Pastor’s 2008/2009 Annual Report

Annual meeting is an important time in the life of our congregation because we look back at the previous year’s activities and make decisions for the upcoming year. Annual meeting is certainly a time when the congregation as a whole will discuss past and future growth, possibilities, plans, and express hope and confidence for the coming year. It is also when we recognize loss, frustrations, and discontent with how things are, and are offered opportunity to submit thoughts about how to make changes. As we consider the life of our church, and the future of ministry together, I take this opportunity to offer encouragement in the Lord. The opening five verses in John, chapter 15, are pivotal in every context of the life of The Federated Church. Jesus speaks to his friends and disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been pruned by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5, NRSV).

This teaching of Jesus provides vivid insight into the life of a church. With a grape vine as metaphor for the spiritual life of our church, Jesus encourages us that whatever is happening in our community, it is essential that we remain rooted in the Lord. Grape vines have seasons. Consider the seasons, the dormant season of winter, the pruning (literally cut back) season of early spring, the budding of late spring, the fruit of summer, and the full harvest at the end of summer. Congregations have seasons. It is tempting to believe the harvest season is the season we should live in at all times. This is the season when activity abounds and there is so much to show for our labor. Truthfully, though, there will be seasons of inactivity, seasons of being cut back, seasons of emerging fruit, and certainly seasons of harvest. We can become discouraged when activity is dormant and feel pain at being pruned, however it is the inclusion of all seasons that contribute to the overall health and spiritual growth of our congregation.

This teaching presents Creator God as the farmer, Jesus as the vine, and we who have faith in Christ as the branches. What is complete and perfect about this picture is that creation and creator exist together, and are incomplete when apart.

I want us to remember that our church congregation may not always be in the same season of life. There is room for growth in all seasons, and church is a place where every person is invited to share in the grace of God. Every person is not expected to be in the same season or have the same needs. Every person is, however, expected to remain rooted in the same source, and that source is Christ Jesus our Lord.