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Pastor's Annual Report for 2007"…become with us a witness to (Jesus') resurrection." -- Acts 1:22Dear Friends, At the beginning of the Book of Acts, when they need a new apostle, there is one central job description: be a witness to the resurrection. In the worldwide Church today, and here at NHCC, there is no better way to describe what we do and what is left to do than this very same phrase: Witness, resurrection. In a world of skepticism, caution, deficit and -- yes -- death, our story is resurrection. In an era of distraction and disappointment, we pay attention to the God of new life, inclusiveness and satisfaction: the God of joy and hope and (as my daughter says) second chances. Resurrection may take more than two pages to explain and offer nearly infinite expressions to apprehend, but I believe that it is a great keystone for our discipleship with Jesus and our practices as a parish; in many and various ways resurrection is what inspired us in 2007 and what identifies us every year. Right out of the gate 2007 was a year of new exploration and expression. We
started the year with a progressive supper (I still love that name!) and infused
it with worship, study, children's events, and traditional practices that kept
reflecting new life. We offered two evenings on Theology
for Parents or how to talk to kids about God. We helped to host a
cross-state walk for (or rather against) climate change, feeding a
hundred folks at Andover Newton Theological School. We studied to grow
closer to Bread for the World, instituted some fellowship events like Dim Sum in
Chinatown, read together about Practices of Faith, and preached on Peace. We
christened our Growth Committee, founded a Men's Retreat, and offered a series
where theology, economics, and science were discussed pertaining to Global
Warming. In the fall we began an intentional worship format (sometimes set
aside) with a traditional communion service starting the month, an "in
depth" sermon on the second Sunday, something experimental on the third
Sunday (One of these was a "poetry service," where everything came
from published poets), and a deeper focus on prayer on the fourth Sunday. On
every fifth Sunday, although not only then, we commit to a mission focus. While
this format has generally been under the radar, and even discontinued for
certain seasons, it has met with good response. At Advent we featured lay
testimony to faith in worship. Collegial life influenced us for the better. Organist Yee-Yeon Soh took some weeks off during which we retained a substitute. We missed Yee-Yeon while she was away, but celebrated her return. We enjoyed a partially-updated Star Pageant delightfully directed by Christine Fletcher! Outside of the walls of the parish, our new Missions chair Marian Reynolds kept up old commitments and added new ones: we try to feed, clothe, house, and encourage those in need in the classic Biblical model. Marian has inspired this. Also outside the walls, our denomination, the United Church of Christ, celebrated its fiftieth birthday in Hartford, Connecticut, and my colleague Gretchen Elmendorf and I were both there for portions of the event. Several lay people also went to see speeches by UCC members Bill Moyers and Barack Obama. Will history remember them? Maybe we'll know more next year! Gretchen and I also attended the Massachusetts Conference events, including the installation of former pastor Jim Antal as Minister and President (in Worcester) and what are called Clergy Communities of Practice, where collegial learning takes place. I am honored to lead/facilitate one of these groups in Newton. During the summer and for the weekend of Village Day, our Open and Affirming activists organized and hosted a "Shower of Stoles" which presents numerous clergy vestments from gay and lesbian servants of God, along with their individual stories of exclusion, inclusion, pain, and hope. It was a moving display. I was honored to conduct three baptisms this year, just two weddings, and the
most moving Communion Service that I can imagine. On World Communion Sunday (the
first in October) we heard calls to the table, prayers, and portions of the
celebration liturgy in seven languages: German, Spanish, Korean, Hebrew, Scots,
Italian, and English. To me this was a moving sacrament. I was privileged to
preach thirty-eight sermons this year (The Deacons took on one more for laity
during the summer, now totaling seven.) and to be in worship many times more. I
was delighted to start the new Men's Group for an overnight retreat, on which
twelve of us traveled to New Hampshire and the Hoyt/Connolly house and a
meaningful time. In my role as pastor, I serve also on the Board of Directors of the Weekday Nursery School. The summer of 2007 was enormously busy during a time of transition following the resignation of our wonderful, long-term director, and now the school is in great shape with new leadership. Following our capital campaign here, I am often called to share information and consult on campaigns elsewhere, and I delight in that gift. Always finances reflect our theology and our vision. All too often we have a shortfall or deficit. Due to diligent work by Randy Ellis and our Stewardship Council, and due to deep and often sacrificial giving by our members and friends, 2007 and apparently 2008 both reflect surpluses! Thank you, members and friends. And thank you, Jim Harper, for tracking all of this. Thank you, Jesus. Thanks go also to two persons more: our Administrative Secretary Ellen Daniels who oversaw significant (really!) renovations during the summer, due to the Capital Campaign, and new Moderator Hope Wallace Hill who ran our first 20 minute special meeting this May and conducts Council with grace and organization. Last year we took a look at one dimension of resurrection that we incorporate into our organization as "Growth." This year we learned that eighty-five percent of folks who come into a church for the first time do so because a member (not an advertisement or a pastor) has invited them. Growth folks don't use the "E" word evangelism anymore. They use the "E" word elbow. You invite someone at your side. Will this work in 2008? And what will change if we grow? What do we long to change no matter what? Change is, of course, the logical results of resurrection, because it doesn't look or act the same as what came before it. Our beloved church will change to follow God's resurrection way, and ideally that change will come as the result of love from God. But what will that be? I pray that we discern God's love and direction together, with faith. And as I head toward completing my sixth year here, I rejoice in growing together, too. Indeed, I thank God for our call and our opportunities, and for the ministry of this church as a witness to the resurrection every season of every year.
http://www.nhcc.net/events2008/misc/ann_rep2007.htm |
