Rev. Dr. Amy Butler’s Installation Message
Dear CCH ‘Ohana,
When I wrote this column last month, I wrote about change. Even in the midst of all the change swirling then, I didn’t know the full scope of change we would be living through as Hari Bayani, our Director of Music for seven years, moved on to another position; as our church has continued to grow with new people joining us regularly; as our campus has flourished under the care of our colleagues at Restore; as we’ve said goodbye to precious loved ones; and as our lay leadership take bold steps to ensure we grow thoughtfully and wisely.
A huge and dazzlingly beautiful display of this work unfolded last Sunday, October 26, when we held a service of installation in worship. While the service was an expression of our relationship with the larger United Church of Christ denominational bodies, at its heart it was a service of covenant between pastor and congregation.
In case you weren’t able to join us, here’s what we said. After being asked if I would agree to a covenantal relationship with the UCC, I answered and you replied:
Pastor Amy: I am willing, and I promise to serve this church family
faithfully, preaching and teaching the word of God, administering the
sacraments and fulfilling the pastoral office, according to the faith and
order of the United Church of Christ, working to build a community of
justice, love, and grace in the way of Jesus.
Congregational Response: We, the members of Community Church of
Honolulu and all gathered here, now receive Pastor Amy as our
Pastor and Teacher, promising to labor with her in the ministry of the
gospel and to give her due honor and support. We gather with her and
with the United Church of Christ as a sign of our mutual ministry in
Christ’s name.
This sounds very solemn and official, and it’s meant to sound that way. In my mind, taking vows like this is serious business, and my experience with previous pastorates made me assume I would never be brave enough to take serious vows like this again. Living in community is hard; we often don’t understand each other and very often we hurt each other, either intentionally or unintentionally. It’s risky business, the business of being the Church.
But as I told you Sunday, it just seems like I can’t give up on the dream of transformed communities transforming the world. I believe in us and the work we’re called to do together to the core of who I am, and over our last few years together you have shown me in your words and your actions that we actually can treat each other with respect, steward our resources wisely, and become the kind of place where the healing and wholeness of God makes us better, makes the world better.
The truth is that the call of God, that pull to plant yourself somewhere for the good of the world, can’t be ignored forever. And you have shown me the kind of love, respect, and acceptance that pulls us toward a better world, together.
As I work my way through the monumental task of saying thank you to so many of you who worked so very hard and gave so much to pull off such a beautiful installation service, I want to begin here: thank you. Thank you for the care and generosity, the love and support with which you all planned, worked, and showed up for installation. I felt surrounded by love and hope, but more importantly I felt that God was–that God is–with us.
As we embark on the month of November, we’re Learning to Say Thank You in worship: for those who came before us, for communities that heal us, for the beauty of the earth, and for the journey we find ourselves on. I hope you’ll join us in worship as Dr. Rick Power preaches for two Sundays and as Roz Catracchia continues her work with us in worship. We’ll then turn the corner to enter the very meaningful season of Advent, of waiting for the light to come.
Even though I am still learning, I suspect I will never learn to say thank you enough to all of you who guided our community toward installation and the many, many of you who made the day so very beautiful. But I begin here.
Thank you, CCH, for blessing me by calling me your pastor. I am so deeply grateful.
Pastor Amy