Report of the Pastor
CHARGE CONFERENCE
WRITTEN BY REV. NICHOLAS PERRY
01 NOVEMBER 2016
“When he had finished speaking, [Jesus] said to Simon,
‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’”
(Luke 5:4)
The late William Sloane Coffin once shared,
There was a story told in Lincoln’s time of a man asking the pilot of a Mississippi riverboat how long he had been plying his trade.
“Twenty-six years,” the pilot replied.
“Then,” he said to the man, “you know where all the rocks are, all the shoals, and sandbars?”
“No,” said the pilot. “I just know where they ain’t.”
Several years ago, I was white water rafting with the youth in one congregation that I served. We tried as best we could to navigate the waters of Letchworth State Park, but sometimes we would get caught upon rocks where the water was shallow [due to a lack of rain]. Although the experience was fun and I would certainly do it again, I didn’t like being stuck in my rubber raft on a pile of rocks as others passed by.
It is amazing to me how the theme of water flows from the Old into the New Testament perhaps encouraging us to explore its depths. In fact, during Holy Baptism we recall numerous accounts of water in the Scripture:
Old Testament New Testament
Creation Jesus’ birth
During the flood Jesus’ baptism
Parting of the Red Sea Jesus’ death and resurrection
Passing through the Jordan Holy Spirit’s baptism on believers
We live in shallow times. We continue to find ourselves and/or others stuck on the rocks unable to move. The good news is that we have a Savior who knows not only where the rocks, shoals, and sandbars are but far more importantly Christ knows where the deep water is (and how to get us there). We also come from a faith tradition that has provided tools for going deeper and exploring the great depths and vastness of God’s grace.
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Weird Animals: Where Jesus’ Love Is One-of-a-Kind. I have had plenty of opportunities to attend various meetings from Taking Off Pounds Sensibly
- Bible Studies such as Adam Hamilton’s The Way Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus and our forthcoming Advent Study Under Wraps by Jessica LaGrone.
- Small Groups United Methodist Women I, United Methodist Woman II, Voices of Westfield, Sunday School classes.
- Cornerstone District Events such as Road Trip and/or Catch the Spirit.
- Building Connections with the Apple Seed Pre-school, the Westfield Community Kitchen, and the Westfield Food Pantry.
- Stewardship to be 100% sustainable (without dipping into our investments) to promote a holistic understanding of giving through sermons, articles, and testimonials.
We can point out where the rocks, shoals, and sandbars are. We know that tune well. However, we must also hear the clear invitation from Christ to “’Put out into deeper water, and let down the nets for a catch’” (Luke 5:4). We, I believe, as a church, are poised to allow the Holy Spirit’s breath to fill our sails and to lead us out into deeper waters.
Personally, I am excited to see that our Sunday School program is teeming with new life. Just this morning, I had a conversation with someone with plans that are already underway for a Junior Church to operate during the Second service. I suspect that other plans will begin to emerge as we push off from the shoreline and learn together some of the timeless teachings of John Wesley, our Methodist heritage, and their impact and usefulness for modern-day disciples who desire to go deeper.
Blessings,
Pastor
