Epiphany has always been special for me. I never imagined there could be a more joyful way to celebrate Epiphany than in Reading, where we used to send out a server out after communion for fish and chips all round from the chip shop in Briants Avenue. But last night I went to confirm in
St Mary’s Aylesbury, and the experience was wonderful. Frs
Shane Wood,
Mark Ackford and colleagues organised a most glorious time — 42 candidates plus a baby, with the oldest candidate in her 90’s. The service which was set up collegially (people facing each other with me going along the lines to confirm,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6kCiTWDqAFasDwgTmVhnlv9wDPc0SnyaU23eoihY4Sa9_zrb1wOl8Wv677wKFuYmtvxiqZ8esA5HcNrSy46uRpPPYDsin2SUd9Ezzh5i_jyIExO6N0WguVNoa-pJioxI8OTkW6e1J0w/s320/Aylesbury+Confirmation+group.jpg)
and Fr Mark following to anoint). Quirky and wonderful happenings broke out all over afterwards — a Zimbabwean Mothers Union delegation resplendent in blue and white uniforms, somebody coming up and asking me to bless a pilgrim rosary from Knock...
The whole place was heaving, but with a real sense that the light that shone over the stable is now shining in and through people’s lives — pure joy, real hope.
There may be an argument for the occasional really big confirmation, gathering people into a large Church on a special occasion for a slightly over-the-top but glorious celebration, really making something of it. Last night certainly showed how this could be done.
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