Dear Church Family,
Our church was founded in 1892, so that means that this year, in 2022, our congregation has turned 130 years old. That’s a lot of candles on the birthday cake!
And this year, we have set aside an entire weekend to celebrate our 130th anniversary with some super special events, Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th. I want to tell you more about those events and how you and your family can participate.
My friend, Greg Strand, is coming all the way from the EFCA National Office in Minneapolis to be our special guest speaker for this celebration! Greg is the director of theology and credentialing for the EFCA, and many of our folks have sat under his teaching at Stay Sharp, our district theology conference, for the last 15 years.
We’ve asked Greg to bring a “taste of Stay Sharp” to us at Lanse Free Church with two special anniversary seminars. On Saturday evening October 8th from 6:30-8:30, Greg is going to teach on theology. His Saturday seminar is entitled, “We Believe in One God: An Introduction to Trinitarian Theology.” So if you are wondering what we believe about Who God is as Father, Son, and Spirit and what God is up to in the world that He has made, then we’d love to see you at that seminar. It’s free, and there is no registration. Just come!
Then on Sunday morning, Greg will be back to teach us about church history. His seminar on Sunday October 9th will start at 8:30 and go to 9:30, and the topic is, “From Where Did the EFCA Come: A Brief History of the Evangelical Free Church of America.” I think it will be neat to see the connections between our church’s history and our association of churches’ history. Because we go back almost to the beginning with our Swedish roots! Again, it’s totally free, and there is no registration–unless you need childcare. We will arrange childcare for the history seminar on Sunday morning, if you let me know you need help with that by Monday October 3rd. But aside from that, there is no registration. Just come!
But wait, there’s more! On Celebration Sunday, we are going to praise God together for 130 years of His faithfulness to us. And the Celebration Choir is going to sing a special song. The choir is rehearsing on Thursday night October 6th at 7pm, and Amy Jo would love for you to participate. Anyone in the church! See Amy Jo if you have any questions, or just show up for the rehearsal. The song is easy and beautiful and was an old Swedish hymn that fits with our church history.
Also during church, Greg Strand is going to preach for us from God’s Word. And then afterward we’re going to take our annual church family photo. And this year, we get to have it inside once again!
And then we’re going to cap everything off with a Fellowship Dinner that is being planned by the Hospitality Team. And this is the one thing we really need people to help with right now, we need to get a good idea of how many people are coming and what they are planning to bring. So if you haven’t already turned in a green RSVP sheet for the Hospitality Team, we need you to do that or go to that link in your email and sign up online so that we know how many to prepare for.
And if you are part of our new youth group (grades 7 through 12), you are invited on Sunday evening for a special pizza party at 6:30 where Greg is going to talk about “Why Theology Is Important” for youth! And parents of our youth are invited to listen in and eat pizza, as well.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to have this anniversary celebration of all of the things the Lord has done in our midst for the last 130 years. May He get all the glory.
See you at church!
-Pastor Matt
0 comments:
Post a Comment