always be able to turn to your friends just like we turn to God. Real friends are there for you in good moments and bad moments and God is always there for me no matter what is happening in my life. God will not leave me just like a true friend should not leave you.
The Bible gives us much advice on how to live our lives as humans in God’s world. The Bible tells us to live a simple life and do good to all. We should forgive each other and ourselves, just like God and Jesus forgave us and continue to forgive us when we make mistakes.
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Ella
I want to be confirmed because I want to continue growing in my faith and learn more about the Presbyterian church. I do not believe that confirmation is the end of my faith journey but in fact is a step in the right direction to growing in my faith.
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Tommy
I believe that I am still in the first steps of my journey of faith. I do not fully understand God, nor does anyone, but I want to be confirmed into this joyful community of Christianity under God so I can better strengthen my community and better serve God.
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Maddie
I want to be confirmed because I want to continue learning about my faith and continue on my faith journey so that I can continue to develop my Christian values and continue to be a part of a church who’s beliefs, purpose, and values are similar to mine. I believe in family and not only my immediate family but also the family that I have at church and I will continue to support them as they support me.
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Mandy
Being confirmed is a way for me to grow closer to God and build a stronger relationship with him and my own faith journey. I have always wanted to be confirmed and be able to begin the journey of my faith in a more educated way. The rite of this passage is showing to me how I still have a lot to learn about God and our congregation/church family. I want to be a member of this church because of how much I would like to grow in my faith journey and grow closer to God. I will continue to go to worship, participate in the youth group, youth choir, and go on our many mission trips to actively worship God, grow in my faith, and spread God's word throughout many different communities.
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Brett
I believe that confirmation is the next natural step in my faith journey and it fits my path. Confirmation is meaningful to me because I feel it strengthens my connection with God and my faith community. We can be generous members of the church by contributing our love to the faith community.
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Lucas
I believe I am ready to be confirmed. I am committed to living life as a child of God, and demonstrating his love through my actions. If a get confirmed I wish to go out into the world and help people through the works of god. I am ready to become a member of this church and use the gifts the Lord has given me to help others.
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Josh
I believe that I want to be confirmed because it will make me a member of the church. This rite of passage to means continuing my faith journey as member of FPCA.
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Olivia
Yes, I want to be confirmed. I want to be confirmed so I can be a part of the church and continue my faith journey. It’s important to me to become a member of the church I grew up in. I’m not exactly sure at this point what I want to be involved with, but I hope to figure something out.
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Ashley
I want to be confirmed so that I can finally be a full-time member of the church and fully devote to my religion. I want to be a member because I want to fully commit to the love and happiness that comes with the Christian community. I will continue to spread the word of God through every chance I get.
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Nash
Yes I want to be confirmed. I want to be confirmed because I agree with the church and I want to do more things surrounding God.
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Sam
I do want to be confirmed because I want to share God’s word and give my time to others. I know that this means I have more responsibilities as a member of the church. I will come to youth group, do mission projects, sing in the choir, and come to church with my family on Sunday morning.
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Victoria
I want to be confirmed. I think that getting confirmed is confirming my baptism and my promise to God and staying loyal to this church. I think it is very special that I was baptized at First Presbyterian Church and now I am able to become a confirmed member of this church fifteen years later.
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Rev. Taylor Hall
Thanks be to God! Amen.
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