REV. HOPE HARLE-MOULD,
PASTOR AND TEACHER

They call me a "preacher with props."  On other Sundays, I might portray a biblical character, get people to act out a story, or perform a new song I've composed to express the Word without words.  Since my Sabbatical (see photo), I've linked St. Peter's in mission and peacebuilding efforts from Western New York to West Africa.  At St. Peter's, I strive to bring forth each person's unique gifts and weave them together into a New Creation to serve our community and give glory to God.  Let me help you take the first steps on the new path God is calling you to begin!

UPCOMING SERMONS BY PASTOR HOPE (All services start at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted):
3/7:         "He Ran to Me"
3/14:       "Original Poems for Lent & Life"
3/17:       Lenten Journey, West Seneca Development Center, Pastor Hope preaching on "Acceptance" - 7:30 p.m.
3/21:       "Underwriter of Christ:  Joanna, Wife of Chuza, Herod's Steward"
3/28:       Palm Sunday:  "Peacebuilders of a New Kingdom"
4/4:         Easter Sunday

                                 POEMS FOR ST. PETER'S
                                                                   (Sermon of February 1, 2009)

For the first time in my ministry - a sermon all in poetry, all composed for you for this day. -- Pastor Hope.

                                                       "I Knew You'd Come"

(Note:  This poem is not about me but about all of us, as we are called to a ministry of presence with one another)

I knew you'd come.
God knew how much I needed you to come.
You didn't know,
But somehow you came anyway.

At my door, I could tell you were tired,
Haggard and hassled by deadlines and demands,
Weary from worries.
You had even changed your mind -
Decided you couldn't come,
But somehow your car knew the way.
I knew you'd come.

When I saw your face at the door,
My darkness lifted, my spirit soared.
Poured you something hot to drink.
Made you eat cookies.
Then you gave me your greatest gift:
You listened.
You opened up a space for me
To share the song of my soul.
Your questions invited me out of the dark
Into a safe space,
Free to reveal hidden struggles -
And quiet victories.

Didn't tell you all my troubles,
Though you would have willingly taken them on.
No, I told you of parts of me waiting to come alive.
Like a young fledgling vulnerable on the ground,
You haloed me with gentleness -
Even made me laugh.

Too soon our time was over.
You said goodbye at the door.
I said thank you.
You brushed it off,
Saying you had meant to come so many times before.
I said, I know,
But somehow,
Today,
I knew you'd come.


                                            "The Woman Who Can't Sing"

One woman in our congregation can't sing.
She admits it.
Can't carry a tune in a bucket.
But, boy, does she sing.
Puts her whole body into it.
When I look at her,
She's swaying with praise,
Believing every word she utters,
Telling the whole world that God is good,
That Christ is alive,
That hope is real...
Just by singing a song for all that she's worth.

Thank you.
You make me be a better minister.
You inspire me to inspire others to worship
For all that we're worth.
Thank you,
Child of God,
Daughter of Christ,
Woman of the Spirit!

                                                "The Lord Will Provide"

Lost my job.
Don't want to lose my home.
My wife's part-time job not enough.
Bills pile higher.
My son says, "How about McDonald's, Dad?"
What can I say?

At night I cry tears no one sees.
I cry out, God, you've been with us in the past,
Please, be with us now.
Grandma always used to say, "The Lord will provide."
And she made it through the Great Depression.
So, I have to believe her.
But, God, we sure could use some providing now.
When Abraham was about to sacrifice his son,
You sent a ram,
Its horns stuck in the thicket.
He named that place, "The Lord Provides."
You heard his prayer then.
Please, hear mine now.

Next morning, wake up to a ruckus
Coming from the backyard, back by the garage,
Garbage cans being knocked over -
That stray dog again.
Run out to chase him off.
It's not a dog.
Face to face with a wild creature.
Never seen anything like it.
Huge curved horns.
Some kind of mountain goat.
It's a ram!
Was trying to get at the wildflowers and weeds -
Already eaten a patch of lawn
Dear God, some Christians take the Bible literally,
But you know I don't.
Why blame me?

My son races out, "Can we keep him, Dad?"
My wife says, "Maybe this is the answer to our prayers;
We could sell him."
I reply, "We don't even know what it is!"

We go online.
Definitely not a Rocky Mountain big horned sheep.
It's a Mouflon sheep,
Indigenous to Cyprus, Sardinia, and Corsica.
Endangered.
"See," my wife says, "we can sell him!"

I load him in my pick up; don't ask me how.
Take him to the zoo:  "Where did you get this?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
I ask, "Is he valuable?"
"Oh, yes, very."
"My wife wonders if you would like to buy him."
"Sorry, we have no budget for sheep:
Already have several species.
In fact, we used to have a habitat full of Mouflon,
But gave them to another zoo
To support their breeding program
In case Mouflon go extinct in the wild."
"I don't think I'm supposed to sell you this ram.
I think I'm supposed to give him to you.
Could you use this Mouflon if I donated him?"
"Oh, yes.  After quarantine,
We'd put him right into the old habitat.
Might even borrow back one of our ewes; start a new flock.
Be a real boost to the zoo in these economic times."
"You may have the ram."
"Thank you, sir."

Unloaded the ram; don't ask me how.
Climbed back in my pick up and started to back out.
Zookeeper ran over:  "Wait a minute.
You've got quite an assortment of tools back there.
Do you do any maintenance and repair work?"
"Sure, the job I just lost was
Maintenance, carpentry, plumbing, and repair."
"Well, our guy who did all that just moved.
We haven't even put out the help wanted notice yet,
But would you consider working here?"
I looked at the ram.
The ram looked at me.
"God knows, I sure would."

                                "See How They Love One Another"

Watching a videotape:
A St. Peter's worship service.
After the anthem and Young People's Parable,
Was reaching to press fast forward to skip to the sermon,
When I paused, looked more closely.
Something caught my eye.
Something astonishing, something beautiful.
The Passing of the Peace.

At first it was just scattered chaos --
Shaking of hands, chit-chatting.
But people seemed so enthused,
Couldn't stay in their pews.
The aisle filled with friendliness.
Then I saw it ---
Micro-miracles unfolding!

One person came from out of the frame
All the way up to the front
To greet someone in a wheelchair.
Another crossed over to an elderly person -
Together they laughed.
On the far aisle a child was lifted up
And actually passed around!
Another person sought out someone
Newly diagnosed with a serious illness.
They spoke intently, then embraced.
Micro-miracles of love unfolding!

It was said of the early church by outsiders,
"See how they love one another!"
At St. Peter's we simply call it,
The Passing of the Peace