[Culturechat] Confirmation, CH Style

[VCR]

  This past Sunday, we enjoyed a treat. Our first ever celebration of 
two young friends being confirmed in CH. This was not like any 
confirmation that I have ever attended. For those unsure what 
confirmation is, it is the assumption of religious responsibility in a 
church congregation. I do not know just what religions have this 
practice, but having had two close childhood buddies who were Roman 
Catholic and being an Episcopalian myself, I know that these two groups 
have confirmation classes and services.

So, today, two Greutert grandchildren were confirmed. They are 
protestant, but since there are so many invited guests of a rather large 
confirmation class, the ceremony was held at one of the local Roman 
Catholic churches. We live in a Roman Catholic Kanton, so protestants 
are in a definite minority and their church is small. This church is in 
Sarnen and is a piece of what I call Swiss Ugly architecture. Too modern 
by about 100 years to suit me, but that's just my way. I like my 
church's architecture at least as old as God. Whatever, here we were in 
the church with all sorts of other folks who in large part are 
Godparents happy to see their Godchildren become adults in the eyes of 
the church. The protestant minister and the Roman Catholic priest were 
conferring, and I am wondering what would the Pope think about all this. 
Remember, when I grew up with my RC buddies, the two ministers/priests 
didn't speak at all, and an RC who went a protestant church was in deep 
kim chee.

The service began. Lordy, Lordy, what started was a singing quartet with 
one at the keyboard, all dressed in their New York blacks and belting 
out good old Southern gospel songs (in English). Now, I really wonder if 
the Pope knows about this. Things moved on. None of this reminds me of 
when the Episcopal bishop did the "Laying on of hands" when I was 
confirmed. There were several more gospel songs, an interpretive dance 
(with tummies on cute girls showing), a reading by each of the 
confirmants ((Since each class selects a theme (this one was black and 
white), each confirmant made a statement about this subject)), the 
minister confirming each with a greeting from God and a handshake, and a 
celebration of the sacrament of Communion (served by the confirmant 
class).  I did see the RC priest peering around a corner every so often. 
Don't know if he was afraid the protestants were going to get even more 
wild, or if the Pope's police were on the way (I really have sympathy 
for the old guy). Don't take my comments about him or the term RC as 
derogatory. I admit to being a "Whiskeypagen" and having "Fish eaters" 
as my best friends. Anyway, I thought the event was ecumenical of the 
first water, and we all enjoyed it.

The gospel singers belted out the last song. If they had had some burnt 
cork on their faces, I would have been up "testifying" myself. As we 
left, we each were give a mini-cupcake by the class, and many photos 
were made by all.

What happened after, and an address for photos for those so inclined, 
will come in part two.

-- 
Vance Roy 
gigli.saw@dplanet.ch
Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.			
      ---General George Patton