Holland Methodist Church

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Trusting God in Difficult Times

We have lived through the first month of the “New Year” so that 2021 looks now, like just another year to travel with God.

Now we travel through the liturgical period of “Ordinary time”- a break between Epiphany and Lent, a period which will continue after Pentecost. During the Season of Epiphany, we continue to reflect on the appearance of God in Jesus through such events as his baptism; his calling of and revelation to the disciples; his ministry of miraculous healings and deliverance from demons; and his transfiguration. When we resume ordinary time, we shall ponder again God’s activity in the ordinary things of life. But we shall take a break starting 17th of February, Ash Wednesday, the start of the Penitential Season of Lent, when we deliberately pay greater attention to practical spiritual disciplines such as fasting.

Last year, we covenanted to enter Lent with a period of fasting, with persons sharing in a Daniel Fast, as they are able. The idea is to take a break from some of the things like food that we ordinarily feast on, and rather to feast on God. This year, you will receive a prayer schedule, so that we can all be praying together with a common purpose.

Given our District theme Trusting God in Difficult Times: Transforming Obstacles into Opportunities’  there are two things that I invite you to put on your priority list for Lent, as we seek to trust God in giving and in sharing.

  1. One is Faith-sharing. In this time of uncertainly, one thing is certain. If we are anchored in God, we shall be sustained, and even triumph in the difficulties we face. How about sharing faith through inviting your friends and acquaintances to church? Their participation now is easier since they do not have to pay the transportation costs but can join in worship from home. Concerns about being dressed appropriately will not arise. This is the best time to invite others to worship. They have the option of leaving the gathering without any disruption should they choose to, so why not ask them to join. I ask you to invite others to the Dutch language services especially, as we can also reach those who prefer to worship in that language. Based on the response, we may be able to cater for a whole new online church that worships mainly in the Dutch language.
  • 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.

One more observance that falls in February is, as usual, MCCA Men’s Lord’s Day observed on the fourth Lord’s Day of February, every year. Let us show our support for the active men in our congregations, and let us also use the opportunity to invite the men who are not actively involved to participate in the life of the church. I invite each man to bring another and each class to bring an additional male. If we act on this together, there will be more men, and the truth is that we do need more males sharing in the service of the church.

Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

October – Ministries Month

Sisters and Brothers,

I greet you in the name of our triune God- Creator, Redeemer and Enabler.

We are into October which is marked in the MCCA as Ministries Month. Whereas formerly, the tendency was to focus mostly on the call to full time Ministry, Ministries Month is now seen as time to focus on the varied Ministries that we all perform as members of the Body of Christ.

The following extract from The Constitution and Discipline of The Methodist Church In The Caribbean And the Americas (p.40) should inform our discussions on Ministry:

Christ’s Ministers in the Church are stewards in the household of God and Shepherds of His flock. Some are called and ordained to this sole occupation and have a principal and directing part in these duties, but they hold no priesthood differing in kind from that which is common to the Lord’s people and they have no exclusive title to the preaching of the gospel or the care of souls. These ministries are shared by them with others to whom also the Spirit divides His gifts severally as He wills.

We hold firmly to the Doctrine of the Priesthood of All Believers. Therefore, while ordained Ministers are set apart as representatives to overseer the ordered life in our communion, each one of us is called to respond to God’s call on our life and to be active in Ministry, that is, service for God.

I therefore take this opportunity to remind myself and all lay members of the Circuit of our charge to glorify God through the service we render to church and community. All confirmed members have made such a pledge to service.

So whatever the Ministry you have been called to – Preacher, Teacher, Counsellor, Visitor, Class Leader, Circuit Steward, Congregational, CARE Fund or Custodial Steward, ENNOW Leader, Cradle Roll Secretary, Musician, Chorister, IT Specialist, Usher, Reader, Kitchen Cook, Helper or other, know for sure that your task is critical to the functioning of the Body of Christ. Your gifts are valuable and together, all our gifts make for a harmonious functioning of the Church.

Take seriously, then, the admonition from 1 Peter 4 to be good stewards of the varied gifts that we have received from God, to use them with the strength that God supplies, so that we may glorify God in all things.

May the Lord’s richest blessings be ours in the service of our Lord.

In God’s service,
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

First Friday Letter

First Friday Letter

Presented by

The World Methodist Council November 2019

Don’t hesitate to read the First Friday Letter.

In it you will find the following articles, among others:

‘Greetings from the General Secretary’
‘Commences global search for successor and Australia’s Wesley Mission celebrates achievements’
‘Candler ‘Unprecedented’ Scholarship Support’
‘India church raise funds to help sister churches’

Thirty Years Anniversary

Sisters and Brothers,

Rev. Delsol Meade

Rev. Delsol Meade

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.

Your’s in God’s service,
Joan Delsol Meade, Pastor

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

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

Pastor’s Corner March 5th, 2019

Sisters and Brothers,

We thank God whose enabling, sustaining presence we have experienced for two months already in 2019.

On Wednesday 6th March we begin the Season of Lent when we once again, deliberately and solemnly, reflect on our Lord’s journey to the cross. We reflect on his temptations, the pressure and pain he endured in his resolve to do the Father’s will so that none need perish, but rather, that humans, the crown of his creation, can come to know, love and serve God. In choosing to love the God who so loved us that he gave us the love gift of Jesus Our Saviour, we decide to follow Jesus. Through this journey of Christian discipleship, we learn from Christ. In close company with our Lord, we find that we become increasingly like him. We grow into the likeness of God’s Son as his Spirit works in and through us. On this track, we become the best that we can ever be, continually growing in the new life in Christ.

So this Lent, as we ponder what it cost God to save us so that we might truly become God’s very own, we recommit ourselves to embrace the values which Jesus treasured so much that he willingly gave up his place of priority (as God) and took our place as humans, dying (as human) on the cross of Calvary. We can link these values in a summary theme- Sacrifice for love’s sake,

  • For love’s sake. In God, love has the place of priority. In Lent, as always, let us remember that Jesus endured pain because of God’s love for us, and so resolve to love God, to love ourselves, and to love others with Jesus and the Holy Spirit guiding us to express God’s love in practical ways. If we reflect on the theme for this triennium, then this is the bottom line for demonstrating that we are “Grounded in Christ.”
  • Sacrifice for love’s sake. Just as he was willing to sacrifice (to give up) so much that we might be better, so should we. Sacrifice is about self-denial and can be a willingness to let go of resources or privileges so that others can be helped. What we give up may not be inherently bad. We can give up what is good to make us and others better off. In terms of our theme, we can say that sacrifice makes our serving come alive, showing that we are, indeed, “Grounded in Christ.”

Self-denial is costly, yes; but it is always good for us when it comes to letting go of bad things. When it comes to the bad habits that we still hold on to, harmful practices we engage in, or material things that do not help our Christlikeness, then let us be prepared to give them up that we become more the children of God. So Lent is not just about giving up nice things which we may not need to. It is as good a time as any to cut off whatever does not work towards our spiritual or overall growth as persons.

This Lent then, let us be determined to sacrifice for love’s sake. Our words, actions and attitudes will reflect this intention. This means that we shall say, do and be what is loving and

We shall refrain from saying, doing and being what is unloving. We may give up what is good to build others up and we will certainly give up what is bad so that we will be more Christlike. And God who has journeyed with us thus far, will see us through to this end.

Yours in God’s service,
Joan Delsol Meade