Category: Faith And Spirituality

“In All Generations…”

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The familiar hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” was written by Isaac Watts to respond to a political crisis and the resulting anxiety among the people of his nation and parish. Queen Anne of England was dying with no heir apparent to follow her. Many feared a recurrence of the turmoil and religious persecutions which had occurred in the past when one party had succeeded another in power.

If polls are to be believed, a substantial number of US citizens are apprehensive about the upcoming election. A political angst not unlike that of Watts’ time looms over us. Pondering events in his own time, Watts found assurance and inspiration in Psalm 90.

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psalm 90: 1)

The resulting hymn celebrates God’s faithfulness and guidance in the past and affirms the Creator’s sovereignty in the midst of present uncertainty. Though we face constant change in our own lives and in the course of nations, a pattern of continuity and security emerges when we resolve to “dwell in the Lord.” God is “our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.”

Watts composed his hymn to respond to a time of crisis but its lyrics are equally apt for any occasion during which the church marks the passage of time and looks forward to see where God will lead it in the future.

Please join us on June 5th when we sing this hymn during 9:30 am worship as we observe the anniversary of East Hills Moravian Church. We will pause to remember what God has done for, with, and through this congregation in the past and then join with the psalmist in praying:

“Let the favor of the Lord be upon us and prosper for us the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17)

Pastor Derek French

“To Us, To Us, This Task is Given”

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moravian synodMission and outreach on behalf of the Savior, rather than denominational expansion, was the initial focus of Moravian work In North America. Collectively and individually the church willingly made great sacrifices to bring the good news about Jesus Christ to persons who otherwise would never have heard it.

This summer’s Eastern District Synod (June 22-25) seeks to re-kindle our passion for the Savior’s ongoing work through a special focus on local and world mission. Before joining together in mission teams to prayerfully consider congregational and district mission initiatives, delegates will participate in a “hands-on” mission learning experience at one of many sites throughout the Lehigh Valley. It is hoped that their experience will inform the work of synod and encourage Eastern District congregations to reach beyond the walls of the sanctuary and their member rosters in spreading spreading God’s Word.

The title of the synod is taken from the third stanza of “Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord,” written by the late Moravian bishop Edwin Kortz:

But not for us alone this news
was brought by Christ our Lord.
‘Twas meant for all the world to hear
and thus with one accord
with all God’s children everywhere
his name and sign with pride we bear.
To us, to us this task is giv’n:
to spread God’s word. Amen.

I find it interesting that God has most abundantly blessed the Moravian Church whenever its members have “lost themselves” in the Savior’s work with little concern for how doing so would benefit them individually or institutionally. Perhaps as we reflect on our history there are lessons for us as we set the ministry priorities of our congregation and district.

  • Pastor Derek French

The Moravian Church As A Unity

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moravian church ground of the unity
What does the word “church” mean to you? Does it elicit thoughts and memories of the persons, activities, and building which comprise our congregation or a former congregation to which you belonged? Or does the term embrace all who love and follow our Lord? Is the church merely a human institution, or something more – a transcendent reality not yet fully realized on earth as it is in heaven?

I urge you to reflect on the following words from the Ground of the Unity as we prepare ourselves to celebrate World Communion Sunday on October 4th. This is who we, as Moravian followers of Jesus are, or seek to become. We are a connectional body, bound to each other and to all Christians through a common relationship to our Lord. “Unitas Fratrum” is the official Latin name of the worldwide Moravian Church.

We believe in and confess the Unity of the Church given in the one Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior. He died that He might unite the scattered children of God. As the living Lord and Shepherd, He is leading His flock toward such unity.

The Unitas Fratrum espoused such unity when it took over the name of the old Bohemian Brethren’s Church, “Unitas Fratrum” (Unity of Brethren). Nor can we ever forget the powerful unifying experience granted by the crucified and risen Lord to our fathers in Herrnhut on the occasion of the Holy Communion of August 13, 1727, in Berthelsdorf.

It is the Lord’s will that Christendom should give evidence of and seek unity in Him with zeal and love. In our own midst we see how such Unity has been promised us and laid upon us as a charge. We recognize that through the grace of Christ the different churches have received many gifts. It is our desire that we may learn from each other and rejoice together in the riches of the love of Christ and the manifold wisdom of God.

We confess our share in the guilt which is manifest in the severed and divided state of Christendom. By means of such divisions we ourselves hinder the message and power of the Gospel. We recognize the danger of self-righteousness and judging others without love.

Since we together with all Christendom are pilgrims on the way to meet our coming Lord, we welcome every step that brings us nearer the goal of unity in Him. He Himself invites us to communion in His supper. Through it He leads the Church toward that union which He has promised. By means of His presence in the Holy Communion, He makes our unity in Him evident and certain even today. Amen!

Dear Congregation, Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity on the 20th anniversary of my ordination. It is a great joy to serve the Lord as your pastor and to partner with you in carrying out the Savior’s work at East Hills Moravian Church. I shall always think fondly of you whenever I wear my new surplice.

With gratitude and praise,

Pastor Derek

The Power of Story

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Each of us has a story – a narrative of personal identity comprising our struggles and triumphs, our joys and sorrows, and the persons and places which have filled our life. We write new chapters as we respond to circumstances and events beyond our control or accomplish goals through careful planning and diligent effort. Occasionally, we share our story with others or listen to their stories and so are drawn closer together. It is through the sharing of personal stories that community is born.

Our story is but one in an anthology of stories. We hear other stories on the evening news, watch them on television, play them out in video games or read them in books. Stories shape us. They influence the formation of our world-view, mold our identity, and can transmit powerful life lessons and values to us.

Persons who wish to pattern their lives after Jesus’ example should know the stories of his life and the stories from scripture which shaped Jesus’ world as well or better than they know the plot and characters of popular movies, games and television series. Such familiarity is of inestimable help in placing one’s own story into the context of God’s story and the story of those seeking to follow Jesus.

East Hills Moravian Church is committed to helping persons learn of Christ and gain new – or renewed – appreciation for biblical stories. We have a full range of Sunday School classes for all ages including three very different options for adults, a traditional bible study, a discussion class, and a parenting class.

On Rally Day, September 13 at 9:45 am, we will meet in the Family Center to introduce our theme for Christian education for this year: “I Love to Tell the Story.” The title is borrowed from an old gospel hymn (#625) that many of our members know and enjoy. We will hear members of the congregation share favorite bible stories from a first person perspective at multiple stations in the Family Center and enjoy a time of celebration and fellowship. Worship at 8:30 am and 11:00 am will also incorporate the same theme and hymn.

Also, please note an orientation for youth and their parents wishing to learn more about preparatory classes for the Rite of Confirmation will be held in the Sanctuary Sunday, September 20 at 6:30 pm. East Hills offers a two year program of discovery and instruction which meets the first and third Sundays of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. The Rite of Confirmation is held annually on Pentecost Sunday which, in 2016, falls on May 15.

  • Pastor Derek French

The Martyrdom of John Hus

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The lives and concerns of those who lived in the past can often seem remote and irrelevant. In this, the 600th anniversary year of his martyrdom, what does John Hus mean to us?

jan hus at the stake

Jan Hus at the stake

The Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood has observed that John Hus and Pope Francis would probably get along very well together. Like the present pontiff, Hus wished to “return the church to its divine mission of servanthood.” He believed the corrupting, worldly influence of wealth and power grievously hindered the church’s mission of proclaiming God’s unconditional, liberating grace. His frequent preaching on themes of reform and social justice were warmly received by the peasantry and rising middle class of 15th century Bohemia (located in the present day Czech Republic). Pope Francis’ appeal is akin to the esteem in which commoners held John Hus.

The church in Hus’ time had few financial problems. Secular authorities had granted it the right to collect a 10% tax of income, crops or livestock. Payment was enforced by the possibility of excommunication. Those who were excommunicated were denied pastoral care and access to the sacraments, which at that time included burial and marriage. To speak to one who was excommunicated, to sell them anything, or offer them employment was to risk excommunication oneself. Hus spoke out strongly against this practice of linking spiritual care to one’s ability to pay and believed that the practice went against the clear teaching of Christ. He also attacked moral lapses among clergy colleagues such as fornication and the keeping of mistresses. How could laity trust the spiritual guidance of clergy if the latter were compromised by greed and lust?

Hus and his followers were among the first to break the close relationship of church and state characteristic of the medieval European society. Hus maintained that the church should challenge the policies of secular authorities whenever these conflicted with God’s will. Policies which benefit the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the poor and middle class are not faithful to the teaching of Christ and must be opposed. Leaders of the church should not serve as cheerleaders or fundraisers for national military action but rather follow Christ’s command to love and pray for their enemies (Matthew 5:44.)

Hus’ uncompromising moral stance and polemics alienated those who benefited materially from the status quo. His prophetic words are potentially as inflammatory today as in 1415.

– Pastor Derek French

 

Being Disciples of Jesus – Together

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“Going to church doesn’t make a person anymore a Christian than going to a barn makes a person a cow.” So said Phil as we loaded gallons of floor wax and cleaning supplies into boxes, weighed them and prepared them for shipping in the cleaning supply warehouse where we both worked. By “Christian”, Phil meant one who was a sincere follower of Jesus’ teachings; in other words, a disciple. I had to agree with him.

Phil was not arguing that the church was unnecessary for those seeking to follow Jesus. He regularly attended worship, financially supported his congregation, and assisted at its annual pulled pork, pit BBQ. Yet these activities would have fallen short of the mark had they not been grounded in Phil’s relationship with Christ. It was that relationship and the effort to follow Christ’s commandments which Phil believed identified persons as Jesus’ disciples. It’s easy to get so caught up in “doing church” that we forget to “be church”.

In Luke’s Gospel is a story of Jesus’ visit to the home of sisters Martha and Mary. Martha, the typical “worker bee”, focused on the many tasks needed to prepare for the visit of a distinguished guest while Mary spent her time listening intently to the charismatic Rabbi identified by many as the Messiah. Scripture tells us that Martha, “distracted by her many tasks”, came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus answered: “Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing …”

Jesus is not advocating sloth. He is not dismissing the industry of Martha. Home, church and society all need persons willing to complete the tasks necessary for their continuation. What Jesus is saying is that we cannot let activity, work, programs, upkeep, and the business of life and the church distract us from the one needful thing – knowing God through Jesus Christ and making that God known to others. A vibrant relationship with God is not only the key to discipleship but also the definition of eternal life. (Jn 17:3)

This summer may you find those precious moments to spend with Jesus to refresh your spirit. May you grow in relationship with God and commitment to be Jesus’ disciple. May a deeper communion with the Holy One guide your efforts so that your industrious labor on behalf of family, community and church will be not a distraction, but a witness to one thing which is needed.

A Question: How does this program, this fundraiser, this worship service, this time of fellowship, this committee meeting help those who attend know Christ and make him known?

– Pastor Derek French

Advice and a Challenge for Followers of Jesus

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Recently, I read the news online to catch up on world events; instantly I wished I had not. Have you had a similar experience? You want to be well informed, but when you turn on the television or surf the ‘net’ you find yourself awash in stories of corruption, political rancor, and human tragedy. In short order, you may find yourself either feeling numb to human suffering or depressed and resigned to the sorry state of the world.

Whatever commands our emotional and mental attention profoundly shapes our understanding and experience of life. We are what we think as much as what we eat. Our thoughts affect how we understand the world and ourselves and influence how we interact with others. That is why it is vitally important that we each be aware of our thought process and its personal, social, and spiritual implications.

This insight is not new. Two thousand years ago the apostle Paul addressed the issue when he wrote the following advice to members of the congregation in Philippi, a city named after the father of Alexander the Great.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4:8-9)

With these words, Paul urges followers of Jesus to take responsibility for their thoughts as well
as their words and actions. He understood that the vitality of the congregation at Philippi, the
effectiveness of their Christian witness, and the capacity for individual spiritual growth were all
either nurtured or hampered by whatever occupied members’ minds. The same holds true for us at East Hills Moravian Church.

Here’s the challenge:

  1. Become aware of what you think and take responsibility for your thought patterns.
  2. In your own life and in our life together as a community of faith, what is true, honorable,
    just, pure, pleasing, commendable, or excellent?
  3. If you feel comfortable doing so, why not share your awareness of these blessings with someone else?
  4. Make a commitment not to give power to negativity. Do not invest yourself emotionally or
    mentally in negative thoughts. Allow your own negative thoughts to pass through your mind quickly without judgment or comment. (When you try to resist negative thoughts actively, you may find that they get “stuck” – that is you obsess.) Extend the same grace towards others who express negative opinions. Hear them out, but neither affirm their negativity nor engage them in a struggle over it.

– Pastor Derek French

 

Tithing as Testimony

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Tithing is a tangible expression of gratitude for God’s past blessings. It is a statement of trust in God’s future care. Tithing testifies to the centrality of faith and relationship with God in one’s life. To tithe is to dedicate the first tenth of one’s income to the work of the Lord. Because Jesus is no longer physically present we give to God by giving to institutions which carry out Christ’s work. Chief among these is the church – which scripture describes as the “body of Christ.” (Ephesians 1:22-23 and elsewhere)

St. Paul understands of the spiritual need of the believer to give and the blessings which generosity conveys to both recipients and givers still rings true:

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12)

Our Joint Board trusts in the bounty of God and the miracle of generosity. We have selected The New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program in order to present the biblical, spiritual perspective on giving and assist those who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship and worship. We encourage persons to progress towards intentional, proportional, systematic giving in response to the question: “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

On Consecration Sunday, November 2nd we will ask worshippers to make their financial commitment to support East Hills Moravian Church’s ministries of worship, education, outreach, and mission through its general budget for the year 2015. All attending will have the opportunity to make their commitments as a voluntary, confidential act of worship. Afterwards we will gather in the Family Center to share a celebration brunch.

Sunday November 2: Consecration Sunday
One unity service worship at 9:30 am followed by brunch

Sundays, November 9, 16, 23, & 30:
Two worship services at 8:30 &11:00 am/ Sunday School at 9:45 am

– Pastor Derek French