Remembering and Forgetting
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Memory is a wonderful aspect of our lives.
Memory is a wonderful aspect of our lives.
It’s great to think back to an event and remember. Today we commemorate and celebrate 160 years of continuous Christian faithfulness and ministry here on this location.
But our memory sometimes shows that it’s corrupted by the brokenness and sin in our world.
Our enemy the devil is present in the world, and he seeks to corrupt what God has established. Everything, everywhere we look, we can spot how the enemy is messing with, distorting what God has created and made. Even our memory is fallen--
We often struggle because was can’t remember the things we want to remember---
And we then also struggle because we can’t forget the things we want to forget!
It’s part of being human. Today’s message will seem a bit contradictory at first, but I want us to realize that God guides us to remember the things that we SHOULD remember— and that God wants us to FORGET the things that He wants us to forget.
We need to ask Him to guide our decisions— Having His wisdom in remembering and forgetting the right way!
There are two passages, two prophecies, that I would like to briefly unpack today- one speaking about remembering, and one speaking about forgetting and moving ahead.
Both prophets— Jeremiah and Isaiah, spoke the words and thoughts of God to their people. The context of both is similar— They speak to a people who have a choice. A choice to follow God, to join Him in his work in the world— or a choice to turn away and go about their own selfish desires.
In some ways, pastors today are challenged and fortunate to be much like these prophets of old. We stand, or sit, and encourage you with the words and thoughts of God. Helping you to remember what God wants you to remember— and to Forget what God wants you to forget. But in both cases— Obey him, move forward with him, and live faithfully in our time.
Pastors, like me, have taken up that privilege and burden—Somewhere around the number 30 of us in this history-- to encourage and to lead this church in it’s own time. A time that has spanned 160 years.
I reached out to as many of these pastors and leaders that are still living— and invited them to share a bit of encouragement or reflection on their time serving at Walnut Creek. Everyone mentioned in some way the great privilege they counted it to serve alongside you. I know that priveldge too, and thank you for your partnership with God. It’s an honor to be a part of this great story.
Both Don Hamsher and Ross Miller, two of our more recent pastors spoke of the wonderful blessing they enjoyed serving with you:
“I appreciated the opportunity to serve here at Walnut Creek, which included baptisms, births, deaths, marriages, hospital visits— the transition to EVANA, and of course “COVID”… May Walnut Creek continue to be a light to the community and beyond” Don Hamsher, former Pastor, April 2010-Aug 2020.
The stage today is decorated with pulpits from our history. We thought it fitting for you to hear the words of God through scripture and the prophets— including me and a few former pastors, as we remember and walk in the the ancient way— but also embrace that God will do a new thing amongst us!
Ross spoke about that often in the past—celebrating the past— but also driving forward into the future. during his time here, he oversaw the building of this wonderful sanctuary. He sends his greetings:
“What a blessed time we had at Walnut Creek in the 18 years that we served. I had the honor of doing many funerals, weddings and baptisms. I was able to baptize my children while there at Walnut Creek, which was a great honor. I was glad that we did it in the Doughty Valley Creek because I cried like a baby.
“God’s blessing as you celebrate 160 years as a body of Christ. We miss all of you and remember our days there with fond memories. We praise God for his faithfulness and love. Above all else we want His name to be praised as we seek to love God and love people.” Ross Miller, former Pastor, 1990-2008.
Jeremiah the prophet calls us to look back to the ancient ways.
Jeremiah the prophet calls us to look back to the ancient ways.
Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
16 This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Listen to what the Lord says.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Do we hear him? There may be several reasons why we don’t hear from him.
Stand in the crossroads.
We shouldn’t hurry through life at a break-neck pace. We should take a moment and stand to consider.
Lord asks that we stand up— not hunched over. Face the situation.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
Eldon King, who served as an assistant pastor to Paul R. Miller from 1959-1965, reminded us of the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church— Eldon is here today with us, and speaks this blessing over all us today: (you can read his comments to us in today’s copy of the News!)
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
What are we standing on? Both as individuals and as a church— We are standing literally on holy ground, on a corner— a cross roads of County road 144 and County road 145. (dedicated in 1862 for the purpose of, in the words of Lester Hostetler, pastor from 1915-1925)
“[The meeting house] providing more thorough organization and more cooperation in the work would make us better laborers in the Master’s vineyard” Lester Hostetler, Pastor, 1915-1925
PHOTO OF ORIGINAL BUILDING
Look where you have been, where you will go.
Every mom and dad, grandma and grandpa would tell a young person, when they come to the street--- “Look both ways”. And we need to do that even more diligently today.
Consider the road ahead— by considering what God has done for us in the past.
Why are you here? How are you here?
Maybe you don’t really know— that’s ok. God has worked, and that’s what you do know.
Jesus healed a blind man in John 9— and the pharisee’s haul him in to try to figure out
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Ask for the ancient (good) way.
What are the aspects of the ancient way?
Menno Simons stated this verse was profound for him:
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
He was born in 1496.
In 1896, Walnut Creek Mennonite dedicated it’s Second building—, and in 1996, 100 years later, this verse was highlighted as a focus for the celebration. In 1907 or so, a basement— a literal foundation was added to that building.
Photo of SECOND BUILDING— with and without the basement.
That process was a bit worrisome for the congregation. The 1896 building was so well built— and so heavy, there were some who didn’t believe they could build a foundation sturdy enough to lift the building up!
We have one of those special concrete blocks— This was not any ordinary block— it was specially made larger and stronger for the needs of the church.
Jesus is the one foundation that will never fail us!
He calls himself that in Matthew 21:42 quoting Psalm 118:22
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
Paul also refers to Jesus as the cornerstone--
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
One truth that we will never depart from: Jesus is the son of God, the way to the Father, the truth and the life. That is something we will never forget.
Stand- Look- Ask-
Walk in that good way.
Do what he tells you to do.
What do you want to teach me? What do you want me to do?
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
This is in Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount— Jesus is teaching his disciples and says— Let me show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my words, and puts them into practice— He goes into the wise and foolish builders parable.
He’s saying— yes, stand and look, ask me what to do— and then do IT!
God desires a partnership with us.
For 160 years, WCMC has been a church of action. I’m blown away to read of the partnerships and actions we have taken through the years to support efforts in our community, the county and region, and even internationally. We will continue to do what our Lord tells us to do! We will walk- in that good way. It’s like a partnership between us and God!
Bruce Hamsher served as an associate in the 90’s and in his greetings to the church today reminds us:
Philippians 1:3–6 (NIV)
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
“I remember WCMC as persons who were encouraging in my gifting, accepting of my lack of experience and ultimately those who partnered together both in my time at the church and in sending me into other opportunities with prayer and support. You all helped launch me into these opportunities and here I am 26+ years later as committed as ever to the message of the gospel. Thank you!” Bruce Hamsher, Associate Pastor
Another aspect of that Good Ancient way is to teach and guide each other in the way of Jesus. From day 1, there was a committee of leaders, Pastors, Elders, yes even those called bishops back then— to work together to guide the church.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
We need to remember that it is up to us to obey— and let God take care of the results.
Younger people, please hear me— we are a church that will first and foremost ask for God’s wisdom, Ask what He would want us to do— and we will do our best to obey. Sometimes the world would tempt us to please men— to go along with the crowd— and ignore God’s instructions. But we commit ourselves to Obey God first— to please God first- even if that means ignoring what men think.
Paul R. Miller served as pastor at WCMC from 1937-1971, one of the longest tenured staff person in our history— He was known throughout those 34 years as a direct, strict, and unapologetic teacher. A member of WCMC back then said of Paul: “He didn’t care what people thought about what he had to say. If it needed to be said, he preached it whether it was popular or not.”— I sense also that Venus Hershberger and Alvin Miller, two other pastors serving with Paul during that time-- were kind hearted shepherds to work with Paul for the first 20 or so years.
And what is the result of Standing, Looking, Asking and Walking? Then, the scripture says, we will find
Find rest for our souls.
Rachelle Miller, another fine younger leader who was raised up here, and served us so well in the youth area, mentioned her fond memories of support and community
“When I think of WCMC, I think of warmth and fellowship. Both things I experienced growing up in the church and also serving in the church. The generosity and encouragement of this community is unlike any I've experienced. I'm so thankful for my church family and all the ways I've been shaped, cared for, and encouraged through you. Thank you!” Rachelle Miller, former Youth sponsor and leader.
We are a people of peace, and when folks have visited us, joined our fellowship, they should experience the rest and peace that only Jesus can give us.
Stand, Look, Ask, Walk, Rest.
Those are the elements of the Good way— the Ancient way that we will continually seek here.
But sometimes God will call us not only to Remember certain things— He also guides us to Forget— to move beyond the past:
Isaiah the prophet calls us to join God in his plans for the future.
Isaiah the prophet calls us to join God in his plans for the future.
16 This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
Isaiah 43:18–19 (NIV)
18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Through the prophet— God is reminding his people that the past can teach and illustrate but it must never bind us. The Lord always has greater things in store! He is revealed in the past, but he is always more than what the past revealed. What he did remains an unchanging aspect of what he is to us— but there are always new deserts or wastelands, always new wildernesses that He is indeed calling us to confront.
The first step again is to
Isaiah 43:16-19.
Listen to what God says.
Forget the former things and do not dwell on the past.
See the new thing God is doing.
Perceive the new pathways and new sources of God’s provision.
That is also the task of the church— to remember in one sense— the greatness of God’s love and power in our lives in the past— but also to look forward, never allowing the challenges we face today overwhelm us.
There have been many challenges in 160 years of ministry.
Each of the photos you see back on our display table represent men who were called by God, for such a time, to help the congregation to balance remembering and forgetting— sustaining the good old way, but also looking forward. They used these pulpits to preach, and they used their hands and hearts and lives to lead this congregation— an honor and a challenge that Matt and Owen and I take very seriously today. We are honored to be named within this great story— a story that is long from finished.
Ernie Hershberger served us most recently in an interim capacity, and he sends this encouragement today:
“To my friends at Walnut Creek. I will always treasure my time with you. It was a joy to be among you. I sense that Walnut Creek is a healthy congregation that enjoys serving Jesus. My prayer is that your influence will broaden and deepen in this community and that your joy will always increase as we travel together on the happy road home.” Ernie Hershberger, Interim Pastor
God will always be calling us to stretch, to grow, to stay in motion.
What are those new streams in the desert, and pathways in the wilderness?
Faith of our fathers- #262
But we have a special way we will do this— technology and Merle Stutzman have made it possible.