Anniversary Celebrations

When is the next celebration date in the life of your congregation: 5 years? 2 years? 4 months away? No matter how long or short your planning time, anniversaries are a great way to incorporate history into the life of your church.

The approach of an anniversary is a good time to look back and celebrate your congregation's founding, its history, and its ministry to the community. This time of celebration can be a time for nostalgia and fun, but also a time for serious reflection and spiritual awakening. It can prompt members to reflect on the past and then look forward to the future with renewed vision, hope, confidence, and commitment. The very fact that your church has continued through 10, 25, 150, or 250 years says something very fundamental to the world: where two or more are gathered in Christ's name, God's presence is assured. Can you think of anything more appropriate to celebrate?

Each congregation is unique and has its own interests, styles of worship, and abilities.  With that in mind, consider:

• Forming an anniversary committee

• Brainstorming with the committee and congregation about celebration ideas (see Tips for Celebrating Your Presbyterian Heritage) 

• Requesting budget money from session for the celebration

• Encouraging people to volunteer for specific tasks or projects

• Creating and maintaining an anniversary calendar or timeline for both the committee and the congregation

• Requesting an anniversary certificate and congratulatory letter from the PC(USA) stated clerk. Contact:

Looking for other ideas? Read a profile on one church's bicentennial celebration festivities.