Homecoming Is More Than Coming Back
Our 155th Anniversary Celebration was much more than remembering a date. It was a beautiful reminder that the Church is a living story, carried from one generation to the next. Old members returned home. Friends reunited. New friendships were made. We laughed, sang, worshiped, and remembered together.
One of the most touching moments came when Ruthie Tippin read a letter written by her grandfather, who served as Kalama's pastor in 1925. Hearing his words, spoken nearly a century later by his own granddaughter, brought history to life in a way no history book ever could.
We were reminded that this congregation has endured three fires and one devastating storm that destroyed church buildings. Yet those events never destroyed the church. Because the church was never the building. The church has always been its people—their faith, perseverance, generosity, and trust in God.
Another gift and highlight of the celebration was hearing your own stories. Through Debra's thoughtful and loving questions, quite a few members shared memories that might otherwise have remained untold. Each story became another thread woven into Kalama's rich tapestry of faith.
The Castle Rock Men's Ensemble added another treasure to the day, filling the sanctuary with a rich variety of voices—from a resonant bass profundo to a beautiful tenor—all joined together in praise to God.
Pastor Scott's message, "Treasure Worth Passing On," could not have been more fitting. It reminded us that the greatest treasures we inherit are not buildings or possessions, but faith, stories, relationships, and the hope we pass from one generation to the next.
Now, as we begin our new worship series, Homecoming, that anniversary takes on an even deeper meaning. Homecoming is not simply about coming back to a familiar place. It is about receiving the faith that others have handed to us—and asking how we will pass it on.
Who will tell today's stories 50 years from now? Who will remember the ways we welcomed our neighbors, served our community, and trusted God through the changes of our own generation? The pioneers of Kalama left us more than a beautiful history. They left us a mission.
May this Homecoming season inspire us to write the next chapter with the same courage, hope, and faithfulness that have carried this congregation for 155 years.
~Pastor Lydia
