Christ Memorial was a church plant of Salem Lutheran in Affton in 1948. Our history is God “sowing seeds” and “bearing fruit.” What will he grow in the next 75 years? Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant my apple tree today.” We continue to plant seeds for coming generations of gospel multiplication. More people loved in Christ, more people sent into the world.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8) O Lord, you see all things. Purify my heart that I may see you clearly. Amen.
Word: Psalm 40:3
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”
Meditation
A New Song by Susan Senechal
How many times have you had a new beginning? A fresh start? A blank page? In my own life I think of my birth (which obviously I cannot remember); going off to college, where I knew no one; my first teaching job (interestingly, it was here, in St. Louis, a city new to me); a move to the west coast where again I knew no one; meeting and then marrying my husband; becoming new parents.
Each of these events brought a blank page, a fresh start. Each new beginning came with excitement, but also a little bit of fear: in a new place or situation, how would I do? Would I succeed or stumble? To be honest, in each situation it was a bit of both.
When my daughter graduated from high school I decided once again it was time to try something new. We had an empty nest, and I no longer had someone else’s schedule and needs to dictate my schedule every day. (I figured my husband was pretty self-reliant). I was 57. Many people, myself included, may think 57 is a little old to try something new. But for me, the time was right. So, at 57, I applied and was hired as a flight attendant. It’s a job I, surprisingly, love every day.
Every day I have the opportunity to meet new people, both passengers and crew members sitting beside me on a jumpseat. Each day brings an opportunity to be a light in a dark world. Each day I can sing a new song.
This 75th anniversary year is a bit like that–a new opportunity. We burned the mortgage–without that debt, what a new freedom we have. So what’s next? What new places can we go? What new opportunities do we have? What new song do we have to sing praises to our God?
And you, as an individual–what new opportunities are awaiting you? Maybe the time is right for each of us to try something new, to sing a new song of praises, in our living, to our God. It’s a 75th anniversary, but also a new beginning.
Dear Lord, as we celebrate 75 years of history, 75 years of seeing your mercies are new every morning, help us also see that this is a time for new beginnings. Where will you take us? Put a new song in our heart. Amen.
Prayer for the World
· For my city, state, and country.
· For leaders: mayor, governor, president, congress.
· For those who serve the public: police officers, firefighters, teachers, first responders, medical personnel.
· For the nations of the world, for world leaders.
· For good government, good schools, good business.
· For justice, especially for the oppressed: minorities, immigrants and refugees, orphans, widows, the very young or unborn, the aged.
· For creation: for the care of land, air, wildlife, and sea.
Closing Prayer
King Jesus, your Kingdom comes by a cross. Help us to see your hidden work. Forgive our blindness to your activity. Have mercy on us. Renew us and lead us to walk in your ways until our life’s end. Amen.