Celebration Sunday 2025
What have you taken the time to celebrate this year? A milestone birthday? A special anniversary? A new role, the completion of a long-term project, or perhaps simply making it through a tough season? Sometimes the most meaningful celebrations are the ones that honour the fact we’ve kept going when life has been heavy.
Earlier this month, Nicky and I finished the 130km Cape to Cape walk in Western Australia. When we stepped onto the final stretch of pavement and walked towards Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, we felt that deep mix of relief, gratitude, exhaustion and joy that only comes from completing something significant. It reminded me how powerful it is to stop and celebrate what has been achieved rather than rushing on to the next thing.
Tim Keller once wrote: “Joy is the serious business of heaven. Celebration is the language of God’s people.” This is what lies at the heart of Celebration Sunday this Sunday 23rd November.
We’re setting aside time to pause, reflect and give thanks for the work of God among us this year. The gospel has been proclaimed in our gatherings, in our families, among friends and neighbours. And God has been at work in people of every age. Celebration Sunday gives us the chance to see it, to recognise God’s grace among us, and to allow our thankfulness to God to deepen and overflow.
Did you know that more than 30 people have come to faith through our church’s ministry this year?
What a great joy and what a great work of God that is worth celebrating. And that’s what we’re going to do, joyfully and wholeheartedly, this Sunday.
We’ll be combining our two morning services into one gathering at 9.45am. We’ll hear God’s word preached. We’ll listen to stories of grace. We’ll witness public professions of faith and celebrate baptisms. It’s going to be a truly uplifting morning.
At 4pm we’ll hold our Youth Baptism and Confirmation Service, where we will see more than 25 young people testify to God’s goodness in their lives.
At Night Church at 6pm, there will be more baptisms and public testimonies that will continue the celebration. Again, the Word will be proclaimed and Christ will be honoured as people share how he has transformed their lives.
What a day it will be. So spread the word. Come ready to pause, reflect and celebrate the remarkable work God has done among us this year. I can’t wait, and I pray you’re looking forward to it too.
