Come, take my hand . . .

‘Come, take my hand and be my friend:

your health and hope I’ll gladly mend;

your worth, though hidden, I’ll reveal,

your brokenness I’ll touch and heal.

And if you will go where I will go,

on pathways smooth and troublesome,

and if you will love as I will love,

you’ll see on earth the Kingdom come.’

©1988 Wild Goose Worship Group, The Iona Community, Glasgow.

This week the Discipleship Group of Kokanee Parish, including members from Kaslo, Balfour and Nelson, met one last time before the upcoming celebrations at the Feast of Pentecost on June 8. It has been a momentous journey for me: with eleven others I have listened and learned, shared and explored so much about the journey of faith.

In the coming weeks members of the parish will be discerning their journey of Baptism, Confirmation, or Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. Each of us will be praying, looking deep within ourselves, and exploring how the Holy One continues to reveal love, transforming us and the world in dynamic ways.

Along this journey, each candidate for baptism, confirmation and reaffirmation is invited to seek a sponsor, either from the parish or from the wider church. A sponsor is someone who is baptized, who promises to be a mentor and companion for an individual in their journey of faith. Sponsors pray regularly for the candidates and serve as a sounding board, a listening ear, and a friend in the faith community.

In former times, sponsors were Godparents, family members, or special persons known for their holiness and their willingness to walk with candidates, not only during the ceremony, but thereafter, throughout their lives.

I wonder, as congregation members and as persons of faith, would you be willing to act as a sponsor for one of our candidates? Would you be willing to take them by the hand and journey for a time with them? Would you be willing to support them in prayer with your presence, and assist them with any questions and reflections they might have?

This week, and every week between now and the Feast of Pentecost I invite you to pray for our Bishop, Lynne McNaughton, for Canon Andrew Stephens-Rennie our Discipleship Programme Leader, and for the following candidates who will come forward at the Pentecost service:

For Baptism:

Hazel Mousley, Nelson

For Confirmation:

Jamie Haydon-Devlin, Nelson

Liam Patience, Kaslo

Annie Scharbach, Nelson

Margaret Whalley, Balfour

For Reaffirmation:

Mandy Bath, Kaslo

David Burrows, Nelson

Gillian Gilmore, Nelson

Cibylla Rakestraw, Balfour

Our candidates may be wondering who to ask to be their sponsor. If they approach you, please listen and consider how you might support them in their journey of faith with us here in Kokanee Parish. I ask you all to uphold these persons and their families in your prayers.

As Christ takes our hand and invites us into healing and discovery, into ministry and meaning, may we take the hand of those who are discovering or rediscovering their faith. Let us celebrate the gifts of God in this place and time, and be thankful for this outward expression of love, of life and of ministry here in the Kootenays.

Blessings always,

David

The Rev’d David Burrows is the Incumbent Priest of the Anglican Parish of Kokanee, encompassing Nelson, Kaslo, and the North Shore. This writing is a part of his weekly blog ‘Mountain Reflections'