Great is Thy Faithfulness.....

Today Ken and I spent the entire day celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Elk Grove Presbyterian Church.  This is the church that Ken and his family attended from 1967 - 1972, during Ken's high school years.  During those years I often attended the youth group activities with one of my good friends.  This is a very small congregation with an average attendance on a Sunday of about 35 or so.  This morning the church was almost full and it seats about 200.  It's been a long time since I've been in a "traditional" service, complete with 2 different hymnals and a printed litany in the bulletin.  There were several pastors this morning, the current pastor plus 2 former pastors.  Unfortunately, the pastor that Ken knew best was not present. 

 

 

This is their "Anniversary" Banner.  The women who constructed this banner explained that the symbols represent the Trinity.  On the left is the hand of the Father. The crown represents the Son and the dove is the Holy Spirit.  The theme of their Anniversary year is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".  Throughout the day, there was mention over and over of the faithfulness of the God and the faith of the people.  At the point of their charter there were 65 members.  During the period that Ken was a member, the number was much greater than that - possibly around 200 or more.  The youth group often had 20 to 30 kids attending.  Today I would guess the average age of the congregation at 65-70.  There were 5 children in the service.  When I asked one of the Sunday School teachers how many children they have, she replied about half a dozen.  And she seemed to think that problem was that there are so many sports activities on Sunday mornings that it keeps kids out of church.  While that might be true, I think that the style of worship has much more to do with why there were not more young families.  After the service there was a banquet at a banquet hall nearby.  While I am glad that we decided to attend this, it was LONG.  And when I say LONG I mean LONG (like 4 hours long).  One of the interesting things I heard at the dinner was from a young women (I would guess in her 30's who was there with her husband) whose parents are active in this church.  She was talking about an amazing church service she had attended. It had projected words on a screen, and a guitar and a drummer.  She said it was "interesting" and mostly "seemed the same". 

 

So tonight I am realizing how out of touch I am.  I can't imagine "traditional" church like this anymore and for me projected words, guitar and drums and contemporary worship is just the normal. During the program, people talked over and over of the warmth and love that was in this congregation.  I heard a lot about the people taking care of the people.  There were lots of stories of the faith of the people.  What I did not hear a lot was the faithfulness of God.  We sang this song and heard it sung by the choir. 

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

 

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

 

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

 

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

 

Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

 

While I heard about all of the wonderful things that are being done by this very little congregation, it seemed that with most things, the people were getting the credit. They operate a food pantry and staff it and run it totally with volunteers from this congregation.  It would have been a much better day for me and a much better program, if there would have been more acknowledgement of the faithfulness of God in the life of this church and in the people of this church.   Now I am sure that these good people would tell you that they DO know that it is God's faithfulness that has brought them through 50 years, I wish that they would have boldly proclaimed it on this important day. 

 

So, I am going to purpose to remember that it is Jesus that gets all the credit for the amazing things that have happened in my life.  I want to trumpet it out to the world that YES - Yahweh is faithful and it is HIS great faithfulness that provides and carries us through each day. 

 

Jesus, thank you for today and this wonderful group of people.  Holy Spirit, will you remind them of the faithfulness of God for them and through them.  Holy Spirit, please give the leaders of this church a new vision and direction for the years ahead.  Jesus encourage and empower them to move out in the power of your Spirit to reach and touch the world.   Amen