Join the celebration at church

Churches meet on Sundays to hear a preacher speak about a passage of scripture through a sermon or some other way of unpacking the word of God, and others value the sacrament of Holy Communion.

There is something common that is part of any church service, that is celebration.

We celebrate in many forms the work that Jesus did through his death and resurrection.

Celebration is something that people enjoy.

We like parties, we like gathering, whether that gathering is loud or quiet.

People like to remember the things that make them feel good.

So why is church different, or why is it perceived to be different?

In truth, it is not, church is a celebration.

In baptism, we celebrate being born again into a new life in Christ separated from sin, at a wedding the church celebrates that people are joined together, united in and through God’s love, at a funeral we celebrate a person’s life lived in Christ and living eternally in God’s love.

In the words of a sermon, we celebrate that God speaks to us through His word, and in Holy Communion we celebrate the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross to separate us from sin and join us to God.

So, what should you expect when you go to church…a celebration!

People have a lot to celebrate in their lives: birthdays, anniversaries, milestones like the end of the school year, or a graduation from college or university, in September, at the end of the footy season there will be more celebrations.

We make time to join in the festivities.

The church joins in celebrating the new life that we are given through Christ often, could now be the time to join in that celebration and come to a church near you.

Expect to celebrate what God has done through Jesus!

~ Contributed by Fr Tim Fogo from St Paul’s Anglican Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.