50th Anniversary Celebration Focuses on our Future!

Sunday was a great morning at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center as Orchard people from our 2 campuses (4 worship sites) gathered together for two worship services.

We gathered to remember what God had done and to prepare ourselves for what He will do in our future.  This gathering which had an attendance of 2,122 people and then this was followed by a lunch in our Cedar Falls facility for which the first 150 members of Orchard were invited including our Charter Members.

Here's a picture of our Charter Members who attended the lunch.  What an amazing history these folks have at Orchard.

Here's a picture of our Charter Members and their children who were a part of the founding of our church.  These people were a part of the small group that first met in the basement on Clearview Drive.

Our focus upon the future of our church was captured in the following four thoughts--

1.  It is a privilege to serve Christ...not a duty!
2.  Following Christ into the future always requires courage!
3.  We will all have "Surely not, Lord" moments where we are totally surprised by where Christ wants to take His Church.
4.  God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine!

The key verse for our celebration was Ephesians 3:20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ jesus throughout all generations, for ever, and ever! Amen"