How Do We Want to Be Remembered?

The importance of connecting with the wider community. That, in a nutshell, was the crucial takeaway from our 175^th Anniversary Sunday on May 5^th.

Our guest preacher, Rev. Alex Shea Will from the Southern New England Conference, brought this home to us when he anchored his sermon around our church’s vision of building the Congregational Retirement Homes here in town. It was not something that directly benefited the church but was embraced by our church as a needed mission to the wider community.

In a similar way, Melrose Mayor Jen Grigoraitis shared a Proclamation from the City with us during the 175^th Anniversary Brunch which outlined many of the ways that we have not just served our congregation but the wider Melrose community as well. Her parting words to me that morning as I saw her to the door were: “Let me know how we can partner together going forward.”

As we shared that wonderful Brunch, I looked around at our packed Narthex with gratitude for our active and vibrant church. I also felt gratitude for the ways in which our ministry has been felt outside the walls of our church for over 175 years.

It is not only a legacy we should be proud of but it is also something that should energize us as we look to the future.

What are the issues facing Melrose and our surrounding communities that our church may address through meaningful engagement?

What are the needs of families, seniors, singles, marginalized, and working Melrosians that our church can meet?

What is our identity in the wider community? When people drive by our church they should be able to say: “Oh, that’s the church that…” How would we like them to finish that sentence?

Both of our special guests that morning spoke about our 275^th Anniversary in 100 years. That wonderful day will indeed come and we will be among those who will be celebrated as part of First Congregational Church’s history.