From Your Synod Executive

Colleagues and Siblings in Christ,

I am always so pleased when a congregation invites me to take part in an anniversary celebration.  Having the opportunity to represent our 625 churches across eleven presbyteries is such a joy!  Whether I’m preaching, praying, celebrating communion, or bringing greetings, I wish that I could attend all those to which you invite me.  In this column, I’m eager to tell you about the 150^th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church of Petoskey, MI (Mackinac Presbytery), which built its celebration around the opportunity to reach out to their community. 

About a month ago FPC Petoskey celebrated the 150^th Anniversary of the church.  From their very earliest work, the planning team decided that they didn’t want the celebration to be all about their own congregation.  Just as the church leadership has stressed serving the community that surrounds them, they designed festivities that would involve opportunities for service and connection between FPC and its partners.

One of the most impressive parts of the celebration was how they included their three international mission partners.  One representative from the University of Livingstonia in Malawi flew over 48 hours to be there in person, helping the congregation understand his work to train up new pastors.  The congregation also reinforced their connections with First Hand Aid, which provides medicine and hope in Cuba, and a ministry in Ukraine which delivers solar-powered light kits to those on the front line of the war living in their basements.   

Closer to home, their Outreach Team voted to provide 8 grants to local non-profits in their community. They provided over $7,000 in support to the eight non-profits selected out of the twenty which applied. These groups were all in attendance on that Sunday and together they celebrated their ministry. 

Two local churches canceled their own services to attend worship:  the Boyne City Presbyterian Church and Cross of Christ ELCA  from Petoskey. After worship during the outdoor celebration friends from Petoskey Methodist, the Episcopal church, and the local synagogue come to join in.  The rabbi came all the way from Israel to participate in the festivities!

As you can see from the pictures, it was a fabulous time of celebrating God’s faithfulness as they reflected on the last 150 years of the church and community while setting their sight on where God is calling them to serve for the next 150 years. 

With all of this joy and hope, you can imagine that I was very disappointed not to be able to attend the celebration due to my knee replacement.  I’m very grateful that FPC’s pastor, Ryan Donahoe, shared many of the celebration’s details and pictures with me.  If you have a celebration coming up, I’m sure that he and the planning committee would work to help you make sure that the anniversary reaches beyond your own congregation.  

PS  I am continuing to recover from my knee replacement.  As I write this in late August, I’m working about half time and hope to return to full time by mid-September at the latest.  I’m very thankful to the Synod leadership, both volunteers and staff, who have let me focus on my recovery up to this point.  Feel free to contact me now as you need!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

Grateful to be your partner in ministry,  

Chip

Rev. Charles B Hardwick, PhD  

Executive    

chip@synodofthecovenant.org   

309-530-4578