Happy Tin-th Anniversary

Someone reminded me this week that today marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of The Church at Shelby Crossings. It was Sunday morning, January 7, 2001 when the church had its first official worship service at Valley Intermediate School in Pelham. Over the past decade, much has transpired in the life of this community of faith, and there are many things God has done worthy of celebration.

Which got me to thinking, what is the traditional gift that is assigned to celebrate a milestone of such significance as ten years? I mean, we all know that 25 years is a Silver Anniversary, and 50 is a Golden Anniversary, so what is it for 10 years? So, I went to the source of all knowledge--Google--and discovered that the gift that signifies a ten-year anniversary is....tin.

Not exactly the kind of "precious metal" I would have chosen, but then again, I may not have been the best one to ask to begin with. (I probably would have suggested Dove Dark Chocolateas a gift for just about any year!)

I guess it doesn't matter what metal or stone or gift we use to signify such a momentous occasion. But it does matter that we stop, and reflect, and remember, and thank God for all the great things He has done in the life of our church over the past ten years. And so, we celebrate ten years of fruitful ministry God has allowed us to be a part of here.

The reality is, there are not a lot of people left among us who were there for that first worship service, but for those faithful few who have hung in there for the whole ten years, we say...thank you.And, even as we celebrate our first ten years, we hold to the words of the apostle Paul, who wrote of "forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13)

This Sunday, we'll celebrate our tenth--and "tinth"--anniversary with a day of worship at Shelby Crossings, and I hope you can be with us. But as we do so, we do it with an eye to a promising future the Lord has for us as we walk with Him and share His gospel faithfully with our community.

Let me close with more words from Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, which speak to us today at the church at Shelby Crossings: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6, NAS)

May the Lord bless each of you. I'm praying for you, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken

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