First Baptist Church of Herndon

Time to Celebrate

Linda Soller | Sep 11, 2023

This past Sunday was our church’s “Celebration Sunday”.  What were we celebrating? That is a good question. It wasn’t any official federal holiday. It was not a date associated with the birth or death of Jesus. It was simpler than that. Our celebration with our congregation was about our congregation. We were pausing to treasure and recognize the blessing and value of having each other in this time and place to worship and serve God in this community. Children’s back packs were blessed, so they knew we supported them in their growth and education. Members told of what our church has meant and still means to them, so we don’t become complacent. We gathered after the service for a meal which is not only a long Baptist tradition but a tradition which addresses the physical along with the spiritual nature of a church.

If you are not a church goer this may seem unnecessary to you. You might think it would be enough to go to church for you to know about such blessings, but you would be wrong. Like any routine or habit, it’s all too easy to lose sight of where, why, and how you got to this point. Celebration Sunday helps us understand the different directions that brought us here and drive us forward. In a world that seems full of sadness, fear, trauma, and hopelessness, it’s so valuable to celebrate what is good, strong, positive, and hopeful.

There will be another such celebration in a year. The start of a new church year and a new school year will draw us together to appreciate and celebrate all the Lord has given us. We will join together again to smile and laugh and be thankful. But there is no rule that says you have to wait. Maybe for you the time to celebrate is today!

Be the love in the world  : )   Linda