September 2002

Does anybody remember the Carpenters?  Richard and Karen Carpenter?  Well, they were a brother and sister singing duo who were very popular in the 1970’s.  One song, more than any other, was associated with them: “We’ve Only Just Begun.”  Now do you remember?

  And it was that song title that came to  mind when the Stewardship Committee met to discuss our fall stewardship campaign and how it might be related to our 25th Anniversary Celebration.  The congregation was organized in the 1970’s (October 23, 1977, to be precise), and soon the committee was discussing the 70’s and that song title popped up.  The committee quickly decided it was the perfect theme, not simply because it comes from the time the congregation was established but also because it speaks the truth about the present and future of the congregation.  This truth: We’ve Only Just Begun.

  Of course there are those who might suggest that a better theme could be: “We’re Just About Done.”  Because that would seem to be closer to the truth.  We’re half the size we once were, we have few children, many of us are getting up there, the new growth has moved well to the south of us and many members have moved away.  That’s all true.

  But there’s another truth, a more powerful truth that speaks of new possibilities and a hope-filled future.  This truth: we are at last fulfilling the original vision of the congregation to be a place where all are welcome and a people who are Christ to others.  We are now a multicultural, multinational, racially diverse congregation that is welcoming new members, baptizing children, still serving in the community and more than ever being Christ to one another and others beyond the congregation.  In this very real sense, in terms of our mission and becoming what God has been calling us to be from the beginning, the deepest truth is we’re not done: We’ve Only Just Begun!

  A congregation is something like an individual.  When a person hits 25, he or she is usually just beginning: a career, a family, a future.  Our congregation came to birth 25 years ago, quickly learned to walk on its own, went through “the terrible twos,” experienced rapid spurts of growth, then hit those miserable teenage years in which there is that agonizing search for identity, continued to grow into young adulthood, faced the pain and confusion that sometimes accompanies the early twenties, and has now matured.  Like an individual at 25, our congregation is just beginning its true career, living out its true purpose, and can have a wonderful future if we want.

  And that’s the key: if we want, if we are willing to re-commit ourselves to our vision and mission, if we truly desire to serve God and one another and our community in this place.  And that’s why Dedication Sunday, October 6, the day on which we bring to the altar our pledge cards and commitment forms, is so very important this year.  It will be a day to commit anew to the future God calls us to and to proclaim with joy that We’ve Only Just Begun!

God be with you,

Jeff