Today is a very important day on our church calendar. It was on May 27, 1979 that we held our first service at Lincoln Elementary School. There were 22 of us. 11 adults and 11 small children. All except my family were new believers. Kelly was 7 so she served as childrens Pastor. Susan played the piano and sang and I taught very simple Bible lessons. Those were fun days!
I plan my life and our church life in 7 year stages so we've covered 4 of them so far. I was suprised to hear my secretary Tina is only 26. She wasn't even born when we opened our church doors.
Yesterday I spoke to about 50 of of childrens ministry leaders. Our 28 year history is an apt picture of how fast the future arrives. We need to envision where our kids will be 7 or 14 years from now and lay out a pathway for them to follow to arrive safely there.
After our morning training session, where our workers enjoyed teaching and inspiration and also were prayed for by elders, we planted a symbolic lilac tree in the church garden. I commented on the picture it painted for us. It was a royal color, it blossoms seasonally, needs to be cared for and pruned regularly and like the church, has a beautiful fragrance. After praying together around the tree, Ingrid also noticed that it is a Korean Lilac! What a perfect picture of our focus on many Ethnic groups! I loved our morning together. Sunday is a pivotal day in our church history
2 comments:
Thank you Pastor Barry, for speaking to us, and planting the beautiful lilac tree. The Kindergarten Sunday School class went outside to look at it this morning, and Jaxson and Joshua told the class ALL about it! :)
Hi Barry and Susan
Thank you for being the wonderful examples you have been over the years. You have provided a very nurturing place to grow and produce fruit for those who have been planted in the Garden of Northside Church in the last 28 years. I am happy to be among one who was planted there. The teaching has been wonderful and often speaks right to my heart. Congratulations! Well done good servants of the Lord's.
We are looking forward to serving Him with you thru the next several years.
Love
Peggy and Mike
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