Can't you just picture it? The chosen disciples and their companions gathered together in one large room? They are somewhat fearful and uncertain about what to make of not only the days events, but also not sure of how to interpret, come to grips with all the information coming into them. They've had a rough week leading up to this time together. The events of Holy Week and Easter have taken their toll. Yet here they are gathered together in one place, the chosen disciples and their companions trying to figure out, what comes next?

And then they start hearing reports that our risen and living Lord has been present with this group or that group. How they had been talking amongst themselves and suddenly, or sometimes gradually, Jesus made everything clear to them and they recognized his spirit present among them, and that their hearts were burning. Because they realized they had moved from uncertainty and fear to clarity and hope for their eyes were opened, and they recognized the presence of Jesus among them.

Then while they are speaking, gathered together not in Jerusalem but in Black Mountain , Jesus comes among them bringing his peace. Some I believe were startled, and maybe a few terrified, but all I believe would attest, that the peace of Christ, which does pass all understanding, was present in abundance among us 2006 Synod delegates, and our helpers. Fear and uncertainty had vanished. The Savior's will had been sought and found. Or said another way, our minds had been opened to understand the scriptures and we renewed our commitment to Christ and his ministry both as congregational delegates and as a province of the Moravian church.

I am happy, and more than a little pleased, to report that this 2006 Provincial synod followed the lead of us here at First Moravian. That the hard work you all did in 2003 of visioning, of first reflecting on who you are as God's people gathered together in this community of faith, and then figuring out, okay what are the next rights steps Jesus is calling us to? In doing this work together, you all were on the cutting edge, the vanguard of what the provincial synod affirmed last week. Who we here at 1 st Moravian discovered ourselves to be—United in Christ; Reaching Out with Love; and Changing Lives. This is the direction last week's synod affirmed for the entire province for the next four years.

In our being United in Christ, synod adapted in spirit what one First Moravian members said during the 2003 visioning process:

“We should free ourselves from sectarian and doctrinal divisiveness by revitalizing the Moravian ideals of fraternity and liberty. We should work to achieve this through service. We should eschew contemporary cynicism and destructive attitudes towards others by focusing our ideal of fraternity that sees difference as strength, and as a source of energy.” Whatever prophet among you said this about 1 st Moravian could say the same thing about last week's synod gathering.

Synod delegates unanimously affirmed “to call the church to renewed commitment to proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Savior in word and deed, at home and in the wider world and that we will do all in pour power, both as a duty and a joy, to invite everyone to a personal relationship with Christ, confessing Him as the savior, and serving others in His name.”

Because in Jesus Christ there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, we are united as one in the body of Christ, synod resolved to work harder to end prejudice and inequality against women and people of color; expand our efforts for racial reconciliation, to reach out to immigrant populations, particularly our Latino brothers and sisters, and to be more intentional and pro-active including our Florida Moravian brother and sisters in the life, mission and decision making for the province. We also expressed regret and apologized to the African American community for the church's past ownership of slaves.

Calls to end our relationship with the World Council of Churches and dialogue with the Episcopal church did not make it out of committee. We are reluctant to abandon seeking to be united with other Christian churches working towards Jesus' hope that we will be one with Him as he is one with the Father, and to this end synod approved joining a new ecumenical Christian initiative, Christian Churches Together in the USA.

Reaching out with love and changing lives could be the unofficial motto for next year's 550 anniversary of the Moravian church as we, as a province, focus on “building up mission outreach while continuing to support existing mission programs.” As a province we plan to build 7 Habitat for Humanity homes in the Gulf Coast area. We voted to expand our HIV/AIDS ministry from Tanzania to South Africa , encourage every congregation to schedule an AIDS awareness Day and to support a specific AIDS ministry program. Of course we here at 1st Moravian have already begun this through the Board of World Mission's “Adapt a Village” program for AIDS orphans.

Synod also encouraged wider dissemination and advocacy for the United Nations Millennium development goals, and the AGAPE document from the World Council of Churches as ways to alleviate the suffering and bring “relief, assistance and hope” to poor Moravians in developing countries.

In the ongoing goal and mission of “changing lives” synod strongly encourages congregations to more fully engage youth in the life and ministry of their congregation through “mentoring and fostering relationships in such activities as board and committee members, musicians, ushers, greeters, deniers, lay readers, candle makers and stewards.” And again we here at 1 st Moravian are already doing this, but we've recently begun doing this in a more intentional, inviting way for our youth and it is one of my highest priorities in the next several months.

In something very close to unanimity, synod voted to fund a fulltime Human Resource Professional and several projects that will increase our annual Provincial Fair Share by $1,589, or about the cost per member of one fast food combo meal. These projects include developing a Sunday school curriculum for junior & senior highs that defines Moravian identity and addresses deeper faith questions and issues. Developing “an engaging and user friendly resource that will guide families in their spiritual formation and equip them to live out their faith in daily life.” And we will invite the Northern Province to collaborate in partnership with us in both the cost and creation of these resources.

Other decisions made at last week's synod call for us as a province and as individual congregations to greater accountability. The congregational review the Joint Board has with the Provincial Elders Conference every 3 years will focus on church growth in 4 areas:

numerical (growing in active members, attendance, budget and activities)

Maturation growth (growing in discipleship, faith, hope and love)

Organic growth ( growing in effective functioning, organization and processes) and

Incarnational growth (living the faith in service and witness to others)

And it is not just the individual congregations we will endeavor to hold accountable, but also we as the Body of Christ called the Southern Province of the Moravian Church . The Provincial elders Conference (PEC) is directed to review and examine both our synod and provincial organization and processes, to determine if changes need to be recommended to the next synod so that we can more effectively be about the mission and ministry Christ calls us to.

United in Christ: Reaching Out With Love; Changing Lives. Another one of you during the visioning process proclaimed: “First Moravian Church is called to be strong and steadfast in its mission to provide a safe place where individuals can come together and share ideas and beliefs, love and caring for one another and be an example of Christ-like values and actions to our community and the world. We are called to be such a strong committed body that we shine like a beacon to others and welcome all into the warmth of our fellowship.”

Let us continue to be in the forefront, leaders in our Province in embodying what it means to be a Moravian disciple of Jesus Christ.

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