The last time we were together, it was Easter Sunday! We were mourning the trial, judgement and
crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Rejoicing at the miracle of his Resurrection
and the promises of His return. I feel
we sort of left the story in a state of turmoil…. Yes, we
know the end of the story and what comes next, but perhaps we could revisit
those days after Easter again.
We’re sort of in that same place right now… it’s near the end of May, Spring is Springing
and there is new life and growth all around us.
School is almost out for the summer break and there will be different
schedules and new adventures to go on over the next few months. Probably even some grown spurts and new
clothing and school supplies to be gathered as preparations are made for the
next season. It’s also graduation time –
from Pre-school, kindergarten, elementary school, junior and High school, even
college and beyond. Graduation is also a
time of beginnings and new life – a time of turmoil and transition – what’s
next? how do I do this next thing? Where do we go from here? Not only for the children, but the parents of
those children – why is my baby growing so fast? Are they ready for this next thing? Who will take care of them? Will they be safe in the world on their own?
Even at Gruene we’re in that same place of transition. Pastor Karen has been appointed to the
Conference office to work with new church plants and fostering growth and bringing
new life to struggling congregations.
One of our ministerial candidates who has been running our food pantry
has also received the call and has been appointed to a new church. Our children and family ministry director has
already moved on to a different position and our Youth leader will be moving
back to Tennessee to finish her Master’s degree and also pursue a call in Ministry. Gruene
is getting a new Senior Pastor, and additional Associate pastor, a new Youth
director and a new Children and Family ministries director. That’s a LOT of change! Pastor Brock and the admin staff will remain
the same, but about 75-80% of our staff is changing. Needless to say, it’s going to be an
interesting summer at Gruene UMC!
This is where we find the Disciples… they had an encounter with the Resurrected
Jesus on the road to Emmaus, the same day that they found the empty tomb. In the 40 days following the Easter
resurrection, there were many similar encounters as Jesus continued to teach the
disciples. On the 40th day,
was the Ascension. This year, it is on Thursday,
May 25th. According to “Got
Questions.org”:
“Ascension Day is the
celebration of Christ ascending into heaven after His death, burial and
resurrection. Ascension Day is observed primarily in Catholic and Anglican
churches, and it occurs on the Thursday 40 days after Easter. Ascension Day is
also called the Feast of Ascension.
“The story of Jesus’ Ascension is told in Luke 24:49, Mark 16:19 and Acts 1:3, 9. Putting these
accounts together, we find that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared several
times to His disciples and others. During this time, He spoke to them further
about the kingdom of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit, for whom they were
to wait (Acts 1:2-9). After 40 days of these appearances, He was taken up to
heaven for the last time (Acts 1:9-11). As the disciples watched Him go, two angels appeared and
declared to them that, just as He ascended, Jesus would return in glory.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Ascension-Day.html)
Our reading today is from Acts 1:3–11:
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many
proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of
God. 4 And while staying with them he
ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the
Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will
you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not
for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking
on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while
they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white
robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you
saw him go into heaven.”
WOW! I can’t even
imagine! Perhaps this is when the
phrase, “Will miracles never cease?” came about. Being a disciple or believer in this time
must have been amazing!! 40+ days of
death, resurrection, walking and talking with a person that you watched being
crucified and died on a cross. Then to
watch him ascend – float up – into Heaven? And the angels… smart alecs that they might have been… “Why
are you still standing here with your mouths open? Get to work!!
There’s much to be done!!!”
A short time later, 10 days to be exact, was the
Pentecost. This year it is on June 4th. Again from “Got Questions.org”:
“Pentecost Sunday is a
commemoration and celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early
church. John the Baptist prophesied of the first Pentecost when Jesus would
baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus confirmed this prophecy with the promise of the Holy
Spirit to the disciples in John 14:26. He showed Himself
to these men after His death on the cross and His resurrection, giving
convincing proofs that He was alive. Jesus told the disciples to wait in
Jerusalem for the Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit, from whom they would
receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3-8). After Jesus’
ascension to heaven, the men returned to Jerusalem and joined together in
prayer in an upper room. On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the sound
of a violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of
them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of
communication, which Peter used to begin the ministry for which Jesus had
prepared him. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay
in the room basking in God’s glory but burst out to tell the world. This was
the beginning of the church as we know it.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Pentecost-Sunday.html)
Baptized by fire!! We
have often heard that expression during times of great turmoil, stress or
transition, haven’t we? The disciples
had warning, they knew it was coming, but somehow I don’t think what they had
in mind was what actually happened to them!
But is it ever? Do we ever really
know what’s next? Is our expectation
ever the reality? I think the reality is
often way more grander and miraculous than we could ever imagine. We went to a wedding yesterday – another new
beginning this spring. This couple was a
little different than most newlyweds in this season. I say this with great love – the bride and groom
are not “spring chickens”. 😊
They are both “of retirement age” and are entering this new season of their lives
in a new marriage, a new household, lots of “new”. And I bet a couple years ago they both
thought they were done with “new”!
Ha!
So what does this all mean for us? I suppose it simply boils down to this: There’s always - ALWAYS – something new. There will always be changes and new seasons
and something different. But one thing
is ALLWAYS consistent and constant: Gods
Love and Steadfastness. God will ALLWAYS
be with us – through the turmoil and transition and stress and change. God is WITH us in every little detail. God’s spirit lives within us – right in our
very hearts and souls. Our challenge is
to listen – to bow down, to humble our Selves and obey His will, not our
own. What is He going to show us
today? What is He going to teach
us? Do we need knocked down a peg? Do we need lifted up? Do we need to show Him off? Do we need to teach our friends about His
love? Do we need to simply “show up”?
Also at Gruene today was a baptism. I’d like to share part of the liturgy with
you now. I will ask you a series of questions
and you may simply respond “I do”.
“Do you renounce the forces of wickedness, reject evil in
this world and repent of sin?
“Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist
evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole
trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord?
“According to the grace given you, will you remain faithful
to Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
Let us Pray: As we
make these promises to you, O Christ, may we be filled with the power and presence
of your Holy Spirit. As we prepare to receive
the Living Body and Blood of the New Covenant, may you take away everything
that isn’t You and Fill us with your love and grace and mercy so that we may be
your hands and feet in the world around us.
We ask you to help us, every day, to surrender our lives to you, to open
our hearts and minds to your will and reflect your love outward to all we
encounter. In the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit… Amen.
20170521 #ministrymessage
