Saturday Reflection – 13 November 2021

Saturday Reflection – 13 November 2021

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.” Ephesians 3:20-21

I absolutely love our Moravian Festivals! Each one brings a story that renews our relationship with God in an amazing way, refreshes us as His children, and gives us a newfound or renewed appreciation for our Unitas Fratrum or the Moravian Church. Of these many Moravian festivals, is our Chief Elder Festival, celebrated on November the 13th. This festival takes us back to 1741, when Leonard Dober was retiring as Chief Elder of the Moravian Church, and the Synod met in London to elect the new Chief Elder. At that Synod, they recognized that only Jesus Christ could adequately fill the role as Chief Elder of the Church, and formally elected Jesus Christ as the Chief Elder of the Moravian Church on September 16, 1741, and the formal announcement was made in all Moravian churches on November 13, 1741. Therefore, November 13 is celebrated as Chief Elder Festival as Christ is honoured as the true Head of the Church.

It is against that backdrop, we read today’s doctrinal text. It was not that the Synod was trying to find a way out of assigning an overwhelming responsibility of managing the different sectors of the Moravian Church, but a recognition of the One who is the Alpha and Omega, who alone called the church into being, saved and commissioned its members, and by whose Spirit we are joined and equipped for the task set before us. The doctrinal text is a praise that the Apostle Paul uses at the end of Ephesians 3. We give God thanks for the work that He has wrought in our lives, and that he alone is deserving of our loyalty and commitment, and who alone is to be honoured and glorified.

It is a recognition that we are empowered only by the Christ who called us for such a time as this! We do not seek our own human advantage, by getting caught up in pride of place or position, but continue to humbly serve Christ who is the Head of the Church. We are reminded that outside of Christ, our labour is in vain, and so we ask Christ to hold our hands, guide our feet, and stand by us, while we run this race, so we do not run this race in vain. But not only does this Festival, speak to us as Moravians, but as Christians, for not only is he the Head of the Church, but Lord of our lives. That, my brothers and sisters is the foundation of this Festival. The recognition that we ourselves are led by Christ who saved us from sin, and opened to us the gates of glory. That by the Spirit of God, we are taught truth and led in the way everlasting. Then will that resolve, lead us to yield to the leading of Christ who is the Chief Elder of the Church. These thoughts are summed up amazingly by Rev. Dr. Michael Johnson who said, “As we approach another November 13, we remain grateful for our predecessors, who defied convention and appointed the head of our lives as the head of the church.”

Having reflected on these thoughts, and recognizing that only by Christ’s power are we able to accomplish the mandate to which we have been called. What is our resolve as Christians, and as a Church? As we honour Christ Jesus today, remembering a history that has certainly been passed down to our generation, may our prayer be that Christ reigns in our life, and in our church, that in all we do, we exemplify and honour Him. Let us acknowledge that of our own strength, we are powerless to do anything, but with Christ’s power at work in us, we may accomplish far beyond that which we could ever ask or imagine. Let us then faithful to Christ, to His teaching and His example. Let Christ reign in our lives, and in our church. Let us not be doubtful, proud, self-serving, or double-minded, but rather be humble, loyal, faithful, and in one accord. Let us commit our lives and our cause to Christ, and let all we do, emanate the Christ who reigns in our life and in our church.

Until next week, I leave you with the words of the Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood, on this Chief Elder Festival “By proclaiming that Jesus is our Chief Elder, we acknowledge that he is the true head of the church and that all we do should be pleasing to him. It is also a reminder to us that true leadership is servant leadership like that of Jesus Christ. Every November 13, Moravians around the world should ask themselves, “What does our Chief Elder want us to do as a Church?” As we ponder this question, may Christ reign in our reflection, deliberation, and execution of this mandate that lives may be transformed, and God be glorified. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair