15 years!
October 27th, 2006 | by Ed |This Sunday, we’ll be celebrating our 15th anniversary as a church.
That’s right, it’s been 15 years since a handful of people took a big step of faith in launching a new church in Montclair. That humble beginning led to 15 years of fruitful ministry which has touched, and continues to touch, hundreds of lives for eternity.
I hope you can join us this Sunday (don’t forget to turn your clocks back). I’ll be sharing on the theme “Partakers of His Grace…Partners in His Purpose.” In addition, Mark McGrath will be sharing some reflections with us. Also, James Hutzel, former worship leader at MCC, will be singing for us at the 10:30 service.
The following Sunday, November 5th, we will continue our anniversary celebration by having Wayne Monbleau, radio show host for “Let’s Talk About Jesus,” as our guest speaker.
Hope to see you at both of our special Sundays!
2 Responses to “15 years!”
By Barbara Ruglio on Oct 27, 2006 | Reply
Celebrating our anniversary always reminds me of when I first came to MCC. It was 14 years ago next month that I came to the Thanksgiving Eve service. I came by myself to check the church out, hopeful, finally, that the Lord had answered my prayer. I was seeking a Bible-believing church where I could raise my daughters in the truth of scriptures and focusing on the love and Lordship of Jesus Christ. A church that wasn’t about any “other stuff” – only a simple devotion to Christ.
I still remember my new friend, Joanna Hutzel, introducing me to Pastor Ed. I was struck by Pastor Ed’s humility and sweet spirit. How he and everyone else there seemed so, well, normal! I remember Mark McGrath’s sermon on how to be thankful in New Jersey, taken from Romans 1. I was impressed by how these people who went to church together knew each other’s children’s names and needs, how they embraced each other with such obvious devotion.
When I began to bring my pre-school daughters on Sundays, I found that children having fun at church was the norm at MCC. They learned at their own level about a God who loved them. They played with new friends with the nursery toys while I ate bagels during the fellowship time.
There were about 40 folding chairs set up in the old sanctuary back in the fall of 1992. Back in those beginning days, the Sunday worship team set up their instruments on the floor, as was Pastor Ed’s pulpit. Over the years, the church grew and we finally splurged on 200 matching cushioned-seated chairs. I remember Pastor Jeff rearranging and rearranging those chairs until finally he found a formation of them where all would fit comfortably. Pastor Joe Fields (PJoe) and I would reset the chairs for Sunday services after youth and women’s events, dreaming of the a church building where the chairs would never need to be moved.
I remember Pastor Jeff forming a team of singers as well as musicians, for the worship team. It was important for him to fill his team with worshippers, and not performers, so he had to coak the singers first face the audience, and then finally the entire team moved to the stage. I remember how difficult it was for Pastor Ed to move his pulput from the floor to the stage. He liked to be close to and connect with those he was teaching. But eventually, Sundays were packed with 200 plus people and those in the back could not see him.
I remember when Pastor Ed told us that we had been gifted the money to start building a new church sanctuary from a group of Jewish business men. Such a God thing! Then came years of planning and prayer and town zone meetings. Finally, the construction started, but the first part was a remediation, which left our old building stripped to the studs. How sad to see the fellowship hall where we had bagels each Sunday and such wonderful parties, such as the Harvest Pizza Party, the International dinner and women’s breakfasts, stripped to the cement. Of course, not eating together after service would never do for us, so we started buying donuts instead and serving them in the foyer.
Finally, the new building was ready. We had started to make plans for the first service in the new building but God’s plans are so much better than ours! With the timing mostly out of our hands, it turned out that the last service in the old sanctuary was Good Friday. The first service in the new building–Easter morning 2004. More than 400 packed into the new sanctuary that day to celebrate God’s goodness.
God has not finished with us yet. Like the building, there are still those last things that seem like they will never be done. There are lots more people than those first days. Some have moved, some are with our Lord Jesus now. But still, on any given Sunday, you will find here what I found those many years ago.
– Bible based teaching centered in the simplicity of devotion to Jesus Christ.
– A worship team of worshippers, not performers.
– Children delighted to come to church, finding friends and fun, as well as teaching they can understand.
– And a congregation who embrace each other with obvious devotion.
Thank you, Jesus, for leading me to MCC!
By Matt and Ruthie Keegan on Oct 30, 2006 | Reply
Best wishes to Montclair Community Church as you mark 15 years of effective ministry. Please know that our hearts are always knit together with the brethren in New Jersey and that our prayers frequently include lifting up the needs of your fellowship.
May God continue to use Montclair Community Church as a source of light for the Essex County area.
God Bless,
Matt, Ruthie, Tom, and Andrew Keegan
Cary, North Carolina
The Article Writer