One thing have I desired of the Lord... that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...Psalm 27:4
Happy Pentecost! Intern Pastor Monica takes us back to the arrival of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost, and challenges us to think about what languages we speak. What would it look like today for everyone to hear about God in their own native language? This week’s readings are Numbers 11:24-30 and Acts 2:1-21.
Photo credit: Amador Loureiro @amadorloureiro on Unsplash.com
Guest Pastor Mary Stein-Webber returns to Bethel Lutheran Church with a message about looking to God for guidance. And as we listen for an answer, can we be open to receive the advice when it comes? When the Holy Spirit offers us direction, it’s not always a quiet whisper riding in on a cool breeze. Sometimes it’s a honking goose trampling across the picnic blanket and stepping in the potato salad. Can we be an open handed receiver when the Holy Spirit nudges us in unexpected ways?
The Bible readings for this week are Acts 1:6-14 and Luke 24:44-53 if you’d like to grab a Bible and follow along with Pastor Mary’s reading. (Or click here to read online).
Photo credit: Mr. Great Heart @mrgreatheart on Unsplash.com
We live in a world with so many choices...including what religious expression we wish to follow. Pastor Russ asks: What makes the Christian faith so unique? What is our calling in the presence of so many religious options? When Paul was in Athens on his 2nd missionary journey, he acknowledged the many statues to their various gods...and he complimented their religious inquisitiveness to introduce to the Athenians the message of Jesus. So too, the diverse expressions within our world, and even in our church, need not induce fear. Instead, we can grow in our love for one another in seeing God already living, moving and having being in the other.
Photo credit: Jametlene Reskp @reskp on Unsplash.com