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A Word From the Pastor

 

July 2010 

It was such a joy to witness Juhye Hahn commissioned at Annual Conference. She will now serve as a pastor of a local congregation. Commissioning is one of the major milestones along the journey to ordination as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. Isn’t it neat to know we had a part in helping her along the way during the year she served God here at Commack UMC as a Student Intern Pastor?

 

Juhye and I traveled to Annual Conference together and speculated about what the Bishop might ask her and others to be commissioned in front of all the clergy gathered for Executive Section. The Bishop likes to shake things up a bit by sometimes asking questions not scripted and practiced. It keeps us on our toes!

 

One of the questions the Bishop likes to ask is: "Do you know the General Rules of the church and will you keep them?" The general rules are John Wesley guide in how to live fully in faith and give evidence to our desire for salvation. There are three:

 

First, "Do no harm by avoiding evil of every kind." Among the evils listed, Wesley included:

 Taking name of God in vain

 Profaning the day of the Lord

 Drunkenness

 Slaveholding

 Unlawful interest

 Uncharitable or unprofitable conversation

 Laying up treasure on earth

Second, "Doing good by being in every way merciful. As you have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and as far as possible to all people." Again Wesley included among other things:

 Giving food to hungry

 Giving clothes for the body

 Visiting or helping the sick and those in prison

 Encouraging and instructing each other

 Helping each other in business

 

Third, "Attending all the ordinances of God." The list here includes:

 Public worship

 Taking part in communion

 Family and private prayer

 Study of scripture

 Fasting or abstinence

Rueben Job, a Bishop of the United Methodist Church condenses the General Rules this way:

 Do no harm

 Do good

 Stay in love with God

His summary makes it easy to remember them. These General Rules are not just for clergy – they are for all Christians. I encourage you to reflect on the rules and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in keeping them in the context of your own walk of faith. Who knows, maybe one day in worship I may ask you: "Do you know the General Rules and will you keep them? Now you can answer, "Yes" and "Yes!"

 

May you know the blessing of God’s Presence and the fullness of faith as you live the General Rules.

Peace,

Rev. Lynda