Pastor’s Corner (08/29/19)

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.                  

Ephesians 2:19-22

As a congregation we have a singular honor, we will be welcoming and hosting the General Minister and President of our denomination on September 8. As General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens travels extensively around the country and throughout the world. She has already been in Nebraska a couple of times, but this will be her first trip to Lincoln. Some of us have had the privilege of meeting her at events in our Region. A few of us have also been able to hear her preach at the last two General Assemblies. Trust me, she is an outstanding preacher and you’ll want to hear her. It is a remarkable privilege for a congregation to welcome her. She is coming to help us celebrate our 150th anniversary. She will be preaching and participating in worship as well as attending our catered lunch afterwards. Many people have worked diligently and faithfully to make our anniversary celebrations fun and spiritually uplifting. I hope you’ll join in on the celebration and attend worship that day! Be sure to bring your family and friends along, too. Our Regional Minister, Rev. Chris Morton, will also be joining us on this momentous occasion. This will be a rare opportunity to experience all three expressions of the Church; the congregation, the Region and the General Church.

As we mark our 150th anniversary, we’ll spend some time celebrating our past and embracing our future. The day before, on Saturday September 7, we’ll celebrate our past as a part of our potluck at Wyuka. After food and fellowship, we’ll visit the graves of six people instrumental in our past. They represent all those who laid the foundation for this congregation and other institutions in our city and state. With Christ as the cornerstone, they built a House of God. Literally, they laid the foundations for what we have today. Spiritually, they laid the foundations for this community of faith. It’s important to share in this celebration, but it also prepares us to move forward into the future. Our past has grounded us well, but the foundation does not exist for itself alone. A solid foundation provides the basis for what is built upon it. As a congregation, we are reminded by Paul’s words to the Ephesians that our foundation is Christ. Together with all those who came before, we are part of a Holy Temple, a House of God. Our church building is a literal expression of a spiritual reality; we are all part of the household of God. Our founders did not bring us together as a congregation for ourselves only. They had a vision which we are continually invited to embrace, nurture and grow.

Come join us the 7th and 8th of September as we celebrate our past and truly embrace our future. Join us as we lay the foundation for the next 150 years!