Happy Birthday AFC building

 

And so we have come to the last day of a momentous September.

Sixty years today, on 30^th September 1962 (which happened that year to be a Sunday) the then members of Amersham Free Church took possession of their new church building on the corner of Woodside Road.  They marked their momentous day by holding Morning Service in their old Sycamore Road chapel and then, at 4pm, they walked in procession from the old to the new.  That afternoon they met first in the church hall for a service of dedication, followed by a ‘cup of tea’ (although I think it was much more than that!), before finally entering the Sanctuary for the first time where they held Evening Service.  The next Sunday, once all the visiting dignitaries were no longer around, they held a Service of Infant Baptism in the morning and one of Believer’s Baptism in the evening.

These were obviously great days, full of hope.  So, this weekend we recognise their sacrificial giving in raising funds for the construction of the present-day AFC, alongside their faith to build bigger and embrace the future in a spirit of confidence.

We’ll celebrate on Sunday by re-creating that walk from the old to the new, holding morning service at which we receive in two new members and then having church lunch together.  This week Michael has assembled a really fascinating montage of pictures and leaflets from around 1962 charting that very special period.  It’s in the Carey Room and will stay up for all of October – if you get a chance pop in and have a look, it’s great!

And then there’s a cake -of course there is!  AFC loves a cake and we so appreciate Sara’s skill in baking them.  To celebrate our Diamond Jubilee in the building Sara has made a wonderful Bowl and Towel cake.  She has put so much thought into this and it reminds us that at the centre of our life together is the Lord Jesus Christ who once took a bowl and towel, washing his disciples’ feet, and now asks us to continue that tradition of service willingly and faithfully given.  It will be a shame to cut it on Sunday – but we will!  And as we do so, our prayer will be that with God’s help we will continue to be a servant church.

So, Happy Birthday AFC and thanks be to God for all our fellow disciples of Jesus who have loved calling this place their spiritual home.