Milestones are an important part of life. Birthdays, anniversaries, and the like, give us the chance to acknowledge people and relationships, to say and express things we might feel but never often express. Milestones are memory markers in our minds, of things achieved, of times shared, of our inter-connected journey of life.
Corporate celebrations are also significant. I remember the celebrations of the bi-centenary of European settlement in Australia – in 1988. This was a significant milestone, yet also highlighted the issues relating to indigenous Australians.
As a church we are very much into corporate celebrations – every week we celebrate the risen Christ who energises us and brings hope in our secularised world. We have special celebrations like Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. The Bible speaks frequently of feasts and celebrations.
This year is a special milestone for St Luke’s – 50 years since St Luke’s became a church. 50 years of shared history through which the lives of so many have been impacted by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Is it worth celebrating? Absolutely! It is not about saying how great we are; it is really about saying how great God is – His love and faithfulness, His working in our midst through the highs and lows, and advances and the struggles of 50 years.
Those years have seen revolutionary change in life and lifestyle, and attitudes to church, but here we are. God is with us. God is faithful. We are a growing church, opening ourselves to new people, friendships, opportunities and ministries. We honour our past at the same time as we are evolving into who we need to be for the future. God has a plan and purpose for the next 50 years, and for however long we as individuals will be part of it.
Come to the dinner if you can. Yes, there’s a cost, but it’s a special dinner (bookings close May 22)! It’s a one off. Come to the All Church Celebration on the Sunday. Yes, it will be different to usual and hopefully we’ll be overcrowded, but let’s do it anyway.
Let’s encourage one another to be God’s people in the years ahead. Let’s affirm that as human beings we are walking this journey in life together, broken vessels in the hands of a mighty God. Let’s commit ourselves to being and to building a church that will pass on Christ-honouring faith to succeeding generations. It’s not about me. It’s not about us. It’s about God’s work in and through us.
Let’s celebrate this milestone together!
Building communities of grace and hope, in Jesus Christ