Blog » Dr. Massie's February 8 Letter to Congregation
Dear Members and Friends of First (Scots),
As we first considered what we might entitle our building fund campaign to enlarge and improve our facilities for ministry here at First (Scots), what kept running through my mind was the word GENERATIONS. And the verse I seemed incapable of shaking was Psalm 145:4 — “One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” That is truly what this project is all about! It is not about a building, although getting all the necessary approvals for our building’s design and placement has occupied our time and effort since 2004. Rather this project is about equipping present and future generations for ministry and mission so that we and those who come after us may continue to praise God and to declare his mighty acts throughout the earth.
Previous generations who have served the Lord at the corner of Meeting and Tradd Streets have certainly left us a goodly heritage in story and in stone, and now we have the opportunity and privilege of doing something significant and sacrificial for those who are being called and will continue to be called to follow in the footsteps of our Lord. Of course, we will preserve the best of what we have received from those who have gone before us, building on their foundations; but with God’s help we will also help to provide a future for those who will follow after us. Organized in 1731, First (Scots) Presbyterian Church has now entered upon its fourth century of service in Christ’s name.
It is my hope and prayer that what we finally build together will not simply be a physical facility, however lovely or functional, but rather a spiritual dwelling in which the living God will be encountered and praised, and through which God will be served as new generations of disciples are equipped for faithful and effective service. More important than the physical stones, the brick and the mortar, are the people whom Peter refers to in 1 Peter 2:5 as “living stones” who are built into a spiritual house. Let those of us in this current generation work and pray and teach and tell and, yes, give of ourselves and our resources so that as “living stones” we may provide a future in which coming generations will know of the Lord’s mighty and marvelous works and praise God for them.
Together in His service,
Daniel W. Massie
Pastor