Parents
Once you were infants dependent upon our love and the wisdom of others.
Youth
Now we are young persons entering an adult world with increasing responsibilities for our own decision making.
Parents
Once you belonged to an environment of faith and values outside your ability to alter or reject.
Youth
Now our world has many systems and values for us to take into account.
Parents
Once you had few choices.
Youth
Now our choices are many, sometimes frightening and always with long range consequences.
Parents
Now, as much as ever, we give you our affection and concern.
Pledge by parents
We stood by you in the past and we stand with you now. We offer you our continuing love.
Mentor
(Parents sit down and the mentors come up.)
Offers remarks signifying participants study and understanding of our faith, and readiness to be affirmed.
Minister
We celebrate with you your conscious choice to share fully in the ongoing life of our faith. Your study with your mentors has helped you grow as a person. By that study you have gained an informed understanding of our faith and have more clearly focused on your identity as a Unitarian Universalist. Now I ask you: Do you wish to be affirmed in the Unitarian Universalist faith?
Participant
I do.
Minister
Do you promise, as our faith instructs, to seek the truth in fi-eedorn, to show love and justice, to grow in your faith, and to witness to the needed work of the world.
Participant
I do
Minister
Do you accept participation in the life of our congregation.
Participant
I do
Minister
May you find strength for years to come in your resolve. Let us join together in an Affirmation of Faith: Love is the doctrine of this church, the quest of truth is its sacrament, and service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, to serve humanity in fellowship, to the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the Divine Thus do we convenant with each other and with God.