Once again, we celebrated another anniversary weekend here at ECN! It was an amazing 3 full days, filled with laughter and joy, in celebrating 33 years here in the community of Erskine.
We started off the weekend with Fusion Youth Ministries’ 8th annual fireworks display! I don’t think we have ever seen the lines this long before! With over 2,400 people coming through the doors, it was a busy night needless to say! But that did in no way stop anyone from having fun from checking out stalls, free home-baking, listening to live performances from local bands and as well as watching a few acts form the Young Stars Stage School! But most importantly, the fireworks! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the young people.
After a late night, over 35 people showed up to the church to help label, organise and hand out free tiger loaf bread to our surrounding community. Everyone split up into numerous small groups, and took charge with arms full of bread. Many families were shocked and touched by our church’s willingness to bless them just to say thank you for coming to the fireworks. Along with the free loaf of bread, a reminder was given about the invitation everyone received the night before for a free meal and ceilidh! Over 100 people turned up and the building was filled with fun, food, and dancing. Meeting new faces, eating good food, getting the greatest work out from laughing and dancing, it was an amazing night–a continued celebration. The dancing and conversations continued well into the night and even into early hours of the morning! But it does not end there…
Sunday! What a busy day… We began our morning worship gathering a little bit early because not only was it our anniversary, it was also Remembrance Sunday. Alex Kinloch started the service by reading a poem and initiated the minute moment of silence. The silence broke by ‘The Last Post’ playing in the background. Joanne Tarrant continued our service by leading us in worship along side our gifted worship team.
Along with it being our Anniversary Sunday and Remembrance Sunday… it was also Membership Sunday! Woohoo! It was a great Sunday to welcome Christine Gray, Amanda Hendry, Dorothy McNeill, and Liam Oldrey into our church family! Carl McCann and his family visited us Ashton Church of the Nazarene in Manchester, and spoke to us about how light always overcomes darkness. What an encouraging message to always be reminded of!
Later that night, the celebration continued as 3 were baptised! Every seat was filled and was indeed a powerful night of testimony and worship through water baptism. What a proclamation of the gospel itself!
The words to this sweet song was posted on ECN’s Facebook page:
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast-bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a life-giving ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off! My heart was free!
I rose, went forth, and followed thee!
No condemnation now I dread!
Jesus, and all in him is mine!
Alive in him, my living head,
And clothed with righteousness divine!
Bold, I approach the eternal throne
And claim the crown through Christ, my own!”
What an amazing promise we have, that we do not have to live in any condemnation because our price has been paid and we have been set free…. My chains fell off, my heart was free…
Let’s continue to live boldly into this next year and celebrate all what the Lord has done for us.
Come join in the dance : )
