College Hill Moravian Church
To learn, share, live Christ's love
 

 

 
  

2008 Congregational Watchword
Matt 8:26
And Jesus said to the disciples, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" 

     

          2008 began with our congregational watchword- one taken from the gospel story of Jesus in the boat with his disciples during a terrible storm. In this watchword, Jesus chides his disciples for facing the storm with an attitude of fear rather than of faith ("Why are you afraid, you of little faith"). Looking back on 2008, we are excited by the ways in which many have acted in "faith" rather than "fear"-and the blessings this has brought to College Hill. 
            2008 began with the installation of our new Director of Music, Gwyneth Michel. When the search process for a Director of Music began in 2007, some voiced fears that College Hill would never find a capable Director. Yet those involved in the search process approached it with prayer, high expectations, and an unyielding faith that God was going to bring good. And just look what God has done! What a wonderful blessing we have in sister Gwyn. Not only has she shared with us her outstanding gifts as an organist, but under her leadership our entire musical program is being revitalized, and she herself has become a beloved part of our church family. The Search and Selection Committees approached the challenge of finding a new Director of Music in faith, not fear-- and just look at what God is doing! 
            2008 also marked the launching of the new Pastoral Care Initiative by our Board of Elders. At first, the prospect of reaching out to non-attending members seemed frightening to many of our Elders. Yet, in faith, they stepped out and began making these contacts. And how our congregation has been blessed! Not only are many once ‘disconnected' members becoming ‘reconnected' with their church family, but previously unrecognized pastoral care needs have come to light, and participation in worship is rising. God seems to be honoring and blessing the faith and hard work demonstrated by our Elders through the Pastoral Care Initiative. Refusing to be immobilized by fear, they have acted in faith-- and just look at what God is doing! 
            Our Easter Eggstravaganza has been a growing outreach of our congregation. In 2008, our Christian Education Committee dreamed of an Eggstravaganza event that would be even bigger and more ambitious than anything we'd ever tried before-broader publicity, music, skits, crafts, gifts packs from sponsors, a huge volunteer effort, hundreds of eggs (and, yes, the "Eggman"). Viewed through the eyes of fear, it could have seemed that the church was attempting something far beyond our means. Yet the leaders of the Eggstravaganza refused to sacrifice that vision-and the result was a success that exceeded wildest expectations. These leaders turned from fear and dreamed dreams empowered by faith-- and acted on those dreams-and just look at what God is doing! 
            In 2008, our church began exploring an innovative ministry called ‘Angel Food.' Leaders were excited by this ministry's potential at College Hill, but just as momentum began to build, our worst fears seemed to come true when we were notified that our application was rejected. Yet instead of allowing fear to have the last word, leaders persisted in their efforts, patiently worked through red tape, and over time not only was our application revisited and approved, but College Hill was awarded one of the two coveted Eastern District Mission development grants to help fund this ministry. By not allowing set-backs and discouragement to have the final word, the Angel Food leaders have modeled faith-and just look at what God is doing! 
            And there are so many other examples of College Hill members moving from fear to faith... members trusting God in their finances and tithing their income to God, members leaving home on mission trips to serve others, members embracing a re-visioned approach to Confirmation, a group of men willing to honestly discuss their walk with God over a weekly breakfast, members praying openly in a group for the first time... the list could go on and on. It seems that where-ever people are turning from fear to faith, God is working. Do you see it? 
           Coming back to our 2008 watchword, Jesus chides the disciples for acting in fear, rather than faith, even though their boat is caught in a terrific storm. But after all, wasn't it only natural for them to be afraid--wasn't the danger real? Surely these fishermen had witnessed ships sink in storms before. Perhaps they had seen people drown. Why should this storm be any different? Why shouldn't they be afraid?
            Perhaps the point of Jesus' reproof is this: If the disciples had been facing this storm alone, their fears would have been justified. But the difference with this particular storm was that they weren't alone... Jesus was with them. In this particular storm, Jesus was in their boat! Yes, they may have needed to row hard against the storm, they may have needed to give the best they had, but in the end, as long as they stuck with Jesus, what did they have to fear? After all, couldn't Jesus calm the storm at any moment, with a single word? Might this be the reason Jesus was frustrated with the disciples, not because they feared the storm, but because they put so little stock in the fact that Jesus was there with them? Was Jesus frustrated with his disciples simply because they did not recognize that his presence with them in this storm changed everything--  because they didn't grasp the fact having Jesus in their boat was a "game changer"? 
            Fear focuses on the storm. Faith focuses on whether Jesus is in our boat. Fear wants to avoid storms at any cost. Faith helps us realize that it is better to be in the eye of a hurricane with Jesus in our boat than to be on the calmest seas without him. 
            And it is against this back-drop that now, a year later, College Hill has received the following as our 2009 Congregational Watchword:


2009 Congregational Watchword
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.


      Who is the "Word" who "became flesh and lived among us"? From the context, it is clear that this is Jesus himself. And so our new Watchword seems to make the bold statement that Jesus is indeed here, among us.
            Could it be that, through our 2009 watchword, God is continuing the conversation from our 2008 watchword? First, in 2008, we are reminded that, so long as Jesus is with us, we can and should face the storms that surround us guided by faith, not fear. And now, in 2009, we are given the unusual and powerful assurance that Christ is indeed with us. Think about that... 
       Recently, some have spoken of experiencing something at church that they've struggled to find words for. People have made comments like "It feels like something good is beginning to happen" "It seems like there is a fresh blowing of the Spirit" "I'm feeling a sense of growing excitement" "It feels like something is being renewed." Would it be too much to hope that what many speak of sensing is actually the presence of Jesus himself among us? Isn't this what the watchword we've been given seems to suggest? Could it be that we are catching glimpses of Jesus' glory among us, just as our Watchword promises? 
            Christ is with us. But that doesn't mean that we have not or will not face "storms" as individuals and as a Church Family (in fact, check out the watchwords for our Board of Elders [Luke 22:32] and Board Trustees [Habakkuk 2:3] - and consider what these might be saying about all this!). But in the midst of such storms, College Hill seems to be called to resist the impulse to be driven by fear, and to turn instead to faith-just as many have exemplified for us all in 2008. 
            College Hill is God's church. In 2009, may God raise up within this church even more examples of such faith. And years from now, when we look back on 2009, may we remember it as a year in which we responded to life's storms with faith-- faith grounded in Christ's presence with us. Someday, looking back on 2009, may we be able to say "just look at what God has done!"


Pastors Dave and Cynthia                  
[From the Pastors Report to 2009 Church Council]