Some years ago Major League Baseball had a truly inspired ad campaign with the punchline being something like, "Put a baseball in the hand of a child when she is young, and baseball will grip her the rest of her life." That makes sense. A child might grope for the meaning of the rules, when she is older. She might gripe about an umpire's decision, when she is older. But if she grips tight to the seams, feels the smooth leather in her hand, when she is young ... baseball will hold her the rest of her life. I say "she" and "her" - but my instincts tell me the same dynamics would hold true for young boys.

Children don't have to understand the strategy and complexity of the game. They don't have to know the history of the game and the statistics of the greatest players, when they are young. For real fans, that will come later, when perhaps they visit Cooperstown. When they are young they need only grip the ball ... and do what comes naturally, throw it. Throw it to somebody or to nobody or just up in the air ... nevertheless, as they grip the ball and throw it, they are caught. By baseball.

For close to two thousand years, Christians have thought so much of their Savior ... that they bring their children to the waters of Baptism ... when they are young. And many churches are going back to the ancient tradition of giving children, even the very youngest, the bread and wine of Holy Communion. The motto of God's Church just might be: "Put God in the hands of children when they are young, and God will grip them forever." When our children are very young, they are watered in the Church. As the children grow, they are nourished by teachers and pastors and the whole Christian assembly as they learn about the heroes of the faith ... the statistics, if you will. Here's a for instance: "St. Paul: signed by the Pharisees right out of school. He was traded to the Christians where he finished his career in Rome. He ended up in the top three in all time saves. He is a Most Valuable Player and an authentic Hall of Famer." How true it seems to be: if you are carried into the church when you are young, you discover the church will carry you for a lifetime.

Here's one of the rah, rah songs I learned in Sunday School. "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Go Jesus." What a wonderful song ... and I learned it when I was four or five. But what a liar I was when I sang it. What a liar. You know why? The Bible hadn't told me Jesus loved me. At least not when I first sang the song. To put it another way, when I first sang the song, I knew Jesus loved me ... but not from the Bible. How did I know? My mother, sort of a living Bible, told me so ... and my father did not contradict her! My Sunday School teachers told me so. I think I might have even overheard my pastor mention something about the notion once in a while. Pastors have a way of talking about that kind of stuff.

Later on, when I learned to read, I came in contact with the Bible. And by golly, it was true! Just like my parents and my teachers and my pastor had told me, "Jesus loves me." And this too I know: at least nine sets of parents have shared this kind of stuff with at least nine children. And I commend them for it! It takes more than nine players on the field to make a team. It takes managers and coaches. It takes trainers. I remember once sharing this cartoon: a pastor is sitting in his office, lacing up a new pair of footwear. The label on the box said, "Cross Trainers." That's a good a description as any for parents and Sunday School Teachers and pastors: cross trainers. And you - the members of the community. you have been cross trainers for these nine. These youngsters were baptized about the time we began planning for a new church building - and now, in this beautiful edifice, they are going to affirm the promises made for them in baptism. When we adults are at the top of our game, we are all cross trainers.

It was the day of Pentecost, 2000 years ago. Pentecost means "fifty day," and it was exactly fifty days after Easter. The disciples are gathered together, but they don't quite what to do with themselves. Three years they spent with Jesus and yet ... when the chips are down, their grips are down. Their spirits droop from the upper room to the basement. Jesus loves them, still no doubt; but they're not quite sure what it's all about. With Jesus in their midst, everything seemed more clear ... but now, Jesus is gone, ascended into heaven, as we like to say.

But Jesus knows his followers. Those in his time ... and those in our own. Jesus recognizes that they, and we, would need something to see us through. Someone, to stir up our faith, guide our lives, empower us in our service, give us patience in suffering. Someone to bring us to everlasting life. That Someone is the Holy Spirit: the Power and the Presence of God in the lives of the people of God. Beyond learning what it means to be a Christian ... God's Holy Spirit within us gives us the courage to act the part. When the Spirit grips you, especially when the grip first occurs when you are young ... you can better get a grip on life.

The Day of Pentecost arrived in Jerusalem. In terms of the faith of Israel, Jerusalem : the Cooperstown of Judaism. In terms of the death and resurrection of Jesus, Jerusalem is Ground Hero. On that first Pentecost, a new world comes into being. The Power of Almighty God is unleashed like a powerful wind, whooshing through the streets of Jerusalem. Tongues of flame warm the heads and hearts of the disciples of Jesus. Now these are not the same disciples who followed Jesus through to the resurrection. Not the same disciples, because they have been changed - profoundly so. The power of God's Holy Spirit transformed them from cowards who cower to preachers with power.

This morning we are fielding a team of nine. Nine young theologians ready to profess their faith in public. And why not? After a lifetime of parents who have assured their children that Jesus loved them ... this they know. Of course they are ready to affirm their faith. After two years of walking with Jesus in Confirmation classes ... and after two years of having Mrs. Maulen and the pastor and the guides reassure them that Jesus loves them ... of course they are ready to say "yes" to God. Everyone involved in their lives since the day of their Baptism - parents, sponsors, Sunday School teachers, pastors, and the members of this Christian community, or one like it - all of us, and especially the Holy Spirit - have made this process a team effort.

Beyond that, we will continue to root for these nine, and continue to pray for these nine, that the grip of their God will be with them now and always - throughout the innings of their lives - until they reach safely their eternal home. And now, my young friends, it's time to put your faith into action. In other words, you who are in the grip of the Spirit: Play Ball!