Where were you 130 years ago? Yeah, I can't remember either.
But 130 years ago, the Caledonia Congregational Church had its first worship service in its new building in August of 1895. This very building that we are still worshipping in. Sometimes I try to imagine what that would have been like. Sometimes I try to imagine how many people have come through the doors over the years. And sometimes I try to imagine what has been done in Jesus' name by those people over all these years. What impact did they have? What lives did they touch? How is the world different because of them?
One of the things that motivates me in ministry is that we often have no idea how our ministry will impact the lives of those we touch. Annanias had no idea that when he obeyed God and went and prayed for a man named Saul, that Saul would become the great Apostle Paul, and that God would use him so mightily to change the world. We just don't know.
So, if we are wise, we should always seek to know God's will and then do whatever he asks. Then we must trust that he will make those efforts good. 130 years ago, our spiritual fathers and mothers gathered together to worship and to go into the world as God's agents. We are likewise called. What will be our legacy 130 years from now?
We have work to do. And God is our source of strength for that work. Let's do it!
Love you all!
Gary
Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom.
8/3 - Communion Sunday
8/17 - Anniversary Worship Service and Picnic
8/24 - Prayer Time before worship - 9:15 a.m.
8/31 - Coin Collection for Benevolence
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday except August 6 via Zoom at 7 p.m.
Thursdays - 8/14 - Church Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - Meeting in person at the church.
Other News and Details -
Zoom - Please contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Church Anniversary Celebration - Sunday, 8/17 - We are celebrating 130 years of worship services in this church building on Sunday, August 17. We hope everyone will be able to join us in person for this marvelous milestone. We are grateful to God for his faithfulness over all these years. We will start with worship inside and then go outside for a picnic. We will have brats, hot dogs, sides, drinks, and games to play. This will be a great day of celebrating!
Help for the Anniversary Celebration - We will need lots of help to make this happen on 8/17. On Sunday, 8/3, we will be handing out flyers around the village to invite them. We need volunteers to take those around. If you know someone who should be at the picnic, be sure to invite them in person or mail them a flyer.
We also need everyone to sign up to bring side dishes for the picnic. If we get many from the village, we will need lots of food. Please consider signing up for 1-2 side dishes. We will also need help setting up tables for the picnic. That would need to happen before church, so perhaps around 9:30 a.m. Of course, we will need help with cleanup as well. Let's all pray for this day as well. Pray for nice weather for the picnic, good attendance, and that it will be a God-honoring day.
Sunday Morning Prayer Time - 8/24 - Join Gary before worship at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary to pray.
Flowers for the Altar - We want to encourage you to bring your garden flowers to share with us on Sunday mornings. Feel free to bring them on any Sunday and put them up in the front of the church.
Sympathy - Jessica Boezem's dad, David, died this week. We want to extend our sympathy to her and all her family at this time. They will be traveling to Tennessee for his funeral.
Birthdays - We like to include birthdays in our monthly newsletter. We are missing dates for some of you. Please let Jennifer know if you have not seen yours listed, but would like to be included.
But 130 years ago, the Caledonia Congregational Church had its first worship service in its new building in August of 1895. This very building that we are still worshipping in. Sometimes I try to imagine what that would have been like. Sometimes I try to imagine how many people have come through the doors over the years. And sometimes I try to imagine what has been done in Jesus' name by those people over all these years. What impact did they have? What lives did they touch? How is the world different because of them?
One of the things that motivates me in ministry is that we often have no idea how our ministry will impact the lives of those we touch. Annanias had no idea that when he obeyed God and went and prayed for a man named Saul, that Saul would become the great Apostle Paul, and that God would use him so mightily to change the world. We just don't know.
So, if we are wise, we should always seek to know God's will and then do whatever he asks. Then we must trust that he will make those efforts good. 130 years ago, our spiritual fathers and mothers gathered together to worship and to go into the world as God's agents. We are likewise called. What will be our legacy 130 years from now?
We have work to do. And God is our source of strength for that work. Let's do it!
Love you all!
Gary
Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom.
8/3 - Communion Sunday
8/17 - Anniversary Worship Service and Picnic
8/24 - Prayer Time before worship - 9:15 a.m.
8/31 - Coin Collection for Benevolence
Wednesdays - Bible Study - Every Wednesday except August 6 via Zoom at 7 p.m.
Thursdays - 8/14 - Church Board Meeting - 7 p.m. - Meeting in person at the church.
Other News and Details -
Zoom - Please contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.
Church Anniversary Celebration - Sunday, 8/17 - We are celebrating 130 years of worship services in this church building on Sunday, August 17. We hope everyone will be able to join us in person for this marvelous milestone. We are grateful to God for his faithfulness over all these years. We will start with worship inside and then go outside for a picnic. We will have brats, hot dogs, sides, drinks, and games to play. This will be a great day of celebrating!
Help for the Anniversary Celebration - We will need lots of help to make this happen on 8/17. On Sunday, 8/3, we will be handing out flyers around the village to invite them. We need volunteers to take those around. If you know someone who should be at the picnic, be sure to invite them in person or mail them a flyer.
We also need everyone to sign up to bring side dishes for the picnic. If we get many from the village, we will need lots of food. Please consider signing up for 1-2 side dishes. We will also need help setting up tables for the picnic. That would need to happen before church, so perhaps around 9:30 a.m. Of course, we will need help with cleanup as well. Let's all pray for this day as well. Pray for nice weather for the picnic, good attendance, and that it will be a God-honoring day.
Sunday Morning Prayer Time - 8/24 - Join Gary before worship at 9:15 a.m. in the sanctuary to pray.
Flowers for the Altar - We want to encourage you to bring your garden flowers to share with us on Sunday mornings. Feel free to bring them on any Sunday and put them up in the front of the church.
Sympathy - Jessica Boezem's dad, David, died this week. We want to extend our sympathy to her and all her family at this time. They will be traveling to Tennessee for his funeral.
Birthdays - We like to include birthdays in our monthly newsletter. We are missing dates for some of you. Please let Jennifer know if you have not seen yours listed, but would like to be included.
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