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Dear Centenary Family,
In worship for several weeks, we’ve been following the ways in which the risen Christ was at work in the early church after that first Easter. We’ve seen how God used ordinary, imperfect people to spread the good news of Christ’s love. Peter preaches with boldness after having betrayed Jesus. Saul, the persecutor of early Christians, becomes Paul, an apostle who gives the rest of his life facing all kinds of trials and dangers to spread the Gospel. People who thought God’s love was only for their group begin to see that God’s love includes everyone!
We’ve read about the faithful witness of women in a society dominated by men. Dorcas is such an inspiration to widows that they demand Peter come and do something after her death. The church is a life-giving community! We considered the story of Lydia, a woman who made her living dealing in purple cloth and becomes the first Christian convert in Europe and the leader of the church at Philippi. We went back to the beginning of Acts last Sunday and studied Luke’s story of the Ascension, overhearing Jesus’ final instructions to the disciples to take on the daunting task of proclaiming the message of God’s kingdom to a world that opposed the reality of Christ’s kingdom of love. And we’re called to that same mission—until Christ comes again!
The Spirit of the risen Christ moves in surprising and amazing ways, transforming individuals, building up the church, and changing the world.
It’s sometimes said among preachers that we preach to ourselves as much as to other people. I think there’s some truth in that. As I think and pray about how we can be renewed and rebuilt as the church, I take great courage from these stories in Acts.
This Sunday is Pentecost. We celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all humanity, the birthday of the Church, and the gift of the power needed to be faithful to Christ’s mission. As I’ve been working on the sermon for this week based on Acts 2:1-21, Following the Spirit’s Lead, I’ve been thinking that some of us may be ambivalent about Pentecost. Many of us are suspicious of the ecstatic experience described in Acts 2. I know I often prefer the safety of a well-ordered, clearly reasoned faith to the unpredictability of a God who shows up in the form of wind and fire! But I know I need the Spirit’s presence and power. Maybe you do, too. I know we as a church need that power.
I hope you’ll be here Sunday as together we consider three different ways the Holy Spirit can transform us. The road ahead is not always clear, but as we see in Acts, it’s not always up to us to exactly what next steps we’re called to take. Sometimes, we simply need to learn to sense and follow the subtle movements of the Spirit.
I look forward to seeing where the Spirit leads us together!
Peace,
Matt
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