Every two years the United Church of Christ delegates and visitors gather in what is called General Synod.  This year's biennial gathering celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ.  In addition, officers are elected, other church business is transacted, and resolutions are voted.  The resolutions of General Synod are what generally make the headlines.  These resolutions do not tell us what we must do or not do in the local church.  The resolutions do not speak for us in the local church.  However, the resolutions do speak to us and the world, calling for changes, justice, mercy and love. 

When you receive this Pastor's Corner, our seven representatives from St. John United Church of Christ will be arriving back home from General Synod 26 in Hartford, Connecticut.  Our   representatives are Jeremy & Melissa Davies, Henry Diehl, William Nirote, Dave and Marian Plant, and Jerry Wood.  Ask them of their experience, as witnesses of the celebration of who we are and where we are going in the United Church of Christ.

While you have read about the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ in recent  Updates, there is another anniversary I want to bring to your attention.  On Sunday, November 5, 2007, the St. John United Church of Christ will celebrate our 40th Anniversary at its current location.

According to a history of the Rev. Dr. L. Harrison Ludwig and Elizabeth F. Wells, "on June 12, 1960, members of two Defiance bodies approved the Proposed Basis of Union for the Evangelical and Reformed Church and Defiance College Church, and the St. John United Church of Christ was born."  When the facility on Fourth and Washington became inadequate, The Defiance College offered several acres of land on the campus, if the church should decide to relocate.  The congregation responded in the affirmative and a new facility was built.  On November 5, 1967, the first worship service was held in the sanctuary of the new facility.

The St. John United Church of Christ has roots that actually go back to 1862, which makes this year our 145th Anniversary.  However, that is another history for another day.  My question to the members and friends of St. John United Church of Christ is this: How might we celebrate these anniversaries in our congregation?  Send me your ideas for what we can do to celebrate by e-mail wnirote@aol.com, mail, or conversation.

Your partner in ministry,

Bill

The Rev. Dr. William R. Nirote