Confirmed and sent out: Fostering encounters with God

The confirmation class was learning about liturgy by dribbling basketballs in the sanctuary. I asked the kids, “Who can show us your free-throw routine?” Several hands shot up.

Darcy came up and enacted a free throw, complete with her usual set up: she put her right toe to an imaginary line, dribbled three times, bent her knees, and shot. Throwing the ball back to her, I asked her to do it again and noted that she went through the same procedure. I asked, “Darcy, how’d you do that the same way the second time?”

“Practice,” she said.

• The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace.
• God, bless you with hope during disappointment, peace during turbulence, and friendship through it all.
• May Christ, who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future, bless you and fill you with new life.
• The God of all grace bless you now and forever.