It’s Anniversary TimeJanuary 17 marks our fourth anniversary as Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church! Our organizational service seems both far away and near in my perspective. Far, because we have accomplished a great many important things since then. Near, because it seems only yesterday.
This time last year we had just decided to engage Jim Wilson Architects; of course, we had not then seen the first rendering of what our building expansion would look like. Also, we were still exploring whether to use a capital fund raising consultant. Now, the architect is nearing completion of the drafting phase of his work. And we have had a successful capital campaign under the guidance of Gerald Farley with The Genesis Group.
Looking forward, 2003 will be our year of construction. By our fifth anniversary we anticipate being in our expanded and renovated church home. But this must be more than the year of construction. In the months ahead we must explore and implement new ways of doing ministry, with greater emphasis upon sharing ourselves with our neighbors and reaching out to the community. After all, Jesus Christ never called us merely to enjoy each other’s company or spacious new facilities. He told us, “Go…and Make Disciples.”
If the last year has been challenging and rewarding, the months ahead promise to be more so. Our focus must change from building-even while we are building-to strengthening and expanding ministries.
Now this personal reflection on what our togetherness means to me. (I am borrowing the image from a pastor in another state whose congregation has just joined with another in a union like ours; they are where we were four years ago). One of this year’s “sleeper” movies is Italian for Beginners. In it, two women have lived in the same town for years without knowing they are sisters. One has cared for their aging mother; the other sister, for their father. They discover their relationship. When the mother dies, she leaves her caretaker daughter a considerable inheritance, who shares it with her sister. The recipient sister is surprised and asks, “What do you gain from this?” The first sister answers, “I gained you.” That’s the way I feel about our union. In it we have gained each other. And we have gained the opportunity for new and exciting ministries in the name of Jesus Christ.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, you remarkable people with a remarkable future!
-- Robert E Shelton