A Time to Celebrate

8-18-21 Glenda Simpkins Hoffman

I have just returned from three months of pastoral leave. Over a year ago, I had planned for this this summer to be a season of celebration for our family marked by a number of travel opportunities. It did not turn out quite the way we intended due to health concerns in my family and the pandemic.  

However, we did celebrate my oldest son’s graduation from high school. And I was able to travel to Nevada to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday with my siblings, extended family, and friends. In addition, I was able to celebrate a wedding in North Carolina with a dear couple who had postponed their ceremony over a year. These were truly wonderful occasions of celebration! 

Perhaps the greatest gift of my time away this summer was a time of letting go of the demanding pace and the many responsibilities for a season to embrace the joy of spending quality time with God and my family, to remember with gratitude the goodness and grace of God in my life. Because of the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the power of the Spirit in our lives, we always have reason to celebrate. 

I have to confess that celebration does not come naturally to me. I can be serious minded and very focused. Some of you may be finding it difficult to experience joy or to celebrate at this time due to personal circumstances, ongoing concerns related to the pandemic, or uncertainty of the future in general. Some may feel they just are not in a mood to celebrate.  

But celebration isn’t a mood, it’s choice. Celebration is a spiritual discipline that draws our attention away from ourselves and our circumstances to God and his goodness and faithfulness right here, right now. Celebration is a key discipline in our personal and communal life.  

Dallas Willard writes, “Celebration heartily done makes our deprivations and sorrows seem small, and we find in it great strength to do the will of our God because his goodness becomes so real to us” (Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives). 

Adele Calhoun puts it this way: “God invented delight, joy and celebration. And one way we enter into the divine life of the Trinity is through celebration…. Celebration can enlarge our capacity to enjoy and serve God” (Spiritual Disciples Handbook: Practices that Transform). 

 And Richard Foster declares in Celebration of Discipline, “Celebration begets more celebration. Joy begets more joy. Laughter begets more laughter. Times of genuine celebration have the potential of bringing healing and wholeness to the entire community. So … let’s celebrate!”   

 I’m delighted to be returning to church at a time when there are so many opportunities for joy and celebration ahead of us. This Sunday, August 28, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vienna Presbyterian Church in worship with scripture, song, and testimonies of long-time members. What a joy it will be to reflect on, give thanks for, and celebrate God’s goodness to us over so many years. Join us in person or online. 

In addition, our fall breakfasts will begin in the parking lot between services.  I’m grateful for all those who envisioned and have planned and prepared for time, space, and opportunity to interact in person with each other after so much time part. There will be something for everyone, so I hope many will be able to join us for a time of community and celebration this Sunday and into the fall.   

Our Trucks and Tune Block Party has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 28, from 5-8pm. (TrucksandTunes – Vienna Presbyterian). This will be another great occasion to gather, connect with others, have fun, and experience joy. This isn’t just for us, but an opportunity to invite others from our neighborhoods and community to join us. Again, there will be something for everyone. 

Then on Sunday, September 12, we finally have the chance to celebrate Pastor Pete and Chris James for their faithful service to this church over so many years of ministry. It’s been six months since they departed, but this will be our chance to come together in person to see them, greet them, and send them off to a new phase of life and ministry. Joy! 

Last, but certainly not least, our new lead pastor Hope Lee will join us in worship on Sunday, October 10, for the first time. How exciting! This is the time we have been waiting, praying, planning, and preparing for, so let’s come together to celebrate God’s faithfulness and to mark the beginning of the new thing God is doing.  

This really is a special time in the life of our church and an opportunity to celebrate as a community God’s faithfulness to us in the past and to anticipate with joy all that he has yet to do in and through and for us.   

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” At VPC, this is a time to celebrate!