When I look the word up in Webster’s it seems to give two contrasting pictures. A “religious service” or “uninhibited fun”. At Gold Creek we strive to bring these two aspects of celebration together. Our core value of celebration allows us to have fun in church and invite others to celebrate the incredible news of God’s love for us through Christ. Let me illustrate.
I have 2 parties that stick out to me as the best celebrations I have ever been to. The first was my son’s wedding. It is no secret that he and I have not always seen eye to eye on things, but 6 months before his wedding we made peace. Soon after that, he announced his engagement to Jessica and Audrey and I could not have been happier. As the day arrived my heart could not believe how great it was to be a peace with my son and how lucky he was to get such a great wife. On his wedding day we invited friends and family…. we laughed… we cried…. we watched as serious vows were taken…we danced… we sang… we celebrated. All of this was for the joy of his new relationship. I thought that day could never be matched, but it was. A couple of years later I watched as we invited our family and friends over once again as we watched my daughter marry an incredible guy. Kristen couldn’t wait to dance at her wedding so she had her wedding party dance their way up the aisle. Again, we laughed… we danced… we cried… serious vows were shared… and we celebrated with the greatest feeling of joy you could have. Nothing matches the joy we have with our kids… or does it?
When God, through his son, made a way for us to have this great new relationship with him, we celebrate. We laugh… we sing… we take serious vows… we invite our friends and our family. It is the greatest party ever. So come celebrate with us and invite your family and friends to join us. It is the greatest religious party you can have.
Luke 15 3-7Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Pastor Dan Kellogg
