Sisters and Brothers,

Advent is here. Another liturgical year is starting and for the liturgical church, the cycle of our reflecting on what God has done in time, in human history, begins anew.

Beginnings are good. They provide opportunities for time-bound persons like us to start afresh. Of course, every new day affords new possibilities for a more deliberate attitude to our walk with God. But when Advent begins, we can do it together, so that it’s a community starting afresh.

What aspect of renewal can we emphasise together as we enter another season of Advent?

Let us remember that we are called to focus on the eschatological hope that is ours. In case the word seems unfamiliar, let me explain. Eschaton is Greek for the last, the end; but the focus is really on fulfilment. We look forward to the fulfilment of God’s kingdom (new word kin-dom). We need to remember though, that hope here is not wistful thinking, but it is grounded in the certainty of God. God is faithful. That we can attest to when we reflect on God’s past dealings with us and with humankind in general. So, we approach the future with that kind of hope, that what God has promised, God will fulfil.

Hence the Advent hope prompts us always to look backwards to what God has done in the past-, such as delivering on the promise of a Saviour who came to earth and shared our humanity. He lived and died to save us and has promised to come again in glory.

Advent proclamation, then, requires us to be grounded in the present, what God is doing in our time, while it calls is to look backwards in remembering, and forward to the realisation of Christ’s Kingdom.

Here I will use the twenty-first century word kin-dom which compels us to focus on relationships that reflect our common humanity as we journey towards our destination in Christ. Maybe that gives us something to think about in terms of the renewal needed. How determined have we been about winning kindred souls and getting new ones to also look forward to the coming Kingdom of Christ? Have we been taking soul winning sufficiently seriously? Has Operation Andrew been something that we prefer not to be involved in? Are we prepared to go forward in Christ without attracting others to participate in the new life?

Ley us not forget that Christ calls us to make disciples as we win others into this movement called the Church of Christ. Then we can travel together looking forward to God’s promise of fulfilment for all who await his coming again.

In this season of repentance (for Advent is also a time to emphasise repentance), maybe we need to seek renewal in a deepened desire to see new lives won for the Lord. And since this is in line with God’s will, we can anticipate that God will help us move forward together as we share the eschatological hope.

Sing we the King who is coming to reign. Glory to Jesus the Lamb that was slain!
Life and salvation his empire shall bring.  Joy to the nations when Jesus is King.

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

Sisters and Brothers,

As we start another Connexional Year, I invite us to give thanks for what God has enabled us to do in the past, and to launch out in faith into God’s possibility for now and the future.

This year marks the 35^th Anniversary of Methodist presence in this country. We give thanks for God’s faithfulness in preserving this branch of the Church. However, as we look back, do we sense that the Methodist witness has been sufficiently vibrant? Can we boast of faithful stewardship that has served towards the extension of God’s kingdom here, or has the life of the Methodist Church been confined to meeting the welfare of a declining membership?

As we look back in time and recall being part of a more vibrant faith community, may we be re-ignited with a passion for the things of God, and for sharing the faith we have inherited. As we launch into this thirty-fifth year, I invite us to be deliberate agents of revival, seeking a renewal of faith among us and others who have grown distant, as well as inspiring others to belong to the household of faith. If we are sufficiently passionate about this, the Lord will honour such holy desire and enable the Holland Circuit (Methodisten Kerk Nederland), to use all the means at its disposal, to extend. The extension will happen not just in numbers, but we will witness old and young ones being passionate about and striving to be equipped for doing God’s business.

As God’s agents in this time and place, let us be ready to use our gifts and resources for the work of ministry, for the extension of God’s community in the Netherlands. Through giving all that we can, we travel with travel with God into unexpected places, and experience the greatest surprises which help us to understand that, indeed, with God, all things are possible.

Speaking of giving, I am not speaking only about our Time and Talent, but also our Treasure. With reference to the last T, I am referring specifically to money. Many have been very generous in the past. A few have given sparingly, and some have given far less that they could have.

How about us correcting that this year? I invite every confirmed member of the circuit to give an Anniversary Gift of 35 euros. When we celebrated our thirtieth anniversary, some gave the anniversary gift of €30, but not everyone did. Let’s fix that. Let each one of us give €35 to the circuit between now and April 30, that is, at any time during the first three quarters. This way, by Aldersgate everyone will have given his/her Anniversary Love Gift to the circuit. And let’s not stop there. Let us focus on giving our all for the glory of God

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor.

Sisters and Brothers,

As we enter the final month of the 2023-24 Connexional year, it is fitting that we look both backwards with gratitude for what we have, through grace, been able to accomplish, and look forward with hope towards God’s possibility for us in the future. To do this, we must both individually and collectively, assess our stewardship over the year in review.

At the start of the year, we made pledges concerning our determination to be God’s instruments in our time and place, acknowledging that we can achieve God’s purpose for us only as we rely on the Lord and invest ourselves in God’s purpose for our lives. We resolved, for example, to reach out to persons outside the church while at the same time seeking to inspire our non-active members of the Methodist family to become more involved in the church’s life and witness. We agreed to pay attention to our housebound members, with Classes organising visits to show them that they are valued family members. We agreed to improve on our stewardship of time, talent and treasure, making ourselves available for training to assist us in this regard.

How well have we followed up on these pledges? We have, no doubt, shown improvement in some areas. Some have been actively engaged in the study of God’s word, making us more aware of the power of God’s presence and of the enabling that God gives us to do the work; but the number of attendees in both English and Dutch sessions was less than we hoped for. Some have been more deliberate in organising visits, some more active in outreach work, some more generous in their stewardship; however, we can admit that there is a lot more to be done.

Generally, there remains a lack of resolve concerning faith sharing. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to overcome the timidity that is evident. We need to grow in confidence that God equips us for the tasks to which we are called. When we do, we more readily respond to God’s call and take up assignments that others are trying to fulfil simply because there is no one else to do them. We still need persons to offer their gifts in service, particularly as secretaries for our different meetings. Records are valuable as they document the thoughts and decisions we take. These, in turn, can give guidance to others serving after us. This does not mean that the church becomes static (unchanging), but rather, that we can review actions taken and see what changes are needed. We must be ever conscious that God is always doing a new thing. That will be the case as we step out in faith into the 2024-25 Connexional Year.

So, let us give all we’ve got for God as we enter September. Let us never forget the best reality in our changing situations. The best of all is God is with us. Travelling with God, we can be assured that the gifts and graces we need will be supplied by the Lord who calls and equips us. Let us move forward in hope into God’s limitless possibility, and know God is indeed, able to do far more than we can ever ask or imagine.

So let our constant prayer for 2024-25  be, “In our lives, Lord, be glorified. Men.”

Yours in Christ’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

Sisters and Brothers,

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who commissions us as his disciples to reach others for his sake.

We are once again into Missions Month- July. It cannot be overemphasised that the missional task is the reason for our being the church. Mission for Christ is the central, the focal purpose of Christian believers in community.

Maybe you’re thinking, ‘There she goes again with this Missions thing.’ Yes, there I go again because I really want us to understand that getting involved in mission is not an option for those who seek to serve Christ, as we claim to.

As we follow Jesus and get to know the Lord better, and become more like him, it is also important that we make Christ known in the many ways that the Holy Spirit enables us to.

As we mark what is called “Ordinary Time” in the liturgical calendar, we have the assurance that the Lord who promised to be with us always, sends us into ordinary situations to make a difference so that the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

As one hymnist put it, “The cup of water given for thee still holds the freshness of thy grace.” So, in the very actions that we perform, sometimes simple ones, we become instruments through which God’s blessing flows to others. The Rotterdam sisters who serve in the food kitchen at Ronald MacDonald Huis will tell you so. Their work is supported by others who donate the money needed to do this good work. The key when we engage in such ministries, is working with the intention of giving God the glory rather than claiming the praise for us. When we are obedient and keep this charge- to glorify God, the rest is up to the Omniscient, Omnipotent One who knows every heart and how to move it. True, not everyone who is served responds positively. That’s a fact of life. Out of the ten lepers Jesus healed, one remembered to give thanks. But focus on the truth that someone will respond to God’s grace; and that is encouragement enough to participate in actions support the church’s mission.

Our words too, can be as profitable as our actions.  If we are alert to the nudging of God’s Spirit who lives in us, then we become more aware of situations in which we can make a positive difference, for God’s sake. Everyday happenings such as conversations provide us opportunities to share faith. And mark you, sharing faith does not necessarily involve preaching a sermon. It is simply confidently and joyfully, making our boast in the Lord who does wondrous things. Through speaking, we can inspire others to faith.

We often make the mistake of thinking that people will not listen to us, forgetting that when directed by God’s Spirit we have the prophetic promise that the Lord’s word will not be empty of effect (Isaiah 55:11). If we are led by the Spirit of God, then our faith declarations, our boasting of the Lord will bear fruit. Be confident that it will accomplish God’s purpose.

This realisation will drive us into faith sharing, sometimes in simple ways such as inviting persons to church. If you are part of the Amsterdam Congregation, then welcome the opportunity to engage in visits that have been planned.

In our own way, each one of us can respond faithfully to the call to reach others for the Lord. We have the Lord’s command. We have the promise- of God’s presence and power available to us, and we know the difference that knowing God makes to us. Let us be loving and share the faith to the glory of God.

Yours in his service
Joan Delsol Meade

Sisters and Brothers,

We enter the last quarter of the 2023-24 Connexional Year and look back on thirty-five years of ministry of the Holland Circuit. Let us be thankful for the wonderful grace of God as we have experienced it.

What is there in our life together that signals the presence of God among us? This is a pertinent question since we are called be signs of God live in the world. The church of which we are part, is called to continue the mission of God in the world. So that must always be the guiding concern when we assess work done by any part of Christ’s Church.

We have, over the years enjoyed rich fellowship; and that continues. This is good, because when persons share together in Christian living and thereby build each other up, that is profitable, an important part of our mission.

We give thanks for those who, over the years have been part of the teaching and preaching ministry. This is vital if persons are to hear the message of the gospel and to become familiar with the Word of God. In addition to Bro Glasgow who has served as lay pastor, the circuit has recommended three persons to be local presbyters; but they are no longer resident here or active in this part of the church. Are we looking out for new persons to continue in these leadership roles?

We can give thanks, too, for the children who are growing up among us, and for the adults devoted to ministry among them; for the faith must be passed on. This brings me to the important question of whether we have been sufficiently diligent in our outreach to children and youth. Why are we not attracting more of them? We will not carry on another thirty-five years if we focus only on the older generations among us. As we look forward, let us be prepared to make the necessary adjustments so that the younger generations feel welcome and valued, and own their place inn Christ’s Church.

In that respect, we need to encourage more young adults to offer for leadership roles. It is still a challenge to get persons to serve as secretaries. Finding new secretaries will become easier when we encourage our bright young minds to serve in leadership roles as they will be more involved in decisions making meetings.

Are we sufficiently engaged in outreach work? There was a time when Methodist choirs visited homes and prisons. The circuit recognised that ministry beyond its walls is an important aspect of Christian mission. Service for Christ must extend to those on the outside. As they benefit from our loving encounters – through word and deed, we may just win them to the Lord’s side. We need to remember that God is already on theirs. We can help people discover that as we serve.

Oh, there are many other questions we could ask, but writing space is limited, so I say, let’s continue reflecting and then acting so that we effectively pursue the work of ministry in this land.

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade

Sisters and Brothers,

It is the Season of the Resurrection of our Lord! The message this sends us is ever-renewing, full of reminders of God’s awesome power of God to give us victory in life’s testing circumstances.

Both literally and figuratively, the death and burial of Jesus was not the final event in God’s salvation plan. It was not the nail in the coffin! Of course, through his death, Jesus the Christ, the Lamb of God, offered himself as the means for our forgiveness. But beyond the grave comes the victory of his Resurrection. He did not only die for our sins, paying the price with his blood; but he rose for our justification. The abundant life that he came to bring is ours to claim today.

Remembering that God remains ever faithful to the divine promise of abundant life, we need never despair, even when difficulties arise, as they sometimes will. Let us be resolute that in times of sadness, struggle, and testing, we will hold on to God’s unchanging hand and claim the grace which is on offer.

Let us set our minds on fellowship with God so that when life’s storms assail, the peace that surpasses understanding will be ours. When we face difficult decisions, we will tackle them knowing that with Christ, we have the victory, even to accomplish what seems beyond us. Indeed, we can do it all through the One who gives us strength.

We may not be able to do it alone. In fact, it’s not in God’s plan for us to go it alone. The gifts with which we as individuals have been endowed, are meant for the whole people of God. God gives us one another and calls us to work together to effect change. We need to. All around us we see evidence that the world needs repair. Some persons live in such desperate situations that they long for death. But as people of the Resurrection, we must use our resources- head, hands, heart, feet, voices, gifts and abilities, skills, opportunities, and material resources – to challenge injustice and do our part to fight against hopelessness that makes the things of death seem victorious.

Let us always remember that our weaknesses are outmatched by God’s power at work in us if we have faith in the Risen Lord.  We don’t need tons of faith to begin with. “Mustard seed faith” makes for a good start. When we give our little bitty faith to God, it will grow. A growing faith is, in itself, a gift from God.

So, if you’re waiting on more faith so that you can share, so that you can participate in Operation Andrew, for example, start by investing  the little faith that you have. Pray for somebody. Befriend somebody. Invite someone to know the Lord. And there is no telling what God will do. Ours is the God who destroyed death and who today, talks away our guilty fear about what we cannot accomplish.

In the light of the Resurrection, you and I can. Yes. We can do what’s necessary through the victorious Risen Lord who gives us strength.

Yours in the service of our Lord.
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

Sisters and Brothers,

During the upcoming quarter, we continue our journey through Lent and into the season of Resurrection. It is a good time to take stock and see whether during the past weeks of Lent, we have paid sufficient attention to spiritual matters, enough to recognise that we are, in fact, growing as Christian disciples. It is never good enough to stay just as we are, to make no progress in our walk with Christ.

Maybe one significant truth we must consider is that we ought not walk alone. While each one of us is personally responsible for our Christian growth, it is an adventure that the Lord invites us to share in as we travel together in Christ. We do not walk alone. We have the Lord, and we have each other so that we are mutually enriched.

Do we make good use of the opportunities that are provided for Christian fellowship – genuine interaction with each other with a view to our growing together? What about our study of God’s Word together with each other? We are fortunate in that we have online Discipleship Classes. We can save on travel time and money. Why are so many of us absent from the meetings intended for study of God’s Word? When we meet to study the Bible, and ask faith questions, we truly build each other up as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Another important avenue for growth is faith sharing. As we tell our stories, we reinforce the benefits of our walk with Christ, and at the same time, encourage others in the faith.

As a circuit, we pledged to reach out to others with a view to inviting them to participate in the life of the church. While it is true that only the Holy Spirit convicts persons of their need to repent, to turn to the Lord, we can be instruments through whom God speaks to others.

Let us consider the message of Romans 10: 14-15

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news! (NLT)

Of course, you do not have to bear the label of ‘preacher’ to share the news of God’s love. By simply sharing your story, how the Lord has worked in your life, you can help another person know that the Lord’s grace is also available to him/her. This is why each one of us can be an Andrew who invites others to share in the love that God freely offers to all persons. Participating in Operation Andrew, then, is another way of helping our own selves to grow in faith. We all need to grow. It is not good enough to stop growing spiritually for the one who does not grow is really turning back. Let us move forward together in Christ.

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

Sisters and Brothers,

I greet you in the name of our Lord.

After the hustle and bustle of District Conference, we have come again to the month of February, and we are almost into the season of Lent, that time of year when most of us do some earnest self-reflection and initiate changes to improve our spirituality.

Maybe you guessed my next point, since I’m encouraging you, for the third consecutive year, to tithe. In fact, I will simply copy by cutting and pasting what I wrote in 2021.

“My second appeal to you is to consider tithing for Lent. “Give one tenth during Lent.” The church’s (MCCA) position on tithing is captured in a position paper posted on the website. Give tithing a try, and note the effect it has, not just on your wallet, but on your life; and then you can decide from there. We may just find that in a season of economic hardship, we begin to see God’s wonderful transformation of our financial situation. Let us resolve to trust God for this.”

What else is special about this month? The fourth Lord’s Day in February has been set aside as MCCA Men’s Lord’s Day. To our benefit, this year, across the Leeward Islands District, men will be wearing ties promoted by the men of the Holland Circuit. This will certainly help our financial position.

Locally, I appeal not only to our men, but to mothers, wives, partners, sisters, and children to invite the significant males in their lives to church on MCCA Men’s Lord’s Day. Every journey starts with a step. Playing your part in Operation Andrew might well mean making the effort to lead one man- younger or older, to the Lord. It would be wonderful to have the other half of God’s family well represented in church so they can hear the invitation given through another man.

Yes, family is a good place to start. This is why we proposed in our council meetings, that when members celebrate, be it birthday, anniversary, job or school promotion, or other happy event, they invite their family to accompany them to worship. You can never tell what the Lord will do with your effort. It is easier to invite someone when you have something to celebrate. Then that someone gets another chance to hear the wonderful news of God’s love.

Remember, we have been planning for an increase in membership through outreach; but these plans will materialise only as we prayerfully obey the leading of the Spirit to reach new persons by first praying for them, then befriending them, and inviting them to know more of God’s love. The old-fashioned way of inviting someone to worship still bears fruit today. For many, the question is still valid, “How will they hear if someone does not preach?”  You may not have the gift of preaching, but there are others in church who can eloquently reach people with the message of God’s love. Let us be deliberate about reaching others, including new people, with the gospel. This is our reason for being the church.

We’ve a message to give to the people,
that the Lord who reigns above
has sent us his Son to save us,
and show us that God is love.

Let us, then, bear the news as we have been asked to. The Lord is depending on us to do so.
May you be blessed as you seek to do God’s will.

In God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade, your Pastor.

Sisters and Brothers,

As we enter the last calendar month of 2023 and at the same time, begin another liturgical year with God, we have good reason to look back and look forwards in our journey with God.

We have, every now and then, been called to reflect and to answer the question, “What is the state of the work of God?”. Of course, the question is really directed at our participation in the work of God. Have we been instruments working towards the reign of God in our lives, our homes, our congregations, our societies, and in God’s world? The actions that we have engaged in or refrained from doing, have these been guided by a willingness, a readiness to see righteousness, justice and peace have sway?

As we enter the season of Advent, and sing such affirmations as

“Kingdom of Christ for your coming we pray.
Hasten, O Father, the dawn of the day,
When this new song your creation shall sing,
Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King.” [VIP 56, 4^th stanza]

are we truly focussed on giving glory to God through our support for and participation in those activities that help others to know God’s love in deeper ways?  Advent is about presenting that hope we have in God- hope that pushes us to participate in bringing the good news of the gospel to others through word and action. This hope keeps us alive amid life-threatening situations. This hope reminds us that God has the last say. It is this hope that we express when we affirm that “Christ has died. Christ is risen., Christ will come again.” Yes, it says that the God who resurrected the Son from physical death, is still able to work wonders.

The Christian hope is that God, who came and conquered death in Jesus, holds the final victory towards which we move. In difficult times, in the most testing situations, we come to understand that God is all-sufficient for the trials we face. We can do this when we look back, because our remembering what God has done in times past is powerful. It makes us, like the hymnist, affirm:

“God’s love in times past forbids me to think
God will leave me at last, in trouble to sink,
When each Ebenezer I have in review
Confirms God’s good pleasure to help me right through.
 [VIP 265, 3^rd stanza]

So, as we look back and gain assurance, we can also look forward with confidence. The challenge to us is to also inspire confidence in the pain and conflict-ridden world around us. Yet this is precisely why the Son of God came into the human situation, to show who God is and what God can do.
It is Advent. Let s follow him into the light of God’s kingdom.

Yours in God’s service
Joan Delsol Meade

Sisters and Brothers,

I greet you in the name of our triune God.

We are at the first day of November! It is All Saints Day when we commemorate the Church triumphant in heaven. Yes, there are countless saints who have gone home to glory and for them, we give thanks.

For all the saints who from their labours rest

Thy name, O Jesu, be forever blest. Alleluia!

Yes. We give thanks for those who have been canonised or beatified and for the many whose names have not been recorded on earth even though they are numbered among the countless redeemed ones whom John referred to in his record of the Revelation.

The earliest saints to be canonised by the church were all martyrs, people who literally gave up their lives in defence of the faith that has been handed on to us. But many since then have also given their lives as Paul requests us to in Romans 12 [present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly and acceptable to God].  Or to use the hymnic phrases of Frances Ridley Havergal, they lived the prayer, “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to Thee.”

As Christians, we believe in the Resurrection of the dead, and we are thankful for those who have died in the Lord, confident that death is not the end of those who trust in God. But we are also mindful that Jesus is both the Resurrection and the Life. While we are yet alive and remain on earth, we are called to live saintly lives. So, let us be Saints Alive while we live this mortal life on earth, until we are translated to the glory of heaven when we shall be forever.

To be saints, those living and dying for the Lord, we are called to lives of obedience to God. As individuals, we are to make choices that enable us in following Jesus every day. But it is not all about individuality. In fact, the individuals who make up the church, must live in community, as a community.

Observing Christian Festivals is one way we share the life if community as together we recall God’s saving actions on behalf of humankind. Also in November, we observe the Feast of Christ the King  at the end of the liturgical year. We hail Jesus as our common Lord.

There is another observance, an MCCA tradition that we keep. The third Lord’s Day of November is MCCA Youth & Young Adults Lord’s Day. Let us show support for our youth whom we must influence positively for God’s sake.

November also includes our Harvest Celebrations as well- opportunity for giving plenty thanks to this bounteous God of ours. Yes, God blesses us abundantly. Let us then be generous in giving glory to God, daily offering up ourselves for God’s service, reaching others for the Lord as we participate in Operation Andrew. This is not nearly as demanding as it was for the martyrs, the ones whom the Church first recognised as saints.

Yes, I appeal to us to be Saints Alive living to the glory of God.

In our life, Lord, be glorified. Amen.

Joan Delsol Meade
Pastor