As 22 years flows too quickly to a close, I’ve been thinking about memorable times in our church. Of course, wonderful Sundays, beautiful weddings and heartbreaking funerals. Live Nativities and Christmas Eves, Palm Sunday processions and Easter sunrises.
But a few events pop to mind:
The Sunday in 2004 I was to give my first visioning sermon. The theme was “Let Your Light Shine.” That morning the whole campus lost power and we worshiped in the dark.
Katrina in 2005 and hosting 50 U.S. Marshalls in our Gym. How safe we felt!
The decision in 2007 to align with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination as a matter of faithfulness to the essentials of the faith. Huge growth followed.
Hurricane Gustav in 2008 and members on sleeping bags in the Church Library. Our custodian cooking for a hundred each night as we ate together before curfew.
Renovating the Sanctuary and creating the Terraced Garden in 2010.
Hosting the EPC General Assembly in 2012.
2016: Worshiping in solidarity with Abounding Love during the racial tension. The Flood: all hands on deck helping our members and our city for months.
Covid 2020! Pivoting to worshiping online and finding ways to connect. Navigating masks and protocols. Having 600 for Kirkin’ worship in the parking lot. The Gym becoming a winter wonderland for Christmas services.
2026: The purchase of the Tamarisk property doubling the footprint of our campus. What wonderful ministry beyond what we can see now is just beyond the horizon?
So many great memories of being on the journey with you to press deeper into Christ and reach further into the world. How grateful I’ve been to be your pastor!
Gerrit
