Our Blessing

Preached at Hanover Street Presbyterian Church

On August 22, 2004

By the Rev. Thomas C. Davis, Ph.D.

Texts:

Genesis 32: 22-28

The same night [Jacob] arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.  He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything he had.  And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.  When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.  Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking."  But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me."  And he said to him, "What is your name?"  And he said, "Jacob."  Then he said, "Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."

1 Peter 3: 8-11

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind.  Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.  For "He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it."

Sermon Text

Every August I have the very gratifying responsibility of writing a personal note to each of our scholarship students to tell them that Hanover is supporting their education with another annual stipend.  In the performance of that duty I get to read the application essays that they have written to the scholarship committee.  Our scholarship students this year are Aysha Gregory, Tara Lynn Hall, Lindsey Harris, Brittany Peterson, and Anna Tudor.  The application form required them to describe their history with Hanover and their educational and vocational plans. 

Human beings need to know that they are loved and esteemed.  That's what blessing accomplishes.  It bespeaks love and esteem.  We need blessing almost as much as food and water and air to breathe.  Jacob wrestled with a messenger from God and wouldn't let go until he received a blessing.  All of us seek blessing, and as we mature, we also seek to be a blessing to others.  As I read these applications, I was deeply moved, and blessed, because I realized what a positive influence this church has had upon these young people.  When we baptize infants or youth, we promise as a congregation to bring them up to love and follow Jesus.  I can see by the accomplishments of these young people and also by their words of thanksgiving that you, Christians of Hanover, have kept your baptismal promises very well.  You have blessed these young people.  And now they in turn are blessing us, by thanking us for caring for them, and by asking God to keep on supporting us with the Holy Spirit. 

Some of our scholarship students are already at school.  Latasha is away, and Brittany is at work, and the Harrises, even as I speak, are driving Lindsey to Elon College.  So, I regret that we don't have every one present.  But we will hear from those who are; and a parent or their pastor will read from the essays of those who couldn't be here.  Listen, now, to the grateful blessings of young people whom you have richly blessed.

Lindsey Harris:

Since the time that I was six, Hanover Church has been an important part of my life.  My household would frequent Hanover at least twice a week; one night for choir rehearsal, and Sunday mornings for the church service.  In addition, through this church I was introduced to community service at a young age by helping to serve at the Emmanuel Dining Room or walking in the AIDS Walk or Relay for Life.  When I was younger, those choir rehearsal nights, whether being babysat or babysitting, were always looked forward to for the chance to meet with friends.  Also, for the past four years that I have been singing with the choir, I have loved the chance to rehearse and perform such challenging, diverse and spiritual songs for such an appreciative audience.  I have had the pleasure of feeling that I have added to the wonderful worship experience here at Hanover, because even when I was young I felt closest to God when singing, and I know that for many others music is also an intricate part of the Sunday morning worship.  It is at Hanover that I had my first church experience, and I have never had the desire to find anything more.  I have of course visited other churches with friends and family, but none of them have had the welcoming nature, inspiring music, or theological conviction that I have experienced at Hanover.

Throughout history, churches have long been considered sanctuaries from persecution, a safe haven for all people.  At Hanover, this notion has been heartily latched onto and expanded.  It is not enough for the church building to simply be a place where all people can rest without fear of persecution, but the church body is one in which all people may be welcomed and given the chance to flourish.  Nor is this enough, no, it is the creed of the Hanover congregation that the church should not be needed as sanctuary; in all communities people should be provided with an environment conducive to their happiness and growth.  It is the work of this church to make this vision become reality.

Now I sound as if I am preaching, but these are the values that Hanover has inscribed in me.  I have been given a place in which I can grow in mind, body and spirit.  I have been taught to love myself for all that I am, and to love others in just the same way.  A seed has been planted in me to serve my community and to strive to provide others with all that I have been provided.  This is what the Hanover community has taught me; not by attending class and taking good notes, but through the actions and beliefs of everyone that I have come to know.

As I am going to college in about a month to major in Music and English, I realize that Hanover has had a large influence on my educational goals as well.  While it is obvious to me that I have come to love music so much partly due to the encouragement and musical growth that I have been able to experience here at Hanover, I can also say that Hanover has helped to instill in me the self-confidence needed to follow my dreams.  I have to thank the Hanover congregation for making me the person I am today, and for instilling in me the values that will help to determine who I am becoming.

Aysha Gregory

My family had been attending Hanover Church before I was born.  I was baptized and received my first bible from Hanover Church.  I was involved in Sunday school from pre-school up until 8th grade.  I became a member of the church in while in eighth grade.  I have been affiliated with the church's youth group since middle school, the last two years r served as president of the group.  Also I have been a part of numerous Vacation Bible school programs held at Hanover.

Hanover has been important to me for many reasons but two specific reasons stand out.  First, the church has supported me in all of my athletic endeavors.  I enjoy receiving cards signed by all of the members congratulating me on my successes.  Second, Hanover was influential in helping me to establish my own spirituality.  During my Conformation Classes I was able to explore and understand my own individual beliefs.  Hanover gave me the opportunity to discover God in my own way.

My spiritual beliefs affect all aspects of my life.  Hanover Church is very accepting of people.  People from different backgrounds and lifestyles are welcomed and not judged.  I come in contact with people who are very judgmental.  I would usually let them talk about people and not say anything.  Lately, I have been speaking up and expressing my beliefs.  I found that people may disagree with me but we remain friends.  One friend told me that she would pray for me because of my misguided beliefs.  I feel better that I stand up for my beliefs.  I appreciate the lessons learned and spiritual guidance received at Hanover.

Tara Lynn Hall:

When I look back over the eighteen years of my life, and all that I have been through, this church has been a family to me.  I remember the times when I felt like my life was not right.  There were times when I felt like I couldn't go on.  It took only one person from the church family to see that I wasn't happy, or the normal "Tara Lynn, for everyone else to get involved.  I have a history with this church from the time I was attached to my grandmother's hip, learning from her (in church and outside of church):  Walking around church singing "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands;" being an acolyte, learning God's word from the children's sermon; being a part of youth group; singing in the children's choir; singing with the youth choir; making my singing debut in front of the congregation; learning from the music professors of the world (Patrick Evans and Larry Peterson); being confirmed; being a part of the Black History Committee and participating in the Black History Month programs; and, at thirteen years of age, letting someone else tell me that I had a gift and that I could put it to use, so that I ended up joining the adult choir, singing God's praises at Gospel Vespers (2 years straight as soloist) with Shannon Booth and Marie Robinson, participating in the Christmas eve services, portraying one of God's disciples in "Amahl," being baptized, serving as youth elder on Session; to now?a wise young, educated lady; or shall I say in Pastor Tom's words:  "A blossoming flower who once was a bud, but has bloomed so beautifully."  But, without the sunshine of this church and the love that overflows from you I would be nothing.  I just want to say:  Thank you so much for all of the love and support that you have given to me since I was a little girl with pretty, puffy dresses.  I have learned so much from this church.  It is so incredible to be this blessed, to have a church family like you!

Brittany Peterson:

I have been attending Hanover for about ten years, since I was eight years old.  My mother and I first came to Hanover when she met Jack Heiks.  We began attending regularly when my mother married Jack.  They were married at Hanover, and two years later, my sister, Libby, was baptized here.  Jack's parents, Lillian and Bob Heiks, have been attending the church for decades, and so I felt a connection to the church and to my new family right away.  I have participated in Sunday School, for both young children and teenagers, and also in the Hanover summer camp over the years.  I was confirmed and became a member of the church in my own right in November 2000, during my freshman year of high school.

Hanover has been a rock for me.  I have had many challenges to my faith over the years, most notably because my father and his whole side of the family are agnostic.  Their position has softened recently, but when I was younger, my dad would often challenge manifestations of my faith, such as my confirmation classes and the cross in my wallet.  Whenever he lambasted those who participate in religion as naïve or prejudiced, I thought of the stimulating and open environment at Hanover to prove to myself that he was wrong.

Another challenge was presented when I enrolled at Ursuline Academy.  I had only attended public schools up to that point, and religion had never been a part of my daily life.  I was suddenly very aware that the freedom I had always had in matters of faith was rare.  This made me value the lessons I had learned at Hanover even more--lessons of kindness, inclusiveness, and love.  I believe that God wanted me to be at Ursuline so that I could bring these lessons to another community, through activities like the Kairos retreat.

When I began to think about college this problem arose:  How would I manage to pay for a college like Bryn Mawr?  This worry caused doubt in my heart.  I wondered whether I could ever get my life to the place I wanted it to be.  During this time, the God whom I had first met at Hanover was telling me that I could do whatever I wanted with my life, and that I would not be left adrift.  When I would get discouraged the image on the stained glass window near the front of the nave, the one depicting a woman holding onto a large wooden cross to keep herself afloat, reminded met that I did indeed have something to hold onto.

During the past ten years, Hanover has been a place for worship, but also something to hold onto, a reminder of what God truly is, and of what God wants for my life, and of what God wants for us all.

Anna Tudor:

I have attended Hanover Presbyterian Church since I was a baby.  My parents started bringing me to Hanover right after I was born, making this year my twenty-first year as a worshiper at Hanover, and my ninth year as a member of the church.  Throughout my long years at Hanover I have participated in the youth group and both the youth and adult choirs, volunteered for the Food Pantry, the Clothing Closet and the Emmanuel Dining Room, worked tables at the Mistletoe market and the Super Sale, set up and served food at the Deacons' luncheons and Advent suppers, and even joined in the worship services as an acolyte and lay liturgist.

Since I started attending Boston College, it has been difficult for me to remain as active at Hanover as I had been in the past.  Going to school hundreds of miles away makes it difficult to attend church every Sunday!  But I do attend when I am home, and the strong connection that my family maintains with Hanover is too strong to break over such a minor thing as distance. 

This past year I studied abroad in Italy; and since that is a Catholic nation (let alone an Italian-speaking one), I was unable to find a church there to attend.  I hope that this fall in Boston I can find a substitute church home for my weekends away from Hanover.

Hanover has been extremely important to me over the years.  Since I grew up there as a child, it was very influential for the development of who I will become as I grow frighteningly close to adulthood.  Hanover taught me how to love and respect those who are different from me, to understand rather than to judge, and to see God's works and God's love in the world around me.  My choice to volunteer in both high school and at Boston College was directly influenced by the importance of service to the community that Hanover has instilled in me.  While studying philosophy in college I have read a lot of theology and a lot of ethics, and my background in a loving, teaching church community has really helped me to shape my own moral beliefs.  I don't think that I make any choices in my life that are not affected by my experiences at Hanover Church.  Through Sunday School lessons, Sunday morning sermons and all the activities in which I participate at church, I became who I am today; and I certainly would not be the same without Hanover.

My college experience this past year was very different than the two years preceding.  I lived and studied for nine months in Parma, Italy.  I took classes in both English and Italian in subjects ranging from Renaissance literature to Roman history.  I had the opportunity to travel a lot, visiting such places as Prague, Spain, England, Scotland, Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam and Brussels, as well as cities all over the Italian peninsula.  The whole year was an amazing experience, although a very different one.  Living in another country was definitely something that took time to get used to, but I think that I learned a lot about myself while I was there.  And after nine months I was definitely glad to return home to see my friends and family, including those I have at Hanover.

Latasha Turner:

My experience at Hanover started when I was a small child, coming to church every Sunday with my grandparents.  As time passed, I learned a lot from the members of the Hanover congregation.  My baptism took place here, and also my confirmation.  I attended Sunday School regularly, took part in the youth group, and vacation Bible school.  Later I volunteered to help with church picnics, Sunday School, youth group, the Wilmington AIDS walk, the Hanover Food Closet, bake sales, the Super Sale each year, and neighborhood Christmas caroling.

Since I go to college in Georgia, it has been hard for me to remain connected to my church family, but like the saying goes, "You never forget where you came from."  Hanover has taught me to live, care, share and give back to the community.  For all that I thank you.  Sometimes I visit Hanover's web site, www.hanoverchurch.org, to keep informed of what you all are doing.  Church helps me stay on the right path in life.  It keeps me focused on my goals in life.

I just recently completed my sophomore year at Clark Atlanta University.  What a year that was?not easy, but nevertheless enjoyable and successful.  I plan to study and work twice as hard next semester.  My career goals are becoming clearer day by day, and I will work very hard to accomplish them, supported by the prayers from my church family, and God by my side.  In closing, let me say thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to reapply.  Any award will be put to good educational use.

Rev. Davis

These students are our blessing.  As they progress in their studies, we pray that God will continue to bless them with gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that they will experience life as a divine vocation and keep growing in favor with God and humanity.  Amen!