Shared on January 29th at our Annual Meeting:
Matthew 14:22-33
…Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus…
I know a song by Lost and Found based on this passage. It’s called, “Take a Chance.”
Take a chance sometimes, take a chance sometimes… If you step out of the boat, you just might float.
You took a chance when you called a fresh out of the wrong seminary, high energy, and hopelessly optimistic new mom to be your pastor.
You take a chance when you write a check each week or month to this church – that good will come of it.
You take a chance when you share your stories, your prayers, your energy with a community full of people who are just as imperfect as you are.
You take a chance when you trust that the Holy Spirit can work through such clearly broken vessels.
And yet, that is what we are called to… individually and collectively. The vision laid out in this annual report, as passed by the 2011 congregational council is bold… optimistic… it may be as crazy as Peter stepping out of that boat to join Jesus, walking on water. But my hope and prayer is that we step out together, knowing that whatever happens, God will catch us.
Let us pray – O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
