In the rearview mirror

Dear friends,

An anniversary of this magnitude (one century) is naturally going to make us look back.  As we move along we look back at what has been and how much things have changed. Two world wars were fought in this period as well as the Vietnam War and two Iraq wars. And let’s not forget the cold war. Cars and airplanes were in their early stages of development hundred years ago. Horse and buggies weren’t rare.  Sacramento was a sleepy town without air conditioning. It was the year the Titanic sailed. A lot fewer people lived on this globe of ours and in this country.  As we bring 1912 closer to us by remembering it, of course it is getting further away from us all the time.  We peek in the rearview mirror and farther it fades.

This year is disappearing rapidly in the rearview mirror. Three-quarters of all the work to be done for the anniversary has been done: the church beautification is close to complete, the cookbook is at the printer, eco-friendly reusable shopping bags with the Parkview logo are for sale and light bulbs have been changed for conservation purposes. We have already had one concert and another small one is coming up at the anniversary banquet. We are developing a partnership with the culturally struggling Mien community and are opening our doors twice a week for a program with low-functioning adults.  We have been very active in every of the five areas where we committed to be active.  Even the banquet as the year’s high point will be over in a few days. I cannot begin to thanks all of you for your hard work –literally- because I would soon run out of room, but: Thank you.

We passed Easter as one of the church year’s two highpoints in April and now we are heading for Pentecost in May when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We will need the Spirit.  Anniversaries create their own energy, but we cannot look in the rearview mirror too long for fear of losing sight of what’s ahead.  We will need the Spirit to make us look ahead to new challenges.  Our anniversary theme reminds us that we are moving forward in faith and service.  This Sunday May 6 we start turning our gaze from the rearview mirror forward.  We will have remembered where we have been and now to need to determine where we are going. We will need to begin refocusing as we plan our remaining events.  Another century lies spread out before us with its opportunities, blessings and uncertainties. May the Spirit of Pentecost guide us, sustain us and comfort us as we chart a course and may our journey be a blessed one. See you in church. Aart