100 Candles
As one family, we will soon gather together (October 18th!!) to celebrate a birthday, the birthday of our church and school. As we celebrate this anniversary and remember the grace of our God, it is good and right for us to light some candles on our birthday cake. Let them be lighted:
First, we light a candle in thanks to God for the first pastor and founder of our church who enlightened the first generations in our church and school with the torch of the gospel - Pastor John Karrer, who has gone before us to his eternal rest.
We light a candle in thanks to God for all the pastors who have kept this torch before our eyes, who have lifted up God’s Word which is a lamp for our feet and light for our path.
We light a candle in thanks to God for the members of Mount Lebanon who cherished Christian education and sacrificed personally for their own children and for the children of others so that we might have a Christian school in this community.
We light a candle in thanks to God for all of the former and present day school teachers who setting aside personal gain, spread the light of the Gospel in their classrooms.
We light a candle in thanks to God for each and every student who has walked through the doors and into our school, with whom we have been able to share the precious gift of God’s Word.
We light a candle in thanks to God for the parents who have valued this Christian education and brought their children to this school.
We light a candle in thanks to God for the missionary zeal of this congregation that saw our school not just as an educational institution, but as a bridge into this community through which we might bring the Good News of Jesus to those who might not otherwise have it.
We light a candle in thanks to God for the council and school board members, past and present, who have given of their energy and time to oversee this wonderful gift of a school that we have.
We light a candle in thanks to God for the members of Mount Lebanon who support this ministry not only with the gifts, but with their time and talents as well, who have volunteered and served our scholars and their families.
And for each of us today, let now the candles be lighted. It is the 100th Birthday of our church and school. May we be knit together as one family, giving thanksgiving to God for all of his mercies to us as individuals and as a church.
To him be all glory, now and forever. Amen.