Sunday July 21 comprised another significant milestone in Howard Memorial’s ongoing Celebration 150.

Not a party, not a festival, not a dedication; not a run, not a luncheon but simply a worship service where we considered the powerful truth that “Jesus is the resurrection and the life.”

The most exciting miracle in Christ’s ministry was - and still is - that of infusing people with new life and then giving them (giving us) the power to live with undaunted purpose and joy and belief.

This is why our amazing church is still here 150 years after first being organized in 1874. And it is the only reason we will have the opportunity to celebrate 175 down the road, and 200 in 2074.

This resurrection life that Jesus talks about also serves as the power that called and will equip the 2027 class of elders serving as leaders over the short term. That’s Zora Drake, Jonathan Cobb, Jerome Creech, Steven Spruill and Bennett Bradley.

Additionally, this resurrection life is calling and will empower the new pastor who will serve beyond the short term and into our future. To that end our PNC comprises David Anderson, Michael Peters, Bennett Bradley, Bonnie Whitehurst, Katie Schultz, June Cherry and youth rep Michael Bolivar.

But it is the people in the pews who will be here for and in the long term, and if the resurrection power of Jesus resides in us, then we will worship together and serve together and witness together to the glory of God and this church will continue to give light like a city on a hill!

Pastor Rebekah Maul completed her message Sunday by reminding us of the words Jesus shared in John 11:25-26. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Do we believe this?” Rebekah asked the congregation again. “Do we?”

In love and hope - DEREK