It’s an Anniversary

Amazing Grace is having an anniversary, celebrating our founding which occurred 25 years ago. Twenty-five years! Twenty-five years of proclaiming Christ’s life-changing grace. Twenty-five years of Easter, Christmas, VBS, Sunday School, confirmation, Council meetings, youth activities, Bible Studies and other gatherings of two or more in Christ’s name where He was present also. That’s 1,300 Sunday sermons and celebrations of Holy Communion. Twenty-five years of helping others in Christ’s name. It all adds up to a whole lot of grace! Happy Birthday, Amazing Grace, this is a great thing to celebrate.

Celebrate we will on Sunday, February 13^th at the 8:30am and 11:00am worship services. Our service will feature a festival choir, special music, and special guest preacher Julian Gordy, Bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA. In true Lutheran fashion, there will be a potluck dinner following the 11:00am service in our Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome: those who were a part of the church in the past, those who attend now, and those who are just discovering what’s so amazing about Amazing Grace.

Our church’s charter from 1986 hangs on a wall in our coffee area. It reads “Officially Organized on February 9^th, 1986”. Underneath there are 100 signatures, our charter members. The array of signatures include young and old, big families and lone individuals. Many of those who signed our charter have moved on. Some have died. Others are still a part of our vital ministry. What is important about the charter is that the culture that was established under the founding pastor and this group continues today. Many lives have been touched by this ministry over the years. There have been hard times as well as times of immense blessing. Christ’s grace remains the defining characteristic of this community throughout.

I once attended a 100^th anniversary of a congregation and I wondered what the founding members would have to say about their church if they could speak at the centennial celebration. Then, five years ago I attended the 20^th Anniversary of Amazing Grace and heard founding members share some memories. After a few people spoke, one woman stood up and reminded us that starting a church involved a lot of hard work! Suddenly the nostalgia we were feeling was overcome by the reality of all the sacrifices that were made to make this church a reality. An anniversary isn’t just a celebration, it’s an occasion for gratitude.

Paul writes in Philippians I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:3-6). I extend Paul’s words to all of you have been a part of Amazing Grace’s ministry. I thank God for everyone who shared in the gospel from the first day 25 years ago until now.

Christ has begun a great work in us. As we look back on the past 25 years, we also look forward to what Jesus has in store for us in the future: more grace, new people, new occasions to rejoice.

I’m looking forward to the anniversary and hope to see friends, old and new. I hope you can join us.