Last Sunday we had a joyful and Spirit-filled service and celebration of our church’s 116th Foundation Sunday. Now, 116 years is not what most people would call a milestone, but at St Christopher’s we celebrate Foundation Sunday every year - not to mark a number, but to give thanks for the goodness of God in the founding of this church.
St Christopher’s began in 1909 as a children’s Sunday School ministry in Redwoodtown. It grew into a large Sunday School, with around 200 children attending each Sunday in the 1960s. In 1989, St Christopher’s became a parish in its own right, and today we continue to see God’s hand at work.
What amazes me is how this church has become such a beautifully multicultural community in a small city like Blenheim. And this growth hasn’t come from campaigns or strategies - it has been natural and organic. People from many cultures, seeking Christ, have found a spiritual home here. Why? Because they sense that Jesus is truly present in this church, and they experience the love and welcome of this community. You can feel it the moment you walk through the doors.
Our celebration luncheon last Sunday was a powerful expression of this reality. The abundant food from different cultures, the cultural presentations, the joy, the fellowship - it was truly remarkable, a day filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
At the luncheon, I shared two encouragements that I want to repeat here:
1. Let’s never take for granted what God is doing among us. A church that is alive, multigenerational, and multicultural is a rare and beautiful gift. Let’s treasure one another, learn from one another, and continue to grow together in faith, love, and obedience.
2. Let’s not stop celebrating God’s faithfulness once the day is over. Let’s carry this joy into our homes, our workplaces, our care groups, and our ministries. And let’s look forward with expectation. The same God who has been faithful for 116 years will continue to be faithful in the years to come.
Prayer
We thank You, Lord, for this wonderful day of celebration, for the gift of fellowship, food, and family in Christ. Thank You for 116 years of mission, ministry, and mercy through St Christopher’s Anglican Church.
Thank You for every generation represented here— for the faithful saints who’ve gone before us, for those who serve today, and for the children and young people who will carry the torch into the future.
Strengthen us, Lord, as one body with many parts. Fill us with Your Spirit, unite us in Your love, and lead us forward in hope, humility, and boldness, that we may continue to be a growing church for Blenheim, making disciples of Jesus in the power of Your name.
We commit the years ahead into Your hands, for Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This sermonette was preached at the midweek service on 20 August 2025.
