Beginning this month Gladstone Christian Church will be entering a very special year in the life of our congregation. For the next 12 months we will be highlighting our past and preparing for our 100th Anniversary which will be held in September of 2008. We are very excited to be able to celebrate this significant milestone in the life of this congregation.

            On Sunday the 23rd we will have a special potluck to officially begin our year of celebration (see accompanying article on page 4). We believe this start will be a ringing success! Then every month we will highlight one aspect of our history during the worship with a Centennial Moment. These will include information about our founder and past Pastors, the building, teachers, Men and Women’s ministries, missions, weddings, Children’s programs, music and drama programs.

            Not only will we be celebrating all year, but you will have an opportunity to purchase items relating to our centennial as a memento, such as mugs, note cards, t-shirts/sweatshirts and a 2008 calendar. The proceeds from these commemorative items will be used entirely to support the costs related to our anniversary programs.

            Wendy Burns has been working hard along with many other history buffs to find, gather, decipher and collate our historical records and photographs so that we can not only remember our history, but preserve it for the future. We are so thankful for all their efforts to make this anniversary both a special walk through memory lane, but also an honoring of all the significant ministry that has happened during the past century. This look back also prepares us to continue to look forward to all that God is still calling us to do in His Name in this community.

            Mark your calendar now to reserve September 20-21, 2008. Join with past and present members to mark 100 years of ministry in the life of Gladstone Christian Church.

And speaking of looking forward, no doubt you are wondering what will happen next for GCC in the area of Children’s Ministry. That is a very good question, and hopefully most of it will fall into place during September. The main question has to do with staff, and at the time of this writing we are pursuing a number of options, but much depends on the leadership’s evaluation of our budget and need. Then we will trust God for how to proceed. Continue to pray that we will be open to God’s leading for the future.

            As far as our children’s programs, this is what is currently in place:

Johnene Laminack has agreed to oversee the children’s Sunday School classes and teachers. She also will be our Education Team Leader for all the various ministries related to children;

Ellen Burns will head the nursery program;

Cynthia Saxton is in charge of Children’s Worship;

Barbara Reed is leading the Play Group;

Friends Club is being organized by a group of adults who have participated in this program in the past.

            We are very blessed by these who have stepped up to take leadership. They are continuing to build on the foundation of our ministry to children that is vital to our growth and health as a church. I know they would be very grateful to others who would be willing to serve in some way in all these areas. We need you because the church is only as successful as the strength and commitment of its volunteers who give of their time and talent to serve in the Name of Jesus.

            May God bless us as we continue to proclaim His Word in this place,

Denis Whittet