Banners, flags, colorful outfits, food, games, glorious music and warm fellowship were all part of the vocabulary for Sligo Church Homecoming 2017. With orchestra and full choir seated for the 8:45 service, there was an expectancy in the air, which only escalated with each worship segment. There was no doubt on the part of worshipers that "God had inhabited their praise." Both young and old could be heard echoing the same sentiments. One guest exclaimed, "This was an amazing experience." Sligo member and WAU's provost, Cheryl Kisunzu, remarked, " Homecoming was most inspiring... my soul and the hearts of many were enriched!

What was it that made Sabbath, August 5 at Sligo so memorable? For everyone present, it was the sense of coming home to be with friends, fellow believers and well-wishers, where they felt loved and were seen as special. For some it was guest speaker Terry Johnsson's sermon, in which he assured worshipers that if God could give King Jehoshaphat victory against 

a  massive army that had threatened to destroy him and his kingdom, there was no limit to what He could do for them. For some, it was the variegated colors of national flags that decorated the platform, reinforcing the diversity that is Sligo Church. For some it was the music of the choir, Sligo Singers, Sligo Strings and the congregation that drew worshipers into one great crescendo of praise. We will not soon forget the

powerful cadences of "How Great Thou Art" by the Homecoming Choir and the 

From the smiling faces, warm handshakes and exhilarating atmosphere in worship, fellowship and recreation, it was clear that all the behind-the-scenes planning by

hundreds of dedicated Sligonians was worth it. Hearts were revived by the unmistakable presence of the Holy Spirit in each aspect of worship. Faith was restored in God's ability to change the most hopeless situation into compelling evidence of His love and power. Old acquaintances were renewed and, hopefully, hearts were reclaimed for Christ by the persuasive witness of the community of believers.

Plans are already underway for Homecoming 2018. In the mean-time our real focus is on the grand Homecoming when Christ returns and gathers His people from all ages and from every continent and island to Himself, never to part again. In a special sense, each Sligo Homecoming is an attempt to help God's children keep alive the hope that very soon the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and "one pulse of harmony" will once again beat through this universe.

Don W McFarlane