April 20, 2008

To the North Street Community:

Greetings in Christ!

This is my third Pastor’s Report to the Annual Meeting of North Street Community Chapel.  My family and I have been here for two years and two months (and added two children!).  I have learned a lot in these two years.  Perhaps the foremost understanding on my mind at the moment is the need for the people of our community to establish various rhythms together.  We'll see this notion here and there throughout this report.

In our epistle reading this morning, I Peter 2:1-10, Peter talks about the dire need for our continual nurture by God and his saving word.  He likens it to a newborn infant's desire for milk.  This desire is one which I have come to understand in great detail these last three years.  My children have demonstrated it well.  A baby's desire for milk goes way beyond, "Hmm...I think I'd like some milk right now" once every seven days.  The baby's desire for milk is a hunger-filled, instinct-initiated, and survival-driven longing to be sustained and satisfied by milk...every three hours.  And once the infant has tasted the milk, nothing else will satisfy that baby.  It's amazing, really.  All the baby cares about in this stage is getting that milk.  Nothing else matters.

It's not like in the middle of the night, when one of the girls was crying, Meghan could reach across and hit me and say, "Would you go downstairs to the kitchen and get Brooklyn a green pepper?"  In fact, there was nothing that I could do at all!  We tried the whole wrapping them in one of Meghan’s shirts that would have her scent and feeding them formula from a bottle.  Not a chance that was going to work.  When Brooklyn was hungry, she wanted only what Meghan could provide.  When Brenna was screaming, only milk would do.

And it is this longing that Peter likens to our desire and longing for only the spiritual word of God, which is Christ.

The next image Peter uses is that of the building of a house.  He's moved from the individual follower of Christ to the corporate community following Christ.  He calls for the readers to be put together corporately into a dwelling place for a holy people accomplishing the things of God, all for God’s glory.  And the foundation, the cornerstone, the beginning of that house, the building is Christ himself.  I've never built a house.  But I imagine it would be difficult to do so with one brick.  And though I’m no carpenter, I’m fairly certain that  it's difficult to build a sustainable house with but one board.  Bricks and boards must come together to build a solid, sustainable, and sturdy house which can withstand the things that will be blown against it by its environment.

The walk in holiness is hardly a personal commitment.  It may begin that way, but it quickly and necessarily becomes an action of community.  And what we would see is that when we come together, we begin to be defined together by who we are together.  One of the most unfortunate conclusions of the holiness people in the last century and those who’ve watched them is that we've become identified to the world as a people who don't do certain things.  And while it is true that God's holy people will be diverted from the deteriorating things of the world, it's mainly because the people of God are too busy seeking the things that build up humanity, stemming from the love of God.  Being a holy people together is defined by what we do.  Not by what we don't do. 

There's an understanding underlying the Bible that is so often lost on us today.  For the most part, these books and epistles were written to a group of people.  Our eyes and minds reading them today so often read them quite individualistically.  But there's nothing individual about them.  The imperative and implied "you's" of scripture are for a people and rarely a person.  We must understand them as written to a community, selected in community, and formed for a community. 

We must understand the word of God - the message of God, what God says...together.
Together we are a holy nation.
Together we are a holy people.
Together we are a holy priesthood.
God has given us mercy together.
Christ has called us to follow him together.

Our longing for God and his ways is to be regular and we are to do it together.

How are we doing?

This past year, we saw a number of happenings and developments within our community:

• Since the beginning of the liturgical Church Year (the First Sunday of Advent), we have been on a all-church bible reading plan - our "community scripture way".  This was something I planned on in last year's pastor's report, and I am very glad that we are on our "way" together.  The csw is but the beginning.  It is my guess that well less than half of those who consider themselves a part of our community are participating with the way.  While I don't imagine that 100% of us would ever all be completely on board, it is certainly my hope to encourage everyone to join the rhythm of the csw.  The possibilities extending out of something like a community scripture reading plan are numerous.  For instance:
• Since the beginning of Lent (a season during which we again practiced daily spiritually formative activities), a number of us have gathered to study scripture together at our Thursday Evening Bible Study.  We studied the book of Ezekiel during Lent and are now in I Peter.  I greatly look forward to studying the book of Genesis during the Pentecost season.  This is another area in which a rhythm needs to be established for this to be a viable and worthwhile endeavor for our community.
• The third Sunday of the month has seen the emergence of a new evening worship gathering - The Remembrance.  The Remembrance is described as "...a high energy, yet reflective worship gathering focused around the communion table."  The gathering is in somewhat of a "trial mode".  We've neither "advertised" nor sought to "spread the word" outside of our own community beyond word of mouth.  The hopeful desire is that this would eventually become a viable weekly worship alternative for those who are not yet worshiping with us.  The hope is that with a solid core of individuals, The Remembrance would enter into a weekly rhythm in the fall. 
• Early last fall, a possibility was presented to the church board and the whole church which, in short, would have seen my family and I enter into a "community living" arrangement with three other ministerial families, bringing their hearts and skills to the North Street Community.  The unprecedented nature of this opportunity was grounds for any normal church board to deny even the suggestion of such an idea.  But not North Street.  The falling through of this opportunity was of great personal and professional disappointment (the other times in my life when I've gone from such great excitement to great disappointment in such a small amount of time are but a handful).  But the support of the church board and others was a great testament unto our willingness to let the Spirit move in wild ways (which is really the method by which the Spirit seems to move anyway).  I am glad to know that North Street understands that true Christian community must be nurtured way beyond a couple of hours on Sunday mornings and other gatherings here and there.  I pray that we are sensitive to how we can endeavor to create deeper relationships in Christ amongst us.
• By nothing more than an excited "Yes!" from me, "The Finer Things" Book Club was begun this past year, with the initiation and leadership of Heidi Parker and Meghan Scott.  I believe that this discussion group has been a positive challenge to our faith, strengthening our understanding of what it means to follow Jesus Christ in a confusing and difficult world.  I look forward to the group's continuance, as well as its growth.  Herein is one area that could possibly be seen as a "lobby" for our church community - a place where those who aren't yet a part of our community could enter.  I encourage the members to this end.
• January was a month focused on the things of "giving and receiving".  Those of you who saw through my flimsy cleverness noted that it was the traditional "Stewardship Month".  As part of this focus and after discussion in the Worship sub-committee of the church board, we changed the format of how we receive our weekly offering from the tradition of "passing the plate" to four designated locations and offering boxes at which worshipers are encouraged to bring their offering before the Lord as an act of worship.  While the emergence of the offering boxes has been quite a process (the originals that I made have now been replaced with much better boxes), I am happy to say that this morning, we can all use our brand new offering boxes (thanks to Paul Goodwin for taking this over).  I encourage us all to remember this as an act of worship.  
• We have continued this past year to slowly yet surely update our media presentation in the sanctuary.  One-hundred foot VGA cables have been laid to move the computer set-up to the rear.  More optimal electrical outlets were installed by Paul Goodwin.  We were the recipients of the generous donation of a brand new MacBook Pro laptop computer.  And the majority of the groundwork has been laid to begin podcasting the spoken word each week (all hardware is ready and set, with only the set up of a podcast feed remaining).  This simply means that soon the spoken word will be available for listening and download on the world wide web.  We have more work to do with our media setup and this is an area I ask and encourage us to consider improving during this next year, particularly with the high energy, media-driven nature of The Remembrance worship gathering.  You may have already noticed that I have cut back on visual presentations on Sunday mornings.  This is mainly due to the fact that the work put into such endeavors is of weak reward on Sunday mornings due to an inadequate projector.  We are already on borrowed time with our dear little LCD projector (we haven't even had to change the bulb once since I've been here!).  This could be a healthy expense in the coming year.
• Our little church community has been busy in missional endeavors this year.  From a weekend of deep cleaning and repair in our community bed shelter space, to a week long work trip to New Orleans, to a "Work & Worship" Weekend just a few weeks ago with the Dorchester Immanuel Church of the Nazarene, our collective hands have been busy!  I am proud of our community for seeking out opportunities to share in the things of the Body of Christ.  Much thanks goes to Andrew Rankin for his planning and leadership in this area.  He and I have already talked about how a local "Work & Worship Weekend" could become an annual endeavor.  I hope so!

A few updates and other areas to consider as we head into the future:

• Last year, I reported to you that we had signed into an "option-to-lease" with Omnipoint Communications, Inc. (known to the public as "T-Mobile") to provide space in our steeple and basement for personal wireless communications antennae.  The first option period ended twelve months after the signing of the lease.  Omnipoint has exercised the final possible six months to complete the necessary licensing and permits for construction to begin.  Long story short: we will know by the end of September if this is to happen.  It is my understanding that all hoops have been jumped through with the final step being approval from the Town Planning Board.
• I have enjoyed serving alongside Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore, both as chaplain and member of the Board of Trustees.  While my weekly interaction has been reduced of late, this past year saw me visit the shelters regularly, attend staff meetings, and be available for prayer and support as asked and needed for the staff and guests. 
• I have continued enjoying interaction with various constituencies of the Hingham community:
• Attending regular meetings of the Hingham & Hull Religious Leaders Association.  North Street hosted the first ever installment of this group's "Hot Topics" Forum Series.
• Attending various Hingham Business Council and South Shore Chamber of Commerce meetings, particularly concerning the development of the Hingham Shipyard, an area now known as "The Launch."  This mixed-use residential, commercial, and retail area but one mile from our building will harbor a couple thousand new residents.  With encouragement from the church board, I wrote a letter of inquiry as to Samuels and Associates' (the main developers of the project) intent with the Weber Dodge Building (directly across the street from Stop 'n Shop), encouraging them to consider the prospect of a church being a vital part of any new community.  We've received no response as of yet.  :-)
• Keeping up on the seemingly endless "development" of the Hersey property directly to the east of our property.  Winning-bid developer Mr. Tom Hastings has been forth-coming with plans, as ever-changing as they may be.  In short, the project is no further than it was this same time a year ago.
• I reported to you last year that Meghan and I would be subject to a number of questionnaires and interviews in anticipation of ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.  All has been completed except a final interview the weekend of District Assembly.  We were unanimously recommended for ordination by the District Credentials Board, with an impending vote by the District Assembly and General Superintendent approval in late May.  The Ordination Service will be Saturday morning, May 31 at the Quincy Wollaston Church of the Nazarene.
• I served this past year as a trustee for the Reynold's Institute, which is the New England District's school of ministerial training.  In addition, I was a member of a task force to research and establish a system and culture of mentoring on the district.  I am excited about how God is moving in this area. 
• North Street is moving slowly in the things of administration and institution.  While this is okay in one sense (the Church is an organism first and foremost prior to being an institution), we would do well to further develop and implement plans and systems already in place including our church board committee structure, an FHSS host sub-committee, and a regular rhythm of worship planning. 
• The children of our church community are growing!  Connie Vandervort has continued to faithfully set up activities for the children of North Street including outings, Bible quizzing, and special events.  In this next year, there is need for further help.  While it has always been and continues to be my desire that every member of our community begin in the worship gathering together, the time is quickly coming and may have already came that we either increase the age of the children who spend time in the nursery during the whole of the worship gathering or create other space for a toddler/pre-school group. 
• Most of you know me well enough by now that I shy from reporting statistics.  But to be complete and as a point of reference, I'll report four pertinent stats:
• Our "official" church membership remained the same this year (44).
• Our weekly worship attendance remained close to the same as last year (somewhere between 50-54).
• Our giving increased again for the third straight year.
• Our allocations (AKA "budgets") were all paid in full, with an overpayment of our World Evangelism Fund allocation.

One aspect of deeper Christian community that I don't only strongly desire, but also see a dire need for, is to know one another better.  This is not an easy end.  We must work at countering the societal drive for individualistic and privatistic tendencies.  They are not of the Body of Christ.  It will take time, effort, accountability, and a commitment to more than Sunday mornings together.  Further, I desire as your pastor to know each of you better.  This also takes time - an understanding I have with great sensitivity.  But if we desire to know each other in Christ - to reflect his Body, we must work together: to help one another, to love one another, and to shore up our individual short-comings by recognizing our human needs.  Let me be the first to be vulnerable:

• When we interviewed with you over two years ago, I mentioned my intention of entering into a mentoring relationship with a respected individual for professional accountability and everything else that comes in such a relationship.  After a couple of disappointing opportunities that did not work out, I am still without this very important relationship that - I believe - everyone in life should have.  My "confession" of this to you is an accountability measure to push further in seeking to fulfill this need.
• I have been preaching weekly for over two years now.  While the excuses of life-interruption have been obvious during this time (deaths in the family, the birth of our twins, and the constantly adjusting schedule of a very young family of five), I am still disappointed in the lack of a rhythm of study, preparation, and formation of the spoken word each week.  With the possible move to two gatherings of worship in this next year, a better weekly pattern must be established.  Consider this my commitment to that end.

Would you endeavor to allow yourselves to be more vulnerable with me and with one another in the coming months? 

I want to thank the North Street Community for how well you have taken care of your pastoral family.  Meghan, Brayden, Brenna, Brooklyn, and I all know that we are loved.  And we are very thankful both to God and to you.  No one demonstrates the love of God to me more than my wife Meghan, for which I am extremely grateful.  Many people have put a lot of themselves into the North Street Community this past year, all of whom I am also grateful for.  For those who have come close and gone out of their way to be care-full for Meghan and I and our children I am very thankful.  And for those who have stepped into responsibilities when no one else would, I am also very grateful.

Most of all I am grateful for our Savior and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Lord.  Without his lead of love, we're nothing.  And to God we give the thanks and the glory.

Submitted for the 2008 Annual Meeting,
For & Through Christ,

Jeremy D. Scott