As we gathered up the reports for our annual meeting last week it occurred to me that congregations too often fail to stop to celebrate our achievements. I think it’s something to do with our Calvinist heritage. No matter how much we have done, we know we could likely do more. And no matter how much we’ve done, we know there is always more to do. There’s a kind of false humility that causes us to not want to “pat ourselves on the back”, but also an actual humility in the face of just how much more there is to be done. 

But remember this, after Jesus fed the 5,000 he and the disciples didn’t sit around sad because there were still a million more going hungry! No! he went on to tell stories about celebrating the one lost sheep that is found, the one lost coin that has been misplaced, the one lost son that is returned to the fold! Stories about taking a break from striving after the end goal long enough to enjoy the magic moments along the journey. In fact, it may just be that the journey is really the destination!

If you take the time to read through the annual report you will see it is absolutely filled with good news. The entire year has been a kind of “waking up” process after a long period of grief over the loss of what you once were and who you once were and a realization that God isn’t finished with you just yet. Yes, we’ve spent time thinking about the “good ole days”, and you’ve even re-instituted a couple of things you used to do that have fallen by the wayside. And yes, there is a PNC at work to find the next minister whom God will choose to journey with you. But we need not wait till all our goals are reached before we stop and celebrate. 

Next Wednesday, February 14th is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent when we symbolically begin a process of grieving over our sin and seeking a closer relationship with our savior Jesus Christ. And that process is very much needed in our broken and despairing world.

But let’s not jump directly from Epiphany to Lent! Let’s not skip over Carnival, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday! Rather, take a moment to eat some pancakes and remember the many blessed moments and pleasures of your lives and the life of your church – to celebrate the strides you have made already during this season of transition in the life of your church. 

Let’s celebrate the ordination and installation of elders to your session and the coming of Spring. Let’s celebrate the song in your hearts that sings you back to life as you shake off the cold days of Winter and prepare to take on God’s next challenge. Hope and healing is very much alive in this place! Let’s celebrate. 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Fred