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Archived 12/02: A Message From the Pastor
Rev. Alice Ann Bonham
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I life up my eyes to the hills -- form where will my help
com? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in From this time on and forevermore. (Psalm 121 NRSV) |
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Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
the Christ! As I pondered how to begin this year's Pastor's Report, I mentally listed the struggles we are currently facing: We lost the lawsuit with the neighbors. Does God want us to continue or stop? How will the financial situation work out? Where do we go from here? What are we supposed to be doing here? With all of this in mind, I started looking for a scripture passage that would address our struggles. I couldn't find one. Then in a very quiet way I heard in my head, "My help comes from the LORD...." What a gift those words were tat that moment and I knew at once that Psalm 121 was where I needed to start this report. Yes, we are struggling right now. We're struggling with attendance. We're struggling with finances and lawyers. We're struggling to find people willing to fill leadership positions. We're struggling with past emotional burdens. We're struggling with our understanding of what God wants us to be doing or not doing here on our corner of Ridley Park. And, we're struggling with our neighbors. In the midst of these struggles it's easy for use to lose sight of the fact that God is here with us. It's easy to forget that God is our, "shade" and that He "will |
keep our going out and our coming in...." I know that God is keeping us in His care because despite our struggles amazing things are still happening here. A new Disciple I class has begun. There are age appropriate Sunday School classes for all our children and youth. The Adult Sunday School class has new members. Prayer Partners are meeting each Thursday evening in the Parlor. 23 people attended our Retreat in March 2002 and we're planning another Retreat for March 2003. And, we've had six people join our congregation this past year. All of these things would not be happening if God were not present and protecting us. This does not mean that our work and our struggles are done. For the next few weeks and perhaps months we will continue to struggle with our neighbors, lawyers and finances. There's a great deal of uncertainty about how the situation with Ready, Set Grow will ultimately be resolved. There will still be struggles finding people willing to commit their time to help lead the church. We will have to leave all of this in God's care and continue to move forward as best we can. To help us move forward I have recently sent out several letters to various people in the congregation asking them to be |
a part of a new visioning process. Its' been awhile since
this congregation has though seriously about what God has in
mind for us. I know that God is holding a vision for us and it
is time for us to prayerfully begin the search for it. I would
ask all of you to include this process in your daily
prayers. Disciple Bible Study is also helping us to move forward. While the group is smaller than last year's, I know it (and the people who participate) will play a significant role in the future of this church. One of my goals is that by this time next year, we will have a Disciple I and a Disciple II group. The more we study scripture together, the better prepared we will be to be in a ministry for God. I know that the struggles we face may turn out to be very difficult. Even so, I am very optimistic about our future. I believe the words of Psalm 121: Our help DOES come from the Lord. He will watch over our coming in and going out. He does not slumber. He will keep us from evil and will keep our very lives. Forever. The Lord bless you and keep you: the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. In Christ's love an work,
Pastor Alice Ann
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