Senior Saints Luncheon 2025
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-5, 14)
This truly is a season for family gatherings, sharing time and meals, giving gifts to one another, and for some remembering and reflecting on the deeper meaning at the core of this wonderful season. Just like our biological families gather together with one another, the church, often referred to as the “household or family of God”, also delights in gathering together.
On Saturday, December 6th, the family at Linder Road enjoyed one such annual gathering to honor our senior saints with delicious food, choral singing, scripture reading, laughter, and love. From the opening with devotional thoughts to the tasty food and delicious desserts prepared for 50+ guests, everyone enjoyed sharing this time of fellowship. After the meal, two groups of our teens and children read from scripture and sang a medley of popular Christmas carols. This was followed by a gift exchange and social time to wrap up the festivities.
While all of these activities are common during the Christmas holiday season, this gathering was a bit different. How? People gather together, eat, sing, and exchange gifts all over the world, however, this gathering is a foretaste of a greater, more important feast we will experience when Jesus comes back to gather his people to himself (John 14:1-3). At that great feast, there will be no lack of space, no lack of food, and no lack of joy because it is the feast that the Lamb of God, the Lord Christ has promised his people as the ultimate gathering of his family.
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)
Our desire is that everyone would hear the Lamb’s invitation and accept it, so we may all be together at his great feast. In fact, filling the table with guests is the motive of love that brought Jesus from the glories of heaven, to the hay of a manger, to the wood of a cross, out of a borrowed tomb, to the right hand of the Father, where he waits for each of us to accept his invitation.
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.’ ” (Luke 2:14)
