Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices - Blogs

October 12, 2015

Milestone Celebrations

When the timpani rumbled with the first chords of the opening hymn, it was obvious this would be an extraordinary worship experience. The sweeping harp, the proclaiming brass, the richness of the strings, caught up the congregation in the powerful words of Hymn 518: “Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone…”

The celebration of the Eucharist in this mass at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was dedicated in honor of the 150th anniversary of the laying of the church’s cornerstone in 1865. Trinity doesn’t always have an orchestra and extra voices in the choir, but on this day, all the stops – including the ones on a new organ – were pulled out.

Music was skillfully composed for the milestone event by Trinity’s gifted Precentor, Wayne H. Peterson. Meditations, for choir, soloists, orchestra, and organ, drew “its (sic) inspiration from those who lavishly communicated the Gospel of Christ through architecture, art, and music,” says Peterson. Parishioner Larry Griffin authored the lyrics for four of the seven “meditations” within the score, saying the words were inspired by others including Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, and the Prayer of St. Chrysostom. Here are the soulful words of Meditation No. 3: The Inner Voice:

Be silent;
In quietness God speaks to thee and says,
The beautiful will not be seen;
The beautiful will not be touched;
The beautiful will be felt only with the heart.
To understand God’s way, though must see life as it is: a miracle.
Be silent.
- Larry Griffin

The talent and dedication of Wayne and Larry inspired many. Choir members spent extra time in rehearsal. Two families in the congregation provided financial underwriting to support this special celebration, complete with musicians from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. A parishioner with a gift for photography captured the service. Cake was ordered. People invited friends and family to attend.

Trinity might have let this anniversary pass with simple footnote in the bulletin. People might have taken a glance at the cornerstone, faithfully positioned, bolstering up the Indiana limestone and sandstone walls, without thinking about the ministries of love, praise, and witness that happen inside, or how those ministries bolster us up to do likewise in the world.

But Trinity DID celebrate, gloriously! And now our church family has a thrilling shared memory.

Milestones provide a wonderful opportunity to unite a congregation in celebration and in acts of devotion. What anniversaries are coming up for your church that parishioners could rally around? How could the “rallying” reflect your ministry gifts? For instance, maybe next year will be the fifth year of your back-to-school back pack program. If you start engaging the congregation early, you could supply an entire school with back packs as a 5th year anniversary celebration. Will a beloved Christian Formation teacher be retiring? Throw a party! Invite stories of little ones and grown-up former students.

Milestone celebrations focus on the positive, and on gratitude, strengthening the ties that bind us together in Christ Jesus.