Sunday was a good day. A continuation of Easter celebration in the ongoing life of this congregation. Sunday saw three young people, Patrick Bond, Chandler Davenport, and Christian Orso, make their commitments to the church. Patrick confirming the baptismal vows made for him at his baptism and making his own profession of faith while Chandler and Christian were reaffirming their professions of faith and their loyalties to this congregation. In a couple of weeks the fourth member of our 2005 confirmation class, Joseph Gillis, will be making his decisions about owning his baptism and uniting with this congregation.

Later Sunday afternoon, Paul Barnes and I, accompanied ten of our elementary youth to an afternoon retreat at the Gurley CP Church. There were several other children from the churches of Robert Donnell presbytery there and the afternoon was full of games, conversation, and fellowship. Our children had a wonderful time as they met other children and began to form relationships that will be revisited many times over the coming years at church camps, conferences, and retreats.

As I drove home from Gurley Sunday, I reflected on the day's events. I remembered how last year about this time we witnessed the confirmation and reaffirmation of seven young people in our congregation. It's been a real treat to watch them continue to be involved in the ministry of the church ? to continue to grow and learn and experience life inside a community of faith.

Our children and youth are important to us here at First Presbyterian. They always have been. They are involved in every aspect of ministry. They worship freely and openly with us. They sing in the choir. They play handbells. They attend Sunday School and Bible studies. They serve as acolytes. They take up the offering. They assist with baptisms and serve at the Lord's Table. They make PCF and PYF joyful, wonderful experiences. They share their ideas and their thoughts at Children's Time during worship.

Take a look around this coming Sunday and just notice how often our children and youth are visible, active, and essential in our worship. Realize that in just the past twelve months this congregation has seen eleven youth make their commitments to work in this congregation and serve God's kingdom. Think about the ones who have, previous to the last two confirmation classes, already made those commitments. See how many are yet to discover their place and grow into their discipleship. We are in participation with God to recreate the world ? to make the world more representative of God's kingdom. We begin here. With our children and youth. And with ourselves. We must commit our time, our resources, and our energy to this participation. It is, without question, the most important work any of us will ever do.

Grace and peace