As we
prepare for our 120 anniversary celebration on August 10, I took some time to
review the anniversary programs from the 50th, 75th, and
100th anniversaries. Reading the stories and examining the
photographs left me with a deep feeling of respect and love for all the people
who gave so much to build and sustain our congregation. As we follow the story
of Christ Evangelical Church from its founding as a German ethnic congregation,
the transition to English-language services in the 1920s, the construction of
the new building in 1929, the growth of the congregation in the post war years,
and the construction of the recreation building in 1974, we see a story of
growth and optimism for the future. We can be justly proud of that heritage.
The past 20
years have not been easy years for our congregation. The neighborhood around
Ellis and Merriwether has declined as the center of growth for Cape Girardeau
has shifted westward. Most of the churches located in our area have found it difficult
to maintain attendance, much less to consistently grow in membership. As our
culture has become more secular, the newest generations have drifted away from
the Church. Even for those identifying themselves as Christian, the desire to
attend Sunday services regularly has weakened greatly. There are too many other
fun things to do on Sunday morning, especially for families with children
participating in sports year-round. At the same time, the awareness and appeal
of the United Church of Christ in Cape Girardeau has, if anything, declined.
Despite high hopes, our denomination has never achieved any clear sense of
identity in our community, especially compared to the Presbyterian Church USA,
the United Methodist Church, or even the Evangelical Lutheran Church. We are
still frequently confused with the Church of Christ.
In these
circumstances it would be easy to shift from a feeling of “growth and optimism”
to one of “decline and pessimism.” Instead, we need to be a church of
“faithfulness and perseverance.” This
past Sunday, our Gospel reading included Mathew 13:52, where Jesus said, “Therefore
every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is
like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well
as old.” I think that this applies to the Church as a whole. Christ
Evangelical Church is one of the “old treasures” of the Church. If you possess
an “old treasure,” you preserve and protect it.
Many years
ago, our churches were rightfully accused of clinging too tightly to “the way
we have always done it.” New approaches to worship, mission, and ministry were
blindly resisted by most denominations and congregations. However, in the 20th
century, the pendulum swung to the other extreme. The old hymns, liturgies,
church buildings, creeds, catechisms, theologies, moralities, and so much more
were thrown in the garbage, as congregations and denominations did everything
and anything to be progressive, modern, up-to-date, and culturally relevant.
What will these churches do when the essence of being “progressive, modern,
up-to-date, and culturally relevant” turns out to be a church without Christ?
They will have truly sold their birthright for a “mess of pottage.”
Isaiah 5
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for
darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for
bitter.
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in
their own sight.
It may be
an exaggeration, but there are signs that our culture is entering a new “Dark
Age” as the lights of faith go out in our homes, schools, communities, and even
churches. In these dark days, a faithful congregation must become a lighthouse
and a refuge to those who want to persevere in Christ. To do that, we must be
faithful to Christ Jesus, the Light of the World. And we can trust in Christ,
for he is the light that will never go out.
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.
Trust in
Christ and celebrate all he has done and will do for us on the 120th
anniversary of the Christ Evangelical Church of Cape Girardeau.
Blessings,
Pastor Dan
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