The Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth

 Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 or Ezekiel 37:1-14  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b  • Romans 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21  • John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, which is known as the birthday of the Church, fifty days after Easter. Jesus is leaving his disciples, but he 

asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit,  the Spirit of Truth to strengthen, to advocate for them, and us, his beloved. 

What does the Holy Spirit do for us today? What does the Spirit of Truth enable us to do? See The Rev. Kathleen Walker's "The Advocate," and Debie Thomas' "When You Send Forth Your Spirit."

Why, and for what, do we pray? And what did Jesus pray for?

 Scripture:  Acts 1:15-17, 21-26  • Psalm 1  • 1 John 5:9-13  • John 17:6-19

Today we have John's account of Jesus' prayer for us - not what we call "the Lord's Prayer." In "Pearls and Grit" The Rev. James Liggett tells us Jesus, the night before his arrest - his last evening with his disciples,  his friends, prays for them, for us, knowing how difficult things will be for his followers in the pain, suffering, crime, hate, and violence of the world, then, here, and now. He likens it to that of an oyster who must produce a pearl, or die, when a grit is ingested. 

Debie Thomas, in "A Lover's Prayer," asks why do we pray, and what do we pray for? If you find yourself praying more, or with more urgency these days as I do, or if you rarely, or never do, you owe it to yourself to read her article as she examines her journey in praying.

The Rev. Dr. James C. Howell tells us, "God doesn't sow cancer cells in people's bodies, God doesn't crash planes into buildings, God doesn't prescribe one child to live under a bridge while my children are in soft beds. God is not in control, or let's say, God does not choose to be in control--because God is love, and love just can't or won't control. Paul says, "Love does not insist on its own way." God could have made us like marionettes, so God could manipulate us and everything to suit God. But God yearns for our love, and cuts the strings, risking the wounds Jesus was about to incur when he prayed for us." 

Abide in Love, As I Have Loved You

 Scripture: Acts 10:44-48  • Psalm 98  • 1 John 5:1-6  • John 15:9-17

αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ ἡ ἐμή ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

How do we love one another as Jesus has loved us? This is the passage in John which follows Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches. In this passage he also called us friends. 

The Greek agape  (ᾰ̓γᾰ́πη) is the form of love Jesus uses in his commandment. Different than the brotherly, friendship kind of love.

So what does Jesus mean? How do we love as Jesus commanded us to love? Read Debie Thomas' "It's All About Love." See also Lucy Strandlum's "Abide in Love."

How and When Does a Church Grow?

 Scripture: Acts 8:26-40  • Psalm 22:25-31  • 1 John 4:7-21  • John 15:1-8

How and When does a church  grow? Both John's gospel account of Jesus and the vineyard and the branches, and the reading in Acts teach us about growth - personal and as a church.

Read Debie Thomas's "When All Are Welcome," and Melissa Earley's "The vine branch doesn’t put “make grapes” on its to-do list. It just makes them."

Who do you trust?

 Scripture: Acts 4:5-12  • Psalm 23  • 1 John 3:16-24  • John 10:11-18

This is Good Shepherd Sunday. Among our readings are the 23rd Psalm and Jesus telling uss he is the Good Shepherd. What does he mean? Debie Thomas takes a good look at the  context of Jesus' teaching. It is not the soft and fluffy image we have made, but, like the 23rd Psalm, we can take comfort as his rod and staff gently lead us through life's challenges and even through the shadows of death. He loves and cares for us. Read Debie Thomas's "A Shepherd Who is Good."

The LORD Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^a
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^b
for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^c
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely^d goodness and mercy^e shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell^f in the house of the LORD
forever.^g

Soul Food - Embodied

 Scripture: Acts 3:12-19  • Psalm 4  • 1 John 3:1-7  • Luke 24:36b-48

In Luke's gospel account, the resurrected Jesus appears once again to his disciples who are described as being "startled, terrified, and "while in their joy, disbelieving and wondering." Jesus offers them Peace, and asks them to share a meal of broiled fish with him before commissioning them to spread the good news. Why? What is it about sharing a meal which brings people with many differences, doubts, fears and feelings together? How can sharing a meal help us see and experience the presence of Christ? See The Rev. Sharron Riessinger Blezard's "Potlucks, Comfort Food and Faith." What a joy to celebrate and receive the Holy Eucharist each week in communion with God's children where all are welcome!

How can we experience the earth moving sensation of resurrection as the disciples did? See Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition," and "Reflection "

See why The Rev. Rick Morley loves preaching about the resurrected Christ, who can be anywhere, and is still present as our brother in body and spirit in "not as outcasts - a reflection on Luke 24:36b-48."

Food for the soul? You bet! As Sharron Riessinger Blezard says "Come to Christ’s table. Come as you are. Come hungry, come helpless, come hopeful. Eat and live to go and tell. We are the witnesses. Whether bold or fearful, let us be full and faithful in our going and telling and inviting. There is room for all and plenty of comfort food to share."

And then, commenting on "You are witnesses," and why she believes in the physical Resurrection, read Debie Thomas' "Embodied."

Witness

  Scripture: Acts 4:32-35  • Psalm 133  • 1 John 1:1-2:2  • John 20:19-31

This second Sunday of the Easter season we find the disciples huddled behind closed doors, afraid, Thomas comes late to the Resurrection story. He says he will only believe what the others tell him if he can see, touch the risen Lord.  Empiricists need to verify everything by the five senses in order to recognize it. 

This begs the question. Jesus says "You are witnesses" to the disciples, and to us, thanks to witnesses documenting their experience of the risen Christ. What does it mean to witness? We see and hear a lot about it in high profile and everyday trials these days. See The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay's "Touch and See." The Greek  word for witness is μάρτυρ, martyr. What does Jesus tell us about witnessing? 

In,"That You May Come To Believe," Debie Thomas says Jesus makes room for the wary and skeptics in a journey, a process of becoming, a dynamic becoming Jesus promises us, and makes way for all of us on the journey toward a fulfilling and purpose filled life, everlasting.