A lot of Pastors have terrible Sunday afters… Mondays can be very discouraging day for a pastor. I’ve had those Mondays when I’ve felt like a failure- and question if God chose the right pastor for this ministry.
On the other hand, Monday can be a day to continue to celebrate an important weekend and just soak in the wonder and glory that God displayed in His church on Sunday.
This weekend at our church marked a significant milestone. A milestone, according to Miriam webster is: “an important point in the progress or development of something: a very important event.” South Troy Church celebrated an important point in the progress of something great that God is doing. South Troy church celebrated 170 years of ministry this past weekend.
God showed up in so many ways- this pastor, has been overwhelmed with emotion and thanksgiving yet today at all the God things she experienced! Celebrating milestones is important to God too. God instituted festivals and times of celebration throughout the Old Testament; the Feast of Booths, Passover, and harvest festivals. We in the church seem to struggle with celebrating milestones in our churches. The feast of booths was for 7 days! Passover was a weeklong as well. Actually, most of the festivals in the Old Testament lasted for a week. All the people were to come together and remember the graciousness of God towards them and celebrate His continued goodness, forgiveness and remember their history. They were to remember the past and look to the future.
For example- the festival of booths or shelters was to remember their time in the wilderness when they lived in temporary shelters and worshiped at the Tabernacle Tent that went with them wherever they went.
For me, I like history- and with this past weekend I was amazed at what it truly means to be a part of something that has been around for 170 years! South Troy began in two small schoolhouses with two congregations in 1856. That was before the civil war and even before Minnesota was a state! In 1880 it was determined that they needed a building and one was purchased for $1000.00 and moved onto its present location in 1882 What an undertaking!
Since that time there have been many changes, many ups and downs, many triumphs and many failures too. We see that in every congregation that has been around for any amount of time. Life changes and churches experience change too. As long as the Word of God is preached, the foundation of our faith, as Jesus followers, never changes. Some things seem to come full circle. I found it interesting in our history, that a pastor in 1898, was active in the temperance movement in the United States. And now over 150 years later this same church has a Celebrate Recovery; helping people find healing from their hurts, hang-ups and habits.
Sunday we heard many testimonies from people young and old that had experienced God’s grace, redemption and power in their lives. We heard from those that went to church behind a sleigh and a team of horses, another recounted their old car with holes in the floorboard- and how their families made going to church a priority; no matter what the weather and inconvenience. It was amazing to hear their stories of God’s faithfulness to them, which began through the ministry of the church. These stories not only encouraged the older folks, but young people were encouraged and felt like they too were a part of something that God is blessing.
Our stories of faith are important. David shared that in Psalm 40:3-5, “He (God) has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. . . If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them!”
This isn’t only about the history of one church- this goes for of the ‘church’ universal. Our faith history is important to remember and celebrate. When we celebrate all that God has done in our lives and in our churches; we are giving God the glory! Each story we hear encourages us. When we are sharing our story with others it will encourage them in their faith journey. You and I are to remember all that the Lord has done and celebrate! We have a ‘new song to sing’- Sing it out!
