Today is Sunday, so I’m not logging steps, but I am logging years. My church, Bethlehem Lutheran in Penfield, is 135 years old today.

In 1876 a group of German immigrants stepped out in faith to form a church. In 1878, when the church building was completed, they processed down Plank Rd. to the new church from the school on the corner of Plank and Hogan where they had been meeting.

Today we step out into the community by doing the roadside pick-up on Plank Rd. and tending to the garden on the corner of Rte. 250 and Plank Rd.

So we celebrated this anniversary with a worship service, a short program and a luncheon at church. I was struck by the contrast with the last luncheon we had, which was after the funeral service of our dear friend, Ray Schied. We had been planning the anniversary luncheon for a few weeks, but funeral luncheons are always put together in a hurry. Adversity and sorrow are thrust upon us, but celebrations are something we must plan and make time for. They can easily go by unnoticed.

I hope you all find something to celebrate in 2011.

(The cake was done by Sherry Thomas, www.sitemouse.com/users/deliciousdesigns/)