Homecoming Sunday - COME CELEBRATE WITH US ON SEPT. 13th

In the American tradition, a church’s Homecoming Sunday is a day when parishioners and visitors “come home” to honor the anniversary of their church’s founding. It commemorates the date of the church’s creation and also honors its longevity.

In September of 1867, one of Church of Our Saviour’s founding members, Mrs. Benjamin D. Wilson, wrote a letter to her daughter-in-law. This letter offers an account of daily life in San Gabriel. However, Mrs. Wilson also wrote that she had gone to hear “the new minister” on a previous Sunday. This quick mention in her letter pinpoints the formal beginning of Church of Our Saviour and establishes our official anniversary. One hundred fifty-nine years later, COS will hold its annual Our Saviour Homecoming Sunday on September 13th.

Church services will take place this day at our regular times: 8 am Rite One, 10 am Rite Two, and 4 pm. At 10 am we will offer a joyful bilingual service in Mandarin and English. Our Saviour Choir will return under the direction of our music director, Bob Crocker, with service music that combines our English-speaking and Mandarin-speaking choirs. In addition, our Children’s Chapel Choir will sing, and we’ll offer a special blessing of backpacks for the new school year. And, of course, our rector Jeff+ will preach a sermon to remember.

And there’s even more to enjoy at Homecoming Sunday! We’re excited to welcome back our Ministry Fair where, after both the 8 am and 10 am services, various COS ministries will be on hand to share what they do and how you can get involved. Our Chinese Ministry will also be serving up their famous homemade dumplings, and we’ll have a bouncy house for our young people.

Since Margaret Wilson noted our beginnings in 1867, COS has blossomed into a vibrant church and family. Please join us on September 13th for this incredible celebration. Bring a friend or invite someone who has been away for a while. Save lots of room for dumplings and “come home” to Church of Our Saviour.