| When the PNC reported to the
congregation at the Semi-Annual meeting in February, we promised that the
committee would complete its work of finding a new pastor in less time than the
40 years that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. And we made good on the
promise, presenting Brian Snyder to the congregation for approval after 19
months of searching. Having voted to confirm Brian’s call, the congregation
stands before a “Promised Land” as Brian joins us for our journey into the
future.
When Moses died in the wilderness,
God commissioned Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
There had never been anyone like Moses, and now the Israelites were left with a
new and untested leader. And God said:
“As I was with
Moses, so I will be with you. Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be terrified.
Do not be discouraged, for the
Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!”
Joshua 1: 5,9
Ahhhh ! Times of transition, don’t
you love them. When everything is up in the air, the current era is coming to an
end and the new one is just around the corner with all its potential for CHANGE.
And it’s not just at Bower Hill. It’s all around us – Just pick a topic:
Health care – More coverage,
more debt, more taxes.
Who knows
where we are headed on this important issue?
Energy – BP Oil spill in
the Gulf, Marcellus Shale, Drill baby Drill.
Who knows what
the right answer is for energy security?
Economy – Job losses,
housing turmoil, deficits, new taxes, spending cuts.
Who’s in
charge?
What a blessing to have God to hold
onto in times like these!
Throughout its search process, the
PNC remained grounded by prayer and our faith that God is with us. We prayed
together and individually that we would listen to God’s voice and try to see His
will for our church. A lot of folks in the congregation prayed for us too.
Prayer was a source of much comfort and it was very energizing to recognize
God’s hand in our committee’s deliberations.
So if I can be bold to offer some
words of advice to Bower Hill as we prepare for our future, they would look
something like this (forgive the bullet points – I am an engineer by profession
and old habits die hard. At least, it’s not a PowerPoint presentation):
To the PNC –
It’s not over for us yet. We
still have a vital role to play during the transition, supporting Brian and
helping him to get to know Bower Hill.
To the congregation
— Keep on praying for
Brian, for the Session and committees of the church, for your fellow members and
for all those people who could be members in the future
To the Session –
Move forward to do the
work you have been given, with humor and a spirit of enthusiasm. Remember, God
will guide if you just listen.
To the staff –
Don’t be fearful about a
new boss. He wants the office and the programs to work smoothly and succeed as
much as you do.
To each individual –
Look for ways to help
Bower Hill grow. Participate in worship, volunteer for service, talk to your
neighbors about Bower Hill and invite them to church.
Bower Hill church has a long and
proud history of providing Christian love and service to each other, our
neighbors, our community and around the world. God has been with Bower Hill in
the past. He has now helped us to find a new pastor to lead us into the glorious
future He has planned for us. Let us embrace this transition and rejoice in
God’s wisdom and blessing to us.
Amen
Rick Jacobs, FORMER chair of the PNC |
