Look both ways!

This month we end a celebration and begin a new life. How appropriate for our church to see ourselves at the end and at the beginning all at the same time! We are the people who remember the words of Jesus from The Revelation to John. John’s witness to Jesus constantly repeats the assertion that the Lord rules in the past, present and future. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

And so we close out our Sesquicentennial Year of celebration with a gala banquet on May 13 only to celebrate our beginning of a new life together on the next Sunday, May 18 when Bishop Wolfe will be with us.

We have had a lot of fun remembering our past with Sesquicentennial moments, with special presentations and even with a photo display of the one disaster that was a part of our life together, the flood of 1951. I chuckle when I am reminded that many of our members were here before the flood. That makes them antediluvian doesn’t it? The thing that strikes me is that our history is rich with moments that called our predecessors to decide and choose a course for the future. I am awed by the fact that so much of that decision making took great courage. The building of the first church was full of surprising developments, including the Civil War. Yet with each beginning the members showed their faith and their vision for the future as they risked the next venture of ministry. Who would have thought that the members of our church would begin a building expansion and fund drive in the middle of the Great Depression?

Once again, we are facing a new future. Here are some of the ways I see the same faith and vision exhibited among us. Our first service following our Sesquicentennial Gala will be Sunday, May 18, when Bishop Wolfe will preside at Baptism and Confirmation for a class of candidates. These will all be asked to take up a life-long discipline of life in Christ, that is, membership in the Church. Surely, that is a big step into the future. When I consider what an unknown territory that future is, I marvel at the faith we have in joining in the Baptismal Covenant. Never the less, all of us make a new beginning as we celebrate new life in that Liturgy.

And then I can’t forget that we are in the midst of attempting something that seemed almost impossible for some of us, a Capital Improvement Campaign. Frank Connizzo tells us that have commitments for around 70% of our goal. He is confident that those who have not pledged yet will join our effort. How characteristic of our parish to take on this new thing! I can’t help thinking that there is something more ahead for us as we go forward. After all, we worship the Alpha and Omega, the one who was and is and is to come.

Our Assignment
I’m asking each of you to take out your Prayer Books and look at the service of Holy Baptism. (it’s found on page 299.) Notice how we turn from our past in the renunciations on p. 302, and how hopeful we are in turning to Jesus Christ. Study The Baptismal Covenant on page 304, and come to our service on May 18 prepared to answer the questions Bishop Wolfe will put to us. Let’s begin this spiritual journey into the future together.

Opportunities for Evangelism as we turn from Past to Future
Be prepared to begin a process of discernment as we set a course into our future. We need to be reminded of the Good News as we go forward.

Please Note: There will be only one service on Sunday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a Pot Luck Luncheon.

Remember there is no Evangelism ministry other than ours.

Fr. Tom Miles