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Boy Scout Tr #240

Scripture: Phillipians 4:4-9

Beth:

It was on September 11th of 2005 that Joyce and I came into your fellowship. What an auspicious day to be welcomed here. A day that brings images of devastation to the soul of our country. A day just 9 months ago when images from the effects of Hurricane Katrina were all over the news and people were still stranded on the rooftops of their flooded houses. A day when you were still trying to access the damage from the storm of pastoral misconduct.

I can remember vividly on that day when Joyce and I introduced ourselves to you applause and cheers broke out. I was taken aback by that because even though I knew that you were going through the dark night of the congregational soul with Fred Kane’s abrupt departure as your pastor, I didn’t fully appreciate the depth of your pain or your worries. At that moment I felt the weight of your hopes for a quick recovery on our shoulders. And a prayer of panic went up to God, “Dear God, are you sure I am suppose to be here? Dear God, walk with us all!”

I bet as you got to know Joyce and I you too said a similar prayer. “Are you sure they are supposed to be here? Dear God help us all!”

All I can say is that we’ve come a long way baby! Thanks be to God!

We have come from a bleak financial situation, a high staff turnover, and a leadership vacuum with just a few working committees. We began with the Katrina storm and came full circle to being in mission to the Gulf Port area through our fellow disciple Bruce Hanna. –We went from despair to empowerment, from needing grace to offering it. That is what I call a miracle!

Alvin Toffler, a Futurist says “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn” I think it is safe to say that we have done a good job of learning, unlearning and relearning together!

And that process has not been without difficulty, grief, conflict, and questioning. All of you here today could have left. On the surface it would have been so much easier to just walk away. But you believed in each other. You believed in the healing power of God. You honored the saints of this church by circling the wagons and pitching in to help out. And because of your decision all of us are richer for our experience together. I have learned, unlearned and relearned so much from you and I give thanks for your grace and forgiveness along the way.

As St. Paul says in our scripture today, I believe that it was our prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit that guided us through our recovery process. Everything has come together for good. This journey has been one that has forced us to grow deeper roots of trust and faith. As we have walked through the valley of the shadow of death Christ has walked with us giving us glimpses of that banquet table that overflows with the abundance of beauty and peace, forgiveness and love

Our journey is not over. We still have more unlearning and relearning to do but I know that you trust as I do that the God of peace is in all of it and will be with you.

Joyce:

It has been a full and amazing year. I came here a stranger. You welcomed me and now we have grown to know and value each other and have worked together in the name of Christ. It has been long work and hard work but it has also been wonderful and faithful work. It’s time to look back and celebrate all that has been accomplished together.

First we need to celebrate the new lay leadership that has stepped forward. When I first interviewed with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee I said I hoped to help this congregation take back its church. You have done that and that is cause for great celebration! A whole new committee structure was established, committees were filled and they have begun working with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose. Hallelujah! Many people said, “Yes” to new levels of participation and have been actively engaged in the life of this congregation. Evidence of this new spirit was a huge turnout at last December’s Church Conference and continued high attendance at our First Monday Meeting Nights. Again, Hallelujah! Besides lots of faithful work and cooperation, this has built a new sense of partnership between the lay people and the clergy. A collegiality of trust has now been renewed and will serve you well when you welcome your next pastor. Plus, in March, we participated in a visioning process that set some manageable goals for the next year or two. Congratulations to all of you!

We don’t ever like to talk about finances but I think that is another huge accomplishment. With everyone pulling together you managed to end 2005 in the black. You responded well to the fall stewardship campaign and money is coming in. Great! You now have a balanced budget for 2006 and have paid a higher percentage of your shared giving than in the last several years. I believe that 100% will be within your grasp next year. And the best part is you have accomplished all this without borrowing from designated funds! Hallelujah! Great things have happened in the financial area, but my message to you is to keep up the good work. Don’t stop now!

There have also been other wonderful accomplishments. Communication has been increased. Committees are talking with each other, and they are letting everyone know what is going on through a steady stream of articles in “The Spire.” Our church website has been improved and is regularly updated. Plus all of Hillsboro now knows what we are doing through regular announcements in “The Argus.” The best way to continue to work smoothly with each other is through regular communication. You are doing that. Hallelujah!

Beth and I are also having a small celebration. Together we all stretched together in ways that you maybe didn’t envision, but you have survived and responded graciously. This congregation had never had a female pastor before. Now you have had two and are ready to welcome another. Hallelujah! You never had two co-clergies before. Now you have and discovered it can work and work well. You have also demonstrated a new model of ministry to the whole annual conference by having an elder and a deacon work together as co-clergy. I believe that particular experiment was a huge success, and as the deacon I give you my heartfelt thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve among you in that way.

In the past year this whole congregation has come alive and has pulled together in new and exciting ways. Outreach has taken on some new projects and has plans for even more. With God’s help maybe even a Volunteer in Mission team can be organized. With volunteer adult leadership the youth have continued to be active and have participated in the 30 Hour Famine project and are preparing to leave on a Sierra Service Project trip. Nurture has created several new opportunities for fellowship and those can only grow as time goes on. Visitors are now welcomed in a more intentional way with a warm greeting and a new brochure about the congregation. The Gentry has been reestablished, the foyer spruced up and the landscaping rejuvenated. You continue to support each other through prayers in worship and over the telephone but also through a new e-mail prayer chain. Fantastic! Hallelujah!

Joyce: Your Gifts

You are a congregation with many, many gifts! You have talented individuals who are willing to share their gifts in both leadership and service. You are blessed to live in an affluent society and you share your financial resources for the work of God. You are mindful of the Holy Spirit working in your midst and continue to encourage each other through Bible studies and small groups. You welcome and value children and youth. You care for each other but you also recognize the needs of others and reach out with the hands of Christ in a myriad of ways. You have a wonderful staff and you faithfully support and nurture them. You are a very faithful people! Hallelujah!

I too remember your welcoming applause. But even more, I hear you applaud each other on a weekly basis to recognize birthdays, anniversaries, visitors and lots of other personal victories. You are a community of faith that cares for each other deeply. Continue to welcome others into your fellowship, in much the same way that you welcomed Beth and me. Hillsboro United Methodist Church is a great place to be. Hallelujah!

Beth: Hopes

For me our parting is bittersweet. It is always difficult to say goodbye and to transition yet again. I have really loved working with you these past 9 months. I have shared with colleagues in this conference the ways you have ministered to me through your prayers and cards --the depths of which I have not experienced before. I am so impressed with your "intouch" ministry that I have introduced it as a way that pastors in this conference can support and pray for one another. You have been gentle in helping me to become a better pastor. Your compassion has yet to reach its limits as you have much to give to folks in this community who have yet to enter these doors.

I will miss you and yet I rejoice for you and for Gwen Drake as she comes to be your new pastor as you help each other to learn, unlearn and relearn together.

My hope for you is that you continue to discover and claim your gifts for ministry. You have so much to give. There are so many hurting people in the Hillsboro area that need your compassion and grace. I hope that you can find ways to reach out to them both in mission and in inviting them on this journey of healing and wholeness with you.

So let your light shine. Take some risks in the name of God.

I can’t say it any better than St. Paul. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving; present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Joyce: Hopes

You are a great congregation and it has been my privilege to serve among you. I have tried to teach you some things, but in the end it is I who learned the most. You have shown me a congregation that has been resilient in the midst of trouble, resourceful when there was a job to be done, and faithful always. You have come through some hard times and come out on top! No, you are better than on top… you are winners! Hallelujah! Continue along your current path, look for ways to welcome strangers in your midst, and don’t be afraid to try new things and to change a little. Because I am convinced that God goes before you and leads the way. And with God in the lead, how can you possibly go wrong? My own thoughts and prayers will remain with you and I look forward to hearing even greater things from this congregation in the future. May the blessings of Christ be with you always. Hallelujah, and amen.