And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble…”

1 Peter 5:4-5

“You get a crown! You get a crown! You get a crown! Everybody gets a crown!”

Oprah Winfrey (not really!)

For the past several years I have enjoyed the privilege of helping the Presbytery of New Hope tell its story via photographs. Mostly I am asked to shoot the large “stated gatherings”, where more than 100 Presbyterian congregations worship together as one body, participate in ministry workshops and training events, and conduct presbytery business (a good example is the recent “New Hope in New Bern” earlier this summer).

As a presbytery, New Hope supports a wide range of dynamic ministry initiatives. One of the most significant – and at the same time often overlooked – is the annual event that asks us all to take pause and think about the dramatic impact older adults have on the vitality of the Body of Christ. Not just the past, but the future too.

Rocky Mount:

So this past Sunday, October 1, Rebekah and I drove over to Rocky Mount for a service designed to – first – worship God, but also to recognize just a few of the Outstanding Older Adults who do so much to make The Church tick.

Listening to just one or two of the citations is enough to make your head spin! These folk are not nominated for something they did one Sunday, or even led or helped with for a whole year. These are people who volunteer countless hours, both leading and serving, usually in several key areas of the church, making irreplaceable contributions to church life, year after year and decade after decade.

This is – these people are – where the rubber meets the road in church after church, in community after community all across the region. And they do it because they love God in and from the deepest places they know; they love the church and God’s people too, and they give more than we can even imagine.

And so, once a year, a handful of these bona fide saints are recognized and applauded and encouraged, and we tell their stories – just a little bit.

This short photo essay will open the door a crack, and give you a brief glimpse into the Presbytery of New Hope event. Here you will find just a sampling of the good people, along with family and church members who came to offer love, and encouragement, and to say “thank you.”

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away….”

Golden crowns for all. – DEREK