Holland Methodist Church

Month: September 2019

7-DAY DANIEL FAST

“Grounded in Christ: Loving-Serving-Rejoicing”

Focus: Operation Andrew

Sunday 1st – Sunday 8th September, 2019

Dear Sisters & Brothers,

The Peace of the Lord be always with you. As we prepare to begin a new Church Year, the Leeward Islands District agreed to begin the Church year with a time of Prayer & Fasting from Sunday 1st September, 2019, at 5:00pm – Sunday 8th September at 2:00pm.   This will be a 7 day period based on the ‘Daniel Fast’ (Daniel Chapter 1 & Chapter 10) – where “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine” (vs 8). The secret to a Daniel Fast is to PURPOSE in your heart; that is, to make a vow as you enter the fast that you will purpose to follow the Lord in what you eat and drink. During a Daniel Fast you give up the things you enjoy eating and eat only what is necessary. Therefore, the Daniel fast is an expression of abstinence for the purposes of self-discipline.

During this Fast we seek for a more intimate relationship with God, a clearer sense of vision & purpose, and a deeper commitment to the ministry of the Church, while ridding our bodies of some of the self-gratifying foods and drinks. Our focus is completely on God, as we “take our eyes off the things of this world.” Let us set clear goals and be specific about what we want to achieve through this fast.

If for medical reasons you are unable to join us in the Fast, but you are interested in participating, partner with us each day in the Scripture readings and share the meditation themes, while joining us in prayer for the various prayer concerns.

Let us use this as a time to draw closer to God and to seek His divine will for our lives and His Church. Let us all commit ourselves to prayer for each other and our Church.

Derek C. O. Browne (Rev.), Secretary for Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

SOME REASONS TO FAST AS A CHURCH

1. Fasting helps to bring and keep us in the presence of God as we seek God for a special purpose.
2. It helps to empty us of what does not belong so that we may be filled by his Spirit.
3. It helps us to humble ourselves before God and declare our reliance on God as sovereign.
4. Fasting helps to focus our attention on those things for which we are praying.
5. It helps to remove ourselves from the natural, everyday activities, and enables us to give ourselves fully to our spirit focused goals or desires.
6. It helps to remove the distractions of the everyday routine that sometimes hinder the effectiveness of our prayers.
7. Fasting helps in the control and discipline of our lives.
8. It prevents us from being enslaved to habit.
9. It helps us to keep physically fit and prevents us from becoming overweight. By choosing to go without we gain something of greater significance or consequence.
10. Fasting helps to release the purposes and power of God in our lives, in the lives of those we are praying for, and in the life Church.

PRAYERS THAT CAN BE USED DURING THE FAST

An Evening Prayer
To you, O God, we offer the coming day’s devotion of prayer and fasting. Thank you for the example of Jesus. Grant that we may die to ourselves, but make us new in Christ. Feed the starvation of the soul, of thought, of will and after quiet rest of sleep, open our mouths to praise you in the morning. Through Jesus Christ your Son, our Light and our Strength. Amen.

A Morning Prayer
How great and gracious you are, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! We pray for your world – for righteousness, justice , peace, healing, hope and salvation. May the whole world know amazing grace and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Savior of the world. We dedicate today to the glory of your grace, to the good of your children, in the power of the Holy Spirit and in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Mealtime Prayer
Thanks be to you, O God, for all your gifts, and especially those we shall not enjoy today. Thanks be to you for the inner nourishment of your presence and for new vigor in our prayer through this sign of fasting. Thanks be to you for family, children, friends, neighbors, church family, near and far. Thanks be to you for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Amen.

A Prayer for Breaking the Fast
To you, O God, we have offered this day of prayer and fasting. We pray for a world wide Pentecost, but especially in our Leeward Islands District and in each of our Circuits. Through the gift of your Holy Spirit empower us to be faithful ‘Andrews’ and Faith-Sharers of the good news of Christ Jesus. Grant the power of your Holy Spirit that we may serve you faithfully in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

(Prayers adapted from World Methodist Evangelism)

 

Message from District Bishop

President & General Superintendent
Bishop Charles A. Seaton
13A Solberg
P.O. Box 1045, Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, USVI 00804

3rd September 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters

As we begin this new church year, 2019 – 2020, I greet you in the name of our risen Lord. Indeed, with the hymn writer, “we praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that is to come.”

The theme for this triennium, “Grounded in Christ: Loving – Serving – Rejoicing,” serves to remind us that our relationship in Christ and the necessary outflow of such relationships are characterized by love, and joy as we seek to serve each other because of Him.

We enter this year with the reminder of the challenges we continue to face. Several of our Circuits are still struggling to rebuild after the devastating hurricanes of 2017 at a time when we are already being threatened by an already active hurricane season. In addition, we are bombarded by the continuing issues of crime, economies that are failing, moral decline and for many, a future that seems uncertain.

Speaking of hurricanes, our lives here in the St. Thomas/ St. John Circuit were disrupted by the unpredictably Dorian who not only changed course on us at last minute but developed into a hurricane right at our doorstep. Thank God that we did not suffer any serious damages, apart from some measure of disruption and inconvenience, hence my letter a week later.

Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas, particularly in Abaco and Grand Bahama, as they have been overpowered by the terrifying Dorian.

We need to begin to prepare to make a response to our sister District. I await words from the District President, Bishop Rolle and would inform you through your superintendents. Kindly allow God to guide your hearts in this regard. In addition, we hold in prayer those who lie in its path as it continues its rampage. Let us not be careless in our own preparation as we are at the height of the season. May God be gracious to us!

In all of this though, we share the hymn writer’s assurance, “sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings. It is the Lord who rises with healing in his wings.” We are being urged not to despair, for out of brokenness and gloom, there are many signs of hope and renewal.

This year, the call is for us all, to deepen our relationship with Christ, and be bold in proclaiming that grace in our relationships, service and work in our homes, church and communities.

I therefore wish for you, your families and church, a year of confidence in our grounding in Christ and all that it means for us as the people of God.

Yours because of Christ,

Bishop Charles A. Seaton
District President

Message to the Connexion 2019

The completion and commencement of yet another Connexional Year constrains us to affirm and celebrate the love, mercy, grace and faithfulness of our God. In the celebrated words of Jeremiah: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lam. 3:22-23 (NRSV).

Yes! God is faithful. Oui! Dieu est fidèle.  Sí! Dios es fiel.

During last year we experienced failed expectations and miraculous accomplishments; sickness and health; joy and bereavement; growth and decline. Some experiences prompted us to make significant changes and others forced us to.  Although there were areas that needed improvement your faithfulness in your stewardship of time, treasure and talent was commendable. Through it all God’s faithfulness was constant.

In the emerging year it is crucial that we seek God’s inspiration and guidance as we “Face the Tasks Unfinished”; respond to God who is gone before us into our Galilees; and improve in those areas where we have fallen short. God is faithful in God’s love for all of creation and God calls upon us, as “soldiers of the cross”, to do likewise.

Therefore, let “faithful” be our watch word during this year. FAITHFUL!! God help us to be faithful as active or superannuated ministers; as leaders of classes and organizations; as students and teachers; as local preachers; as circuit and congregational stewards; as employees and employers; as ushers, choristers, musicians, members or whatever position we may find ourselves. Let us strive to be authentic and dependable.

IMAGINE! Just imagine what kind of congregation you would be a part of if each person is faithful to God and to the task at hand. Be thou faithful to the end. I entreat us to embrace the words and message of our 50th Anniversary song which says:

“Let’s all arise in each generation
Peace, truth and justice shall be our aim
Purse our mission in word and action.
As God’s bright future we dare to claim

God is faithful guiding our mission
Through his mercy, we are right on track
Carrying on the work of those before us
Never tempted to turn back”

 By: George Mulrain and George Roberts

God is faithful to us and conversely, we should be faithful to God and our work.
In the name of God and for the sake of Christ and God’s Church I appeal to you to be faithful.

Bishop, The Rev’d Everald L. Galbraith
Connexional President
September 1, 2019

Pastor’s Corner 1st September 2019

Sisters and Brothers,

All praise to Our Redeeming Lord by whose grace we have come to a new Connexional Year.

This year is especially significant in that it marks thirty years of the MCCA Mission in Holland. The call to Mission is one that we must now take as seriously as ever. Throughout the District, our people are encouraged to enlist as Andrews who will lead others to encounters with our Redeeming Lord. This is something that every member, baptised or confirmed can share in. As we respond, we will realise that the target of enlisting three more active members in our Classes and Congregations is far from impossible. We know, through faith, “the assurance of things hoped for”, the evidence of things not [yet] seen” that this is well within God’s possibility.

We must present our response of faith, a response marked by love and Christian service, a response enabled through Jesus the Christ who gives all who believe in him the power to live purposefully for God. Our response of faith becomes the Lord’s instrument, for it is God who has acted in the past, who will answer our prayers, and grant the increase in our place and time.

In the past year, we have spent some time and effort in our worship experiences, Class Meetings, Discipleship Classes exploring how we give evidence that we live according to the District theme Grounded in Christ: Loving-Serving-Rejoicing. This year, we can more deliberately put out thoughts and resolutions into actively loving and serving others for Christ’s sake.

Bearing this in mind, I present the anniversary theme

          #Methodism NL@30: Loving Service through Faith in Christ

Our decision to make the legal transition from an association to a church is related. A church outward looking, never exclusive as an association may be. The church of Christ s even on the move, taking Christ’s love to others within and beyond its accustomed borders. It reaches others, serving them because of its faith in Christ Jesus, God’s love gift to all persons. A church is therefore inclusive, always listening for God’s voice telling us how, when and where to reach with loving service. And as we do, the love of our faithful God transforms the world around us, for God’s glory.

This, this is the God we adore,

Our faithful unchangeable friend

Whose love is as great as its power

And neither knows measure nor end.

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor