Words from the Past for the Future
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown has been blessed
with ministers in our past that led and spoke with faithfulness and
hopefulness. As we begin a new century, we recapture some of the words
of three pastors of the church's past. May their words and their faith
bring faith and hope for you.
In his monthly Tower Tidings column, "And Furthermore
..." the Reverend John Miller, pastor from 1973-1979, wrote
in January 1975 the following:
"New Year, 1975. Three-quarters of this century are
gone. We are all another year older. Another twenty-five years and
the second millennium of the years of our Lord will have passed. As
it used to say in the old movie newsreels, 'Time Marches On.'
With each passing moment, we are getting closer to
the end of time, at least our time.... When one comes to that realization,
the Christian faith can and should be a tremendous asset. For you
see, the Christian has nothing to fear by the passage of time. Quite
the opposite, he sees it as the fulfillment of God's plan. Time is
not leading us toward nothing; it is leading us toward something,
namely, a life of timelessness, where there is no aging or illness
or pain.... Time is God's, and we are God's. So without reservation,
I say to you, HAPPY NEW YEAR."
As the Reverend Robert Cleveland Holland began
his new ministry as pastor of the church, he wrote to the congregation
in 1967 these words that seem very appropriate as we begin a new year
of ministry:
"A letter came from a colleague and friend in Chicago
recently .... In his letter he said, 'Characterize your new church
for me... "Shall I tell him that it is historic ... and still convey
the fresh, youthful spirit I feel here? Shall I tell him I was warned
that it is called by its deriders, 'the sleeping giant' ... and still
assure him that I have found its members wide awake, ready and anxious
to move forward? He will want to know that the parishioners are encouragingly
responsive, especially to preaching; he will share my excitement to
learn that we are standing on the brink of new and great advances
as a parish, and that our officers and people seem ready to go on
in faith continuing to develop this church as an ever stronger witness
for Jesus Christ in our community."
The Reverend Dr. Thomas S. Mutch served as
pastor from 1935 to 1965. At the mid-century point, in 1950, Dr. Mutch
wrote in the monthly newsletter, then called The Bulletin,
the following advice:
"Personal and social salvation is only possible for
people who grow up or, to paraphrase the words of Paul, 'people who
have become adult and have put away childish things and childish ways.'
One of the marks of immaturity is the refusal to accept responsibility,
to want many things of life but expecting them to come without any
effort on our part. The world has far too many immature people who
are enthusiastic about having certain things done provided they are
done by someone else. During 1950 we might all accept an increased
measure of responsibility for seeing to it that the things which should
be done, are done, and if necessary done by us. Another thing we might
do is read one or two books that tax our minds and widen our horizons.
After all, we're never too old to grow in knowledge and understanding....
We need to know more that we may act more intelligently. Let 1950
be a year of growth into maturity for us all."
