| The Hagerstown Church of the Brethren |
| Hagerstown Church of the Brethren 15 S. Mulberry Street Hagerstown, MD 21740. Telephone: 301-733-3565. Fax: 301-733-3598. Office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - noon & 1:00 –4:00 p.m. |
| MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren is to celebrate the love of Jesus Christ and glorify the Lord by striving to live as Christ lived, experiencing the power of God's healing in our lives. We seek to nurture our faith community through prayer, music and the proclaimed Word, while enthusiastically reaching out to others with compassion, respect and love for everyone so that we may grow in faith and commitment together. VISION STATEMENT Journeying with Christ Serving Our Neighbors Uniting at the Master’s Table |
| To read Pastor Poling's sermons, click here. |
The Pastor's Pen
March 11, 2008
Next week is Holy Week – the seven days that recall Jesus’ last days on earth – including his triumphal entry
into Jerusalem, the last supper with his disciples, his arrest and trial, his death on a cross, and his final
resurrection. These are the “high, holy days” on the Christian calendar, as someone has said. We in the
church often complain because Christmas gets more attention than the dramatic last week of his life.
Surprisingly though, our early Brethren forbearers did not give Holy Week a lot of attention either. You’d think
that with our emphasis on the Love Feast as a reenactment of the Last Supper, the Brethren would get
everybody to go to church every night that week. Instead, they would more often hold these Love Feasts
later, after Easter in late April or May. It never made sense to me –until I was asked to write a Bible study
curriculum on the Letter to the Hebrews. Now I think I understand.
The Letter to the Hebrews takes a long view of Jesus. Unlike the four Gospels that focus on the time between
Jesus’ birth, his death and resurrection, this Letter starts with Jesus clear at the beginning of creation and
finishes with Jesus coming to judge the world at the end. Nothing in the Letter is said about Jesus’ earthly
ministry, and very little about his atoning death. Most of the focus is on his role as the High Priest, interceding
on behalf of the world, sitting at the right hand of the throne of grace. My study of this New Testament book
helped to give me perspective on the big picture of Jesus. And while Jesus’ crucifixion is important, I learned
there is so much more.
I don’t want to de-emphasize the role of Christ’ death, but I think that some Christian folks want us to grovel in
every gory detail. A couple of years ago, a movie came out just before Easter – The Passion of Christ. You
had to have a pretty strong constitution to sit through three hours of Technicolor pain and suffering. Many
folks were moved by the film. But just as many stayed away because of its “R” rating for violence. While I agree
that Jesus suffered and bled, it felt like the message was that his death was the only reason for God’s Son to
come to humanity in the first place.
For me there is a far richer way to know Jesus – through the many different facets of his presence with us. An
over-emphasis on one aspect can be detrimental to our Christian development. We need to know Jesus not
only as Redeemer, but also as Teacher, as Faithful Son, as High Priest, as Compassionate Healer, as
Resurrected Spirit, as Judge, as Abiding Friend, as Reconciler, and so many other insightful images found in
the New Testament.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that you ignore the Holy Week events that are planned in our
church or in the Hagerstown community. But please see them as a part of the bigger picture of God’s great
plan for the restoration of the human community through Christ. My hunch is that our Brethren forbearers
tried to see the big picture. That’s why they didn’t overdo Holy Week. They tried to make every week of their
lives holy. We can take a lesson from that.
Blessings to you on your journey of faith, not only in this special season, but also through the year!
Pastor Ed
March 11, 2008
Next week is Holy Week – the seven days that recall Jesus’ last days on earth – including his triumphal entry
into Jerusalem, the last supper with his disciples, his arrest and trial, his death on a cross, and his final
resurrection. These are the “high, holy days” on the Christian calendar, as someone has said. We in the
church often complain because Christmas gets more attention than the dramatic last week of his life.
Surprisingly though, our early Brethren forbearers did not give Holy Week a lot of attention either. You’d think
that with our emphasis on the Love Feast as a reenactment of the Last Supper, the Brethren would get
everybody to go to church every night that week. Instead, they would more often hold these Love Feasts
later, after Easter in late April or May. It never made sense to me –until I was asked to write a Bible study
curriculum on the Letter to the Hebrews. Now I think I understand.
The Letter to the Hebrews takes a long view of Jesus. Unlike the four Gospels that focus on the time between
Jesus’ birth, his death and resurrection, this Letter starts with Jesus clear at the beginning of creation and
finishes with Jesus coming to judge the world at the end. Nothing in the Letter is said about Jesus’ earthly
ministry, and very little about his atoning death. Most of the focus is on his role as the High Priest, interceding
on behalf of the world, sitting at the right hand of the throne of grace. My study of this New Testament book
helped to give me perspective on the big picture of Jesus. And while Jesus’ crucifixion is important, I learned
there is so much more.
I don’t want to de-emphasize the role of Christ’ death, but I think that some Christian folks want us to grovel in
every gory detail. A couple of years ago, a movie came out just before Easter – The Passion of Christ. You
had to have a pretty strong constitution to sit through three hours of Technicolor pain and suffering. Many
folks were moved by the film. But just as many stayed away because of its “R” rating for violence. While I agree
that Jesus suffered and bled, it felt like the message was that his death was the only reason for God’s Son to
come to humanity in the first place.
For me there is a far richer way to know Jesus – through the many different facets of his presence with us. An
over-emphasis on one aspect can be detrimental to our Christian development. We need to know Jesus not
only as Redeemer, but also as Teacher, as Faithful Son, as High Priest, as Compassionate Healer, as
Resurrected Spirit, as Judge, as Abiding Friend, as Reconciler, and so many other insightful images found in
the New Testament.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that you ignore the Holy Week events that are planned in our
church or in the Hagerstown community. But please see them as a part of the bigger picture of God’s great
plan for the restoration of the human community through Christ. My hunch is that our Brethren forbearers
tried to see the big picture. That’s why they didn’t overdo Holy Week. They tried to make every week of their
lives holy. We can take a lesson from that.
Blessings to you on your journey of faith, not only in this special season, but also through the year!
Pastor Ed
The Pastor's Pen
April 29, 2008
The 2002 Annual Conference, meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, called on Brethren congregations to plan a
time of “Sabbath rest” for their pastors. Recognizing that “the hectic daily pace impacts the life of
everyone, including pastors,” they approved a statement encouraging local churches to allow “the
pastoral leader to spend time immersing him/herself in God’s love, so that he/she can return to work with
a renewed sense of joy about ministry.” The suggested guideline for this Sabbath rest is nine weeks
after the pastor has served the congregation for seven years.
The Hagerstown congregation through the Church Board planned for this Sabbath time soon after the
Annual Conference paper was approved. It was agreed that I, as your pastor, would be eligible for this
according to the guidelines of the Church. This past year we have been planning together when this
would take place and how the needs of the congregation could be met. It was agreed that this Sabbath
time would be this coming summer, beginning on May 26 and concluding on July 27.
First of all, let me tell you about my plans for this period. It will begin with a two-week trip to Scotland.
From June 5 to 19, 2008. I will be a part of a cross-cultural course on Celtic spirituality led by Dawn Wilhelm
of Bethany Seminary. Highlights will include a week on the historic Island of Iona (where Christianity began
in Scotland), two days on the Isle of Lindisfarne (another center for early Christian monastic life in
northern England), and a day in Edinburgh with Philip Newell (writer and theologian on Celtic thought). On
July 7-11, 2008, I will attend Common Ground on the Hill, a music camp on the campus of McDaniel College
in Westminster. And the week of July 12-16, 2008, Marge and I will attend and give leadership at Annual
Conference in Richmond, Virginia. While at home I plan to spend time in reading on church and theology,
and hope to write some more music. On Sundays, I plan to visit churches in the area that are doing
interesting things in music and worship. I hope to give some thought as to how music and worship are
evolving in congregational life in the 21st century.
Second, the Executive Committee is planning for leadership in my absence. Three Board members will be
coordinating various aspects of congregational life. Lester Boleyn will coordinate the weekly
worship, both early and late services. Several ordained ministers in our congregation will take turns
preaching. Loyal Vanderveer will work with the Deacons
in providing pastoral care. And Linda Jacoby will coordinate the ongoing administrative responsibilities,
meeting regularly with staff, and encouraging our many volunteers. This talented team of leaders will do a
fine job in anticipating needs and concerns when they arise.
I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to rest, study, and be refreshed during this Sabbath rest. This
would not be possible without the cooperation of our staff, the many volunteer leaders, as well as all
members. We anticipate that this period of time be beneficial to both pastor and congregation. It was
Martin Luther who said, “The spiritual rest which God intends in this commandment (to keep the Sabbath
holy) is that we not only cease from our labor and trade but much more; that we let God alone work in us
and that in all our powers do we nothing of our own.”
Pastor Ed
April 29, 2008
The 2002 Annual Conference, meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, called on Brethren congregations to plan a
time of “Sabbath rest” for their pastors. Recognizing that “the hectic daily pace impacts the life of
everyone, including pastors,” they approved a statement encouraging local churches to allow “the
pastoral leader to spend time immersing him/herself in God’s love, so that he/she can return to work with
a renewed sense of joy about ministry.” The suggested guideline for this Sabbath rest is nine weeks
after the pastor has served the congregation for seven years.
The Hagerstown congregation through the Church Board planned for this Sabbath time soon after the
Annual Conference paper was approved. It was agreed that I, as your pastor, would be eligible for this
according to the guidelines of the Church. This past year we have been planning together when this
would take place and how the needs of the congregation could be met. It was agreed that this Sabbath
time would be this coming summer, beginning on May 26 and concluding on July 27.
First of all, let me tell you about my plans for this period. It will begin with a two-week trip to Scotland.
From June 5 to 19, 2008. I will be a part of a cross-cultural course on Celtic spirituality led by Dawn Wilhelm
of Bethany Seminary. Highlights will include a week on the historic Island of Iona (where Christianity began
in Scotland), two days on the Isle of Lindisfarne (another center for early Christian monastic life in
northern England), and a day in Edinburgh with Philip Newell (writer and theologian on Celtic thought). On
July 7-11, 2008, I will attend Common Ground on the Hill, a music camp on the campus of McDaniel College
in Westminster. And the week of July 12-16, 2008, Marge and I will attend and give leadership at Annual
Conference in Richmond, Virginia. While at home I plan to spend time in reading on church and theology,
and hope to write some more music. On Sundays, I plan to visit churches in the area that are doing
interesting things in music and worship. I hope to give some thought as to how music and worship are
evolving in congregational life in the 21st century.
Second, the Executive Committee is planning for leadership in my absence. Three Board members will be
coordinating various aspects of congregational life. Lester Boleyn will coordinate the weekly
worship, both early and late services. Several ordained ministers in our congregation will take turns
preaching. Loyal Vanderveer will work with the Deacons
in providing pastoral care. And Linda Jacoby will coordinate the ongoing administrative responsibilities,
meeting regularly with staff, and encouraging our many volunteers. This talented team of leaders will do a
fine job in anticipating needs and concerns when they arise.
I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to rest, study, and be refreshed during this Sabbath rest. This
would not be possible without the cooperation of our staff, the many volunteer leaders, as well as all
members. We anticipate that this period of time be beneficial to both pastor and congregation. It was
Martin Luther who said, “The spiritual rest which God intends in this commandment (to keep the Sabbath
holy) is that we not only cease from our labor and trade but much more; that we let God alone work in us
and that in all our powers do we nothing of our own.”
Pastor Ed
The Pastor's Pen
May 13, 2008
During this year I have been using the Celtic Daily Prayer in my morning devotional time.
The book includes prayers and readings from the Northumbrian Community in northern
England. (I hope to visit them on the Isle of Lindisfarne during my Sabbath Rest next
month.) Let me share a meditation with you written by Aidan Clarke. It is from his book The
Secret Jesus, about the role of the followers of Jesus in linking His presence and their
world through prayer. (Most English folks would recognize a couple references, but they
are new to us Americans. “Tyne Bridge” is a steel arch high-level bridge over a river in
Newcastle, England. And a “lorry” is a motor truck.) I hope you find this image of a bridge
helpful as you reflect on your spiritual life in Christ.
Imagine your soul as being like the Tyne Bridge. There are busy times and quiet times. The job
of the bridge is not to ask what is in the cars or lorries but simply to bear their weight for a few
seconds and then allow them to go on their way. There is no problem when the flow of traffic is
even, but when breakdowns and bottlenecks occur, the fights and the impatience begin. Your
soul, too, has to take the weight and let it go. The suffering becomes prolonged only when you
do no acknowledge its existence and let it pass on. Then it sits on your soul like a judgment.
The time to repair the bridge is in the night when the traffic is light. Your prayer in quiet times
gives you the strength to cope with the heavy, busy times. You dig, patch and repair in the
night. As a result, the world can flow over your soul in the day without congestion. You must
allow the flow of faith, love, healing, hope, joy and light to pass through you into the world. You
must allow the flow of hatred, darkness and sin to flow from the world through you to God.
All of this is done by prayer, and by forgiveness of yourself, of others and perhaps even of God
Himself for what you feel He has done to you. Little by little, you grow in the power of prayer, in
the ability to bear the weight and accept the contradictions of the two-way flow between God
and the world.
Pastor Ed
May 13, 2008
During this year I have been using the Celtic Daily Prayer in my morning devotional time.
The book includes prayers and readings from the Northumbrian Community in northern
England. (I hope to visit them on the Isle of Lindisfarne during my Sabbath Rest next
month.) Let me share a meditation with you written by Aidan Clarke. It is from his book The
Secret Jesus, about the role of the followers of Jesus in linking His presence and their
world through prayer. (Most English folks would recognize a couple references, but they
are new to us Americans. “Tyne Bridge” is a steel arch high-level bridge over a river in
Newcastle, England. And a “lorry” is a motor truck.) I hope you find this image of a bridge
helpful as you reflect on your spiritual life in Christ.
Imagine your soul as being like the Tyne Bridge. There are busy times and quiet times. The job
of the bridge is not to ask what is in the cars or lorries but simply to bear their weight for a few
seconds and then allow them to go on their way. There is no problem when the flow of traffic is
even, but when breakdowns and bottlenecks occur, the fights and the impatience begin. Your
soul, too, has to take the weight and let it go. The suffering becomes prolonged only when you
do no acknowledge its existence and let it pass on. Then it sits on your soul like a judgment.
The time to repair the bridge is in the night when the traffic is light. Your prayer in quiet times
gives you the strength to cope with the heavy, busy times. You dig, patch and repair in the
night. As a result, the world can flow over your soul in the day without congestion. You must
allow the flow of faith, love, healing, hope, joy and light to pass through you into the world. You
must allow the flow of hatred, darkness and sin to flow from the world through you to God.
All of this is done by prayer, and by forgiveness of yourself, of others and perhaps even of God
Himself for what you feel He has done to you. Little by little, you grow in the power of prayer, in
the ability to bear the weight and accept the contradictions of the two-way flow between God
and the world.
Pastor Ed
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