HISTORY OF HERMON

The history of the church begins in 1874. It was on January 5^th of that year that a Mrs. M. C. H. Carter hosted sixteen people in her home which became the first meeting. They were the charter members of the church, as Washington City Presbytery chartered the church that very day. Five of those people are the ancestors of the current clerk of the Session, Lilly Lievsay. On or around December 1^st, the congregation occupied the sanctuary, and has worshipped in this place for over 135 years.

            There has been an ebb and flow in the size and activity of the church throughout that period of time. We are currently in a period of growth. Average attendance has grown from 33 in 2005, to 40 in 2006, 42 in 2007, and 44 in 2008. A gratifying sign has been the increasing numbers of children that are finding Hermon as their church home. The growth has not just been in numbers, however. The next section lists all of the people who are making the church what it is today. Despite our size, 68 members as of this writing, we have a large number of people who are assuming responsibility for various ministries.  The key to the church’s strength is a growing cadre of people who are committed to God and one another; they have a vision of what God wishes to do in this place. The goal of any church, but especially a small church, is to so “equip the saints”, to use a biblical phrase, that less and less depends on who the minister is. Our church is becoming increasingly self-sufficient.

            Our commitment to various benevolences, both in financial support and hands on commitment, continues to grow. New projects in the last three years include support for Hope Unlimited for Children in Brazil, a ministry to the street children; food collections on the second Sunday of each month to Manna, the free supermarket for the poor and hungry in Rockville; the Five Cents a Meal Offering (Five cents per person per meal, which is placed in a receptacle on the family‘s dining table), which the children bring to the church on the fourth Sunday; the children also decide how that money is to be used to alleviate hunger locally, nationally, and internationally. Some of our members prepare and serve food at Rainbow Place, the women’s shelter at Rockville Presbyterian. These newer projects are on top of the long time projects supported by the church, Pathways Schools for teenagers in troubled circumstances; Presbyterian Homes throughout the Synod for the care of children, youth, and families; Miriam’s kitchen, a soup kitchen in Washington; Bethesda Cares, a local organization which helps the poor with all of their varied needs, evictions, medications, food, clothing, utilities assistance, etc. Last year the church sold beautiful Christmas cards with a snowy scene of the church, all of the proceeds of which went to Hope Unlimited.

            Speaking of children and youth, we are seeking ways in which these youngsters can live out the fact that this is their church as well. The children sign up to be bell ringers and lighters of the peace candle; youth are now serving as liturgists.

            Our musical program, of course, through the wonderful efforts of Muriel Hom, provides our little church with professional singers of the highest caliber, as well as occasional musical leadership from Jim Erwin, pianist and friends.

            We have increasing visibility in the community through our Concert and Lecture Series, as well as through the placing of a new sign in front of the building, thereby enabling passersby the opportunity to know about significant events.

            The initiation of special services is providing meaningful worship throughout the year, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, an Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast, the Lessons and Carols Service before Christmas and, of course, Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve attendance has grown from 72 to 80 to 141 in the last three years.

            We continue to adapt the church to our expanding needs. The room downstairs is being beautified and renovated for our growing education program. A nursery will soon occupy the same space where two classes for children already operate.

            New projects in which we are currently involved include exercising good stewardship by having a financial organization guide us in helping us to be more effective in our investments. A new furnace was installed recently, and air conditioning is being explored. We are also involved in exploring the possibilities of a columbarium, where cremated remains can be placed, thereby expanding the interment options for the finite amount of space in our cemetery.

            The outside of the building was painted in 2006. I have sometimes said that Hermon has an “edifice complex”. The reality, of course, is that we have a beautiful building in a beautiful setting. We are committed to maintaining the simplicity of our building, the simplicity of our worship, and, for that matter, the simplicity of our life together. In some of the churches I have served there has been such frenetic and time consuming activity that it became almost impossible to serve God in the world, or even to enjoy God and one another.