What a week! – or rather, what a year!

It was more than 12 months before the Centenary Week that we started planning for the 7 days of celebration from 24^th to 30^th September, 2012. Our aims were: to remember and give thanks for the past; to celebrate and enjoy the present; and to go with confident expectation into the future.

How would we display 100 years of artefacts that had been used during that time? How could we celebrate the memory of all the people whose prayers, faith, work and love were and are the spiritual bricks and mortar of our church?

How would we tell the story of the community and the world of which this church has been a part?

How would we show the changing ways in which we have worshipped and proclaimed the changeless message of Christ?

How many groups existed in our church, and what did they do?

.........and so on.........and so on..…

Was this an impossible task? We thought about it and talked about it, laughed about it and disagreed about it, worried about it and prayed about it. In other words we became – A COMMITTEE! (How many committees, called by any other name, have there been in 100 years?) There were about 10 of us and we met every few weeks throughout the year.

We searched the church buildings for ancient Bibles and old Minute Books and asked everybody to look in their attics, or perhaps on their mantelpieces, for memorabilia – which should be brought to church during January 2012. We chose this date so that we could have plenty of time to see how and where the items would be best displayed. (This proves that even committees can be filled with optimism, since some items only arrived during the week commencing 16^th September!)

We decided to create a time-line down the centre of the church, beginning in 1912 and ending in 2012. Perhaps you noticed that after the date 2012 there was a small space and then a white card bearing the date 2112? Do not imagine that the space is empty – it is filled with hope.

We gave every group a large, empty picture frame and those were duly returned, filled with photographs of members and their activities. Some people were easily recognisable, some weren’t, and some people hoped that NOBODY would recognise them!

We decided to run two continuous power-point presentations (slide shows 50 years ago, magic lantern shows 100 years ago): one in church and one in the Cedar Room. There must be a space to display the deeds and the plans of the buildings since the beginning; a space for children’s crafts and play; three full meals during the week; tea, coffee and biscuits every day; celebration cakes; worship; the big party; bunting created by young and old; bands; games; balloons; invitations to city councillors, local residents, other churches and other faith groups – and we ordered a week of blue skies, sunshine and gentle breezes.

The week arrived at last and our work was almost over – but, had we forgotten anything? - and would the picture frames begin to drop off the walls? – and would two glass doors refuse to open? – TOO LATE, TOO LATE!

Our buildings were open every day. Everyone who came was welcome: the Christian and the Muslim, the old and the young, those with faith and those with none, and we saw the people wonder and reminisce, eat and share, play and talk, sing and pray, give and receive.

When it was all over we tried to remember where we lived! – and when we did remember we went home to bed, muttering to ourselves, "Someone else can be on the committee next time."

We pray the eternal spirit of our laughing, loving God in Christ remains within us all and continues to shine out of this place.

The committee sincerely thanks every member of the church, past and present, who contributed in any way to our Centenary Celebration.