Commemorate God’s goodness to Iron Works

Dear Iron Works Church family,

When I was close to graduating from college, I once told a fellow classmate I didn’t see a reason for ceremonies. I just wanted to have my diploma and be done with it. I’ll never forget her response. It sounded like she got it from a book––which if she didn’t, I hope she’ll write it one day. She said, “Ceremonies round out the edges of our experience.”

She’s right. Taking time for ceremony and reflection helps us transition through what otherwise might feel like the jarring, jagged stages of life. In fact, our God himself often gave his people ceremonies to mark the different chapters in the story of redemption he was writing, opportunities to commemorate his faithfulness and round out the edges of their experiences.

Next month, we have an occasion to do just that. On Saturday, November 16th, we will be holding a commemoration of the work the Lord has done through Sam and Mary K. Andreades here at Iron Works Church. Sam and Mary K. served with our church for four years, some of the toughest this church has been through. Honestly, this dinner should have happened months ago when Sam transitioned off staff, but things were up in the air with my own arrival shortly after. However, it’s time to round out those edges.

The past two years have seen a lot in the life of our church family. And maybe you’ve felt the sharpness of those edges, of conflict, of disagreement in how ministry should happen. This happens as we do life together, sadly. Yet for all that, as I think back on all I’ve heard about the last two years, I see the Lord’s great faithfulness to preserve his family here, to show his care for us, and to do good work here in the midst of transition. And I’d love to honor him for that as we commemorate the investment Sam and Mary K. made here at Iron Works.

If you were blessed by the ministry of Sam and Mary K., if you’d like to celebrate the good work the Lord did here while they were with us, I’d love for you to join us on November 16th from 4:30pm to 7pm for a dinner held at the church. Please RSVP here by November 1st. There will be cards available for any who’d like to write them a note; otherwise you are welcome to bring your own. And if you would like to give them a gift, Patty Yodis is collecting items and gift cards for a gift basket (or Venmo Stefany Gess (Venmo: @Stefany-Gess) to contribute toward the gift basket, instead).

It’s been many years since my conversation with my college friend. But every time I face a new season of life, I find myself praying that the Lord would round out the edges of my experience––that, trusting his faithful work in my life, I might leave the past well and enter the future with hope set firmly on the Lord. I’m praying the Lord would do the same for our church on November 16th as we commemorate the ministry of Sam and Mary K. here at Iron Works.

Warmly,
Kent