A Reflection by Pat Hastings delivered on July 3rd
Like the disciples in the boat we have been given a task to perform. Over many months (and for some of us, years) we have been praying for guidance, discussing, soul searching with worship and work, listening circles, menus of options, etc., in order to discern our way forward as followers of Jesus. The result is that we have been led to keep our community of faith, as a witness of God’s power and presence in our lives, in our local community.
Now, after some of those we love have left, we may feel much like the disciples when they did as Jesus asked and went into the boat to go to the other side. However, when the storm arose, they became worried, afraid, anxious lest the boat sink. Jesus was unaware of their concerns He was fast asleep. Finally, the disciples became so frightened they called on Jesus, woke Him and alerted Him to their plight. His response?
Jesus calmly rebuked the wind and the sea calmed down. Then he asked “Why were you afraid? Have you no faith?”
Well, here we are and yes, we miss those who have left but we have stepped out in faith. Now it is necessary that we trust God to continue to guide us. Our experience as God’s community of faith in Dalston-Crown Hill over the years has proven that God cares for us and puts people in place when we need them.
I have been a member of this community of faith for 62 years, since 1964, when I married my first husband Jim Kenny of Crown Hill. The changes I have seen have been many and varied.
It is in looking back that I can see God at work. He put people in place who had the talents which proved to be what was needed at the time, sometimes for the congregation as a whole and sometimes just the right gifts that were needed when a member of the congregation was experiencing a difficult trial.
One personal example: One year Dalston congregation were unhappy with our young minister and as a result he was leaving. Those at Crown Hill were not very happy about the change, and I was firmly among them. However, the minister that followed proved to be a godsend to me. She was minister at the time my husband who was totally blind became ill and died. This minister walked alongside me at that time giving me support and understanding on a difficult journey. I thanked God that she was there. It was as if God knew she was the one I would need at that time – so he arranged for the change.
Another example: Our minister had a recurrence of her cancer. Dalston-Crown Hill needed someone to take over when our minister could no longer continue. Rev. Susanne Vanderlugt “just happened” to be available. She had the strengths and talents that were needed by our congregation at that time. She guided us over a very difficult time of loss and strengthened us in preparation for a new beginning. A coincidence? … NO. A Godincidence!
I do not pretend to know all the ins and outs of God’s plans but there are some generalities that I can make from my experiences which help me to trust that God is working and will continue to be working even when, like the disciples in the boat, we do not feel His presence and it doesn’t seem to us that God has everything under control.
Over these past 62 years, ministers have come and gone members of the congregation have come and gone. The congregation has experienced mountain top times and valley times. We have mourned together, laughed together, cried together, agreed or disagreed with each other, made pies and served meals together, worshipped together in many different ways and even in different places. And yet through this myriad of changes:
- my faith in our loving God has been nurtured,
- my understanding of the width and depth of God’s love has grown,
- and my knowledge of the importance of God’s word has increased.
This rural church community of faith has helped me realize that no matter what is happening in the world around me I am loved by God. God loves me unconditionally, just as He loves each of you. I can have God’s peace in my innermost being no matter the struggle or chaos around me. If I just seek Him out, read His Word, talk to Him (after all, prayer.is just talking to God – like a good friend, pouring out my hopes, dreams, troubles) and I know that God is in control and all is well with my soul.
I want others in our local community to be able to experience this quality of fellowship and love. That is the reason I am still here. I believe that this is why God has led so many of us to choose to stay as a community of faith in our local community. There are many people in our local community who are hurting, facing trials, job loss, family breakups, loss of loved ones. I would like them to have the benefit of a local church community where they can be “family”, they can learn about the love of Jesus, they can experience the loving support of a faith family, they can experience God’s love and grow in their understanding and relationship with God.
We have put our boat out into the water trusting that God is putting His plans in motion. Already we have seen our summer schedule fill up, our Conference liaison person for the Search Committee for a new minister is in place, Our supervising minister has been appointed. Sometimes we may face winds and waves but we must remember God is at work behind the scenes. We must trust in our God. God is at work even when we can’t see him, even when nothing seems to be happening.
Honourable David Onley, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario who is disabled and in a wheelchair (and served his term as Lieutenant-Governor while in a wheelchair). was interviewed recently on 100 Huntley Street. When asked how he had been able to adjust to his life as a disabled person, he answered with Isaiah 43 verses 18 and 19.”Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. Behold I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert.” The Honourable David Onley said that verse guided him to look ahead, trusting in the Lord to find his way, not looking back with regret at how things were in the past.
Let us remember to pray regularly and often to our God. We need to thank Him for His Care. We need to ask for His Guidance. We need to ask Him to send His Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen our Leadership Team and the Search Team for our new minister and to give them wisdom.
Let us repeat together our New Creed, savouring the power in the words:
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.