Celebrating the Past

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  Psalm 90:1-2
 
Change can be difficult, especially in a church.  After all, in order for Peace to be where we are today, great things had to happen in the past.  And it seems as if we are ignoring the great things of the past as we move forward with changes to address the future.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Our past is still very important to us.  It made us who we are today.  We celebrate our beginnings over 55 years ago, the move to our first sanctuary (now our fellowship hall), and then to the current sanctuary back in the 80’s. 

We celebrate the hundreds of people baptized, students who confirmed their faith, couples who were united as one before our altar, and lives remembered at their funerals.  We celebrate all those who grew in their relationship with their Savior through the Word proclaimed and Lord’s Supper received. 

We celebrate the pastors and staff we’ve had who have led us spiritually over these years.  We celebrate the mission emphasis of our congregation in the past, growing in numbers and planting a congregation.

We celebrate our music, from the traditional choir, to bells and brass, to the contemporary groups, and to the youth and children’s teams who have enriched our worship life.

We celebrate a willingness to look forward, stepping out in faith with multiple building projects, a new style of worship music in the 90’s, an emphasis on children and youth with the calling of DCEs, and the initiation of a plan of cooperation with Immanuel to solidify the funding of the school. 

Most of all, we celebrate a faithful God, who has blessed us beyond measure in ways we cannot begin to comprehend.
No, we will not forget the past.  Nor will we make it our idol.  We will build on the past as we move forward into the unknown of the future.

I am excited, yet at the same time, apprehensive about the future.  There are so many more uncertainties in today’s age than in the past.  However, the same God who has guided Peace in the past is the same God who is guiding us into the future. 

May God continue to guide us, reveal to us His will, and bless us as we make disciples who make an impact for Jesus!

In His Peace,

​Pastor Cory