Today is Pentecost: a day when we remember how God’s Spirit moves in the world, breaking through our expectations, lighting hearts on fire, and creating a new kind of community. On that first Pentecost, the Spirit empowered ordinary people; people of every age, background, and language; to speak God’s love and promise in their own voices, in ways the world had never heard before.
That same Spirit is alive here and now, in this community of faith and in these young people before us. Today we witness our students claiming the faith that has been handed down through generations; not just as something learned in faith formation or spoken by their parents and mentors, but as their own: honest, heartfelt, and faithful.
There is something holy about hearing about faith in a teenager’s voice. It is a faith-tested question, doubts, and real life; a faith that is still being shaped and reshaped by experiences, by community, by the stories of Jesus, and by the Spirit’s nudging. These excerpts you’re about to hear from each of their own personal statements of faith are not a doctrinal checklist or a perfect summary of reformed beliefs. It’s something deeper: a living profession drawn from real hopes, struggles, wonderings, and personal encounters with God.
As you listen, notice the movement of the Spirit: not just in what they say, but in who they are. This is the faith of the church, alive and growing, passed from one generation to the next. So with gratitude, awe, and joy: I invite you to listen with open hearts to our Confirmation Class of 2024–2025 as they proclaim their faith.
Kate Brion
In life and death not only do we belong to the Lord, but we also are taken care of by him. I believe the Lord trinity is 3 components of God’s love that work their way into our daily lives. God is love. The feeling you get when you hug a family member you haven’t seen in a long time, or when you are enjoying nature, that is God’s power and God’s love coursing through you. I believe in God because I have experienced him numerous times and everyone in this room has too. The connection I feel to God even though I haven’t gone to church every Sunday or the fact that I am a sinner, proves to me there is so much more to his love than just showing to others your devotion.
Chris Longyhore
I believe in God being The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe God is way more than just an entity. I believe God is a protector of Earth and its inhabitants, believers or not. We define God this way because He is so much more than just a being; He is omnipresent in people and all things. It would be foolish to call Him just The Father or just God. He is The Father, a rule maker who during biblical times was seen as the wisest person in a family; He is The Son, kind and willing to listen when needed; and He is the Holy Spirit, the driving force of people and the light that guides them. I think that the Holy Trinity are the weavers of the Christian faith.
Connor Sarnoski
I believe in the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe we define God as the Trinity because each part of the Trinity shows us a part of God. I believe the three parts stand to show that God, the creator, the savior, and the spirit is always with us. I believe in God because I think that he is always active in our world and guides me, my family, and friends through not only the good times, but he is there in times when you need him most. I believe that Jesus is the son of God, and he is the Messiah. He died on the cross for our sins and showed us that death is not the end. He rose again and now promises life beyond death. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a gift given to us from God to help us make good decisions in our life and provide us Christians with guidance.
Daniel Prosser
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the human manifestation of God and the Holy Spirit, and He came to Earth to save humanity from themselves. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, which means that He was anointed as the savior of humanity. He helped us turn away from sin and turn towards a life of goodness and wholesomeness. I believe that we must heed this example that He set. And while on Earth, Jesus taught the word of God, performed miracles, and helped the poor, sick, and elderly. He taught a message of justice, love, and forgiveness. I seriously believe that everyone should follow that pathway in life. Jesus is, in my own view, the consummate example of a good person — He is who I keep in mind while I go throughout my day and make choices.
Anna Palaia
I believe that it is the Holy Spirit who guides me in making good choices, guides me in not making poor choices, and pulls me in the direction of what I feel like I should be doing. In the movie Moana, there is a part where Moana sings a song about being called to the ocean. She can’t really explain why the pull is so strong, but she feels it and follows it. I feel like this is how the Holy Spirit works. Sometimes I don’t understand why I get such a strong feeling about something, but I do. One example is the high school church trip to Kentucky in the summer. A part of me is very nervous about leaving my mom for so long, but a bigger part of me is telling me that I should go. This is a whole new experience for me, but I just know that I am supposed to be there. I think this is the Holy Spirit guiding and pulling me.
Sophia Kim
I believe the Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us today, guiding, comforting, and strengthening us. I believe the Spirit reminds us we are never alone. I once felt the Holy Spirit working in me during a worship service — through the music, I felt completely surrounded by peace, joy, and love. In that moment, I knew God was close, and I could feel the Spirit alive in me. I believe Baptism welcomes us into God’s family, and the Lord’s Supper reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice and love.
Paige Hamilton
My GG always used to say “God loves you and so do I” to my brothers and me. She reminded me that God will always love me through the good times and the bad. That he is always there for us. My GG’s words are similar to the bible verse: Joshua 1:9 “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous: do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I believe God sent his only son to lead us and show us how to live. Jesus sets an example of what it is to be a Christian and how to treat people right. I know that the holy spirit is always around me so I don’t need to look far to feel the love of God.
Maddie Prosser
The Bible is the word of God. It’s a living guide that speaks into my life, revealing the past, who God is, and how I am called to live. The bible tells us that being a disciple of Christ means more than just believing in him, it means to follow his example, living out of the teachings into everyday life. One of my favorite bible verses is, “Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This really sits with me because it shows me that with trusting God, he will do things that we cannot.
Julia Sciarrino
I believe that the Bible is the sacred word of God. I feel that the Bible can be interpreted differently for everyone who reads it. I think this is because God has different things to say to different people. The Bible is more than a book to me, it’s a source of wisdom and comfort that speaks to people. First Presbyterian Church of Allentown has helped do so by showing me that expressing love, acceptance, and peace in the world is how to live through God. I choose to accept confirmation at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown because I feel welcomed and loved here. Every 8:45 service opens my mind to new ways of thinking and living how God wants me to live, and it always gives me new opportunities to meet new folks and catch up with old ones.
Sonia Kim
Justice means treating everyone fairly and standing up for people who are being left out or hurt, just like Jesus did. Mission is helping others with love, whether it’s in my neighborhood or somewhere far away. Evangelism means sharing the message of Jesus, not just by talking about it, but by being kind and showing love through my actions. Faith formation is how I grow in my relationship with God by praying, going to church, and learning more about the Bible. Fellowship means being part of a church community where we support each other and grow in faith together.
Sophia Treiber
I believe in God because of my grandmother and mother. A short story I have of my mother informing me of god was when we were driving somewhere and we heard sirens, and she said, “Whenever you hear sirens, always close your hands and pray to god and say, ‘I hope everyone is ok”. This will always stay with me even in my old age. The holy spirit is alive through a good cause we provide, like when my family invited a man to be with us at Easter dinner when he couldn’t be with his family.
Grace Cooper
I feel like God has blessed me a lot. Especially with the family I was blessed with, my parents and extended family. My extended family lives in Canada, so I really appreciate the short visits we get once a year. We usually visit them in the first week of August when they are at their cottage. I enjoy the dinners we have all together where we get to talk and laugh and just enjoy spending time with each other. I feel like I can feel God’s presence at the cottage with my family and it is next to the lake and if you block out everything else and listen to the waves, it feels peaceful. My relationship with God is good, but of course it could be better. I would like to join the church as a member because I think it is the next big step in growing closer to God.
Bella Lakatosh
I would like to be confirmed at First Presbyterian Church. I would like to be Confirmed because I believe that God is the one person who makes numerous decisions, and whichever one we choose to do helps figure out our outcome in life. When someone is having a hard time make sure you let them know that you can be a safe space in the places that they don’t feel safe at all, and that they can always talk to you if they need. I want to join the church, because I grew up here and everyone has practically seen me grow up. I also have a family here if I ever need a safe space to go to when I need.
Rebecca Grum
I have been going to church since I can remember, however for a while, church was just a weekly obligation I had to go to. Now, church is a safe place I enjoy going to each week. I now pay attention in service and soak up the scripture and sermon. My relationship with God gets closer each day. Through this process of confirmation I have learned so much about God, and my beliefs about God. We live in a Christian community to surround each other with people that share our faith and beliefs. By joining the church, I’m committing to being involved in church activities, continuing to learn more about the Bible and my faith, and helping with mission projects. I’m committed to being a part of this church and helping others with their faith. I will pray with others and for our church community. I will attend church regularly and I pledge to be a disciple of God and share his word.
What we have witnessed today is nothing less than Pentecost in our own time: the Spirit speaking through each of our students, weaving together many voices into one proclamation of faith. Some words were familiar; others were wonderfully new. Some stories were joyful; others honest about struggle and searching. But all of them, together, remind us that faith is not finished; it is living, growing, and always being renewed.
Confirmation is not an ending. It is the Spirit’s invitation to keep growing, to ask new questions, to share your gifts, to make mistakes, to forgive and be forgiven, and to keep showing up—both for God and for one another. Today, our students have not just professed their faith; they have reminded all of us of the beauty and power of a church that welcomes questions, honors stories, and makes room for everyone. On this Pentecost day, may we receive their words as a gift and a calling.
To our Confirmation students: thank you for sharing your faith with us and leading us in God’s Word this morning. To our confirmation mentors and parents: thank you for encouraging a faith that is real and authentic in our confirmation students. To this community: thank you for listening and for making room for faith that is honest and growing. And thank you to the Spirit who is always doing a new thing; may you continue to set this church on fire with love, hope, and joy. We are imperfect people striving to live God’s love in the way of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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