While researching the sermon for today, I ran across a web site entitled, “I Used to Believe." Among its entries were these:

1. I used to believe that God was always watching me so I danced around when I brushed my teeth so God would not get bored.

2. I used to believe that God lived in the church, and the reason bad things happened was that God woke up grumpy from sleeping on the hard pews.

3. I used to believe that Communion was served during church because the service was so long that everyone needed a snack.

4. I used to believe that God's name was Howard, because we always pray, ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Howard is his name.'

We gather for Confirmation this weekend in the life of this congregation. It is a time to affirm our faith, refine our beliefs, and commit ourselves to …