There has been so much planning...so much anticipation, excitement, and preparation for Gray Memorial's 50th Anniversary celebration. Well, it is finally here! With all of this build up, it will not only be a relief to see it all play out and participate in such a noteworthy occasion. It will also be a blessing. It will also be something many will remember for years to come.
This Sunday, we will fellowship together, remember and celebrate Gray Memorial's 50 years of ministry, and give glory to God who is faithful to God's people here. Part of what I anticipate will make this day special is the people who will show up. Folks that have been part of the story of the ministry in and through this church will gather to celebrate what God has done. Memories will be drawn up by the mere sight of some individuals. Stories will be shared, and God will be honored by it all.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11 is also a testament to this church's ministry: Christ is the foundation of what we do. This has not been, is not, and will not be simply a place where people gather for their own sake. We do so in Christ, for the sake of Christ's mission in the world and for us: to know and show God's love, and be made new. Christ is the foundation, Christ gives us our purpose for being here, and is reason we exist. Without a good foundation, any structure will ultimate fail, it will only stand for some limited amount of time. So it is good that our foundation is Christ, for the mission and purpose of this church coincides with Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-3 names those people who surround us as a "cloud of witnesses." Those gathered here on Sunday all have witnessed something about God in and through Gray Memorial. We can testify to God's activity through our ministry. There is no greater thing to witness than the ministry of God; that's the best kind of witness you can be.
And Ephesians 3: 16-20 names the mystery of how this ministry can actually happen in and through a community of imperfect people: because God can do more than we can ever imagine. We are witnesses to this! 50 years of ministry is no accident! God is doing the work. What a blessing it has been to many to be involved in God's ministry through this community of faith!
These are the reasons we celebrate. These are the reasons Gray Memorial can look back on 50 years of ministry and glorify God through all the ups and downs and everything in between. God has been faithful to us, praise God!
So come...celebrate, reminisce, fellowship, remember, honor, worship, and praise the God who is with us in every step of the way.
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