f done right, holding a church heritage Sunday has rich rewards. It is like a family reunion—sharing experiences of the past, renewing old acquaintances, rejoicing for God’s multiple blessings, and looking ahead in unity.
Whether your congregation is one hundred or one decade old, there is value in having a heritage Sunday as everyone reflects, rejoices, and responds.
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Reflect on the Past
Reviewing the past provides a path to the future. If you do not know where you have been, you cannot outline accurately where you want to go. Reflecting on the past includes telling how the church began, stories of peaks and valleys, outreach achievements, community service projects, building projects, and pastoral and lay leaders.
As Moses told the Israelites: “Remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out” (Deut. 7:18-19 NKJV).
Promotional ideas. Prepare displays (pictures, artifacts), a historical video, and a church scrapbook, and feature uplifting testimonies.
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Rejoice for Blessings Today
Focus on the spirit of unity that exists, the spiritual blessings taking place, current testimonies, and the impact of the church on community life. “We have glorious blessings; we will praise God for what He is doing!”
Jesus said, “He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together” (John 4:36 NKJV).
Promotional ideas. Feature an article in the local newspaper, invite city officials to
speak or send appreciation letters, prepare a progress brochure and video, give away a commemorative keepsake to everyone.
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Respond to the Opportunities of the Future
Heritage Sunday is an ideal time to present plans for the future—intentional discipleship focus, mission trip, a new worship format, planting a church, a building project. “A glorious future is before us; we will respond to what God wants to do!”
In his prophetic book, Habakkuk wrote, “Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it’” (2:2 NKJV).
Promotional ideas. Form an “achieving our possibilities” creative team. The team can suggest and plan projects advancing the mission of the church