Sundays

Easter 7 – “May They All Be One”, May 29, 2022

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Easter 7, May 29, 2022

In today’s readings, we catch a glimpse of the glorious unity of God’s people. We read of freedom from bondage, extravagant divine power and sovereignty, the eternal and eschatological reign of Christ, and the invitation to respond to Christ – to live in the unity and love at the heart of the Christian story. As it says in the Gospel “May they be One”. The readings are here.

We had various voices in the service that spoke of the challenges of the work we do together. Prayers, music, and sermon all within the church together the loving care of flowers picked for this service. A wonderful experience today. We have some text and videos to bring these to you.

1 Prayer for Uvalde- For the people of Uvalde, Texas
“Almighty God, hear our prayers of anger and despair over the continuing gun violence in our nation. We pray today for the people of Uvalde, Texas as they mourn for those killed in the school shooting this past week, and as they cry for their children. Pour out your grace and loving kindness on all who grieve; surround them with your love; and restore their trust in your goodness. Even in our despair, we pray in the light of the resurrection, knowing that sin and death, as powerful as they are, have already been defeated, because you are with us, especially in those times where death seems to prevail. We lift up to you our weary and wounded souls and ask you to take away the resignation that infects our hearts. May we join in the Spirit’s work of binding up and healing. Give us the courage to love with all we’ve got, and never to surrender to the darkness. Make us instruments of your peace and your children of the light. In the name of Christ, who is our hope, we pray. Amen.

Video

2 Music – “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love

“We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Video

3 Sermon – The sermon was about the walk we are making in our lives, becoming more Christ-like as we go. It doesn’t happen at once. Our sharing our life’s experiences with others and living the Gospel’s teachings changes us along with the presence of God moving us along. We can only live in this world with an awareness of the love and presence of God. As we are walking, we are not the same people that we were years ago

Video
“>here. ttp://lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Easter/CEaster7_RCL.html

We had various voices in the service that spoke of the challenges of this work. Prayers, music, and sermon all within the church together the loving care of flowers picked for this service

1 Prayer for Uvalde- For the people of Uvalde, Texas
“Almighty God, hear our prayers of anger and despair over the continuing gun violence in our nation. We pray today for the people of Uvalde, Texas as they mourn for those killed in the school shooting this past week, and as they cry for their children. Pour out your grace and loving kindness on all who grieve; surround them with your love; and restore their trust in your goodness. Even in our despair, we pray in the light of the resurrection, knowing that sin and death, as powerful as they are, have already been defeated, because you are with us, especially in those times where death seems to prevail. We lift up to you our weary and wounded souls and ask you to take away the resignation that infects our hearts. May we join in the Spirit’s work of binding up and healing. Give us the courage to love with all we’ve got, and never to surrender to the darkness. Make us instruments of your peace and your children of the light. In the name of Christ, who is our hope, we pray. Amen.

Video
Video

2 Music – “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love

“We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Video

3 Sermon – The sermon was about the walk we are making in our lives, becoming more Christ-like as we go. It doesn’t happen at once. Our sharing our life’s experiences with others and living the Gospel’s teachings changes us along with the presence of God moving us along. We can only live in this world with an awareness of the love and presence of God. As we are walking, we are not the same people that we were years ago

Video

It’s Pentecost! June 5

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What is Pentecost? 

Pentecost literally means “fiftieth day.” As a religious celebration, it first delineated the fifty days after Passover with a harvest festival. It was also a celebration of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, still celebrated in the Jewish tradition as Shavuot. 

In the Christian tradition, Pentecost marks the end of the 50 Days of Easter. In Acts 2, the apostles and friends are gathered together in Jerusalem. Suddenly there is a great rushing of wind, and tongues of fire rest on each of the apostles. They begin to speak in different languages, and the crowds around them, Jews from across the diaspora, having come to Jerusalem for the Festival of Weeks, understand them, although some disparaged them as drunks. It was at this moment that Peter stood up and preached, revealing the will of God in Jesus Christ, as prophesied by Joel, and affirming a continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon repentance and baptism. 

Why does Pentecost Matter? 

There are at least three reasons to start with:  

1. It marks the birthday of the church. Pentecost was a turning point. Before the rushing wind, the flames, and the speaking in tongues, the apostles were a group of followers who listened to Jesus and assisted as he helped those who came to him for healing and grace. Without Jesus, they were aimless and confused. After the Holy Spirit enters that room, after Peter preaches repentance and baptism, they no longer look inward. The end of Acts 2 records that they devoted themselves to the teaching and to fellowship, they performed wonders and signs, they gave to others in need…and the Lord added to their number daily those who were saved. 

The Holy Spirit gave the disciples direction and power to form the Christian community, which would become “the church.” So, Pentecost is a birthday, and some churches today celebrate with cake! 

2. Pentecost completes the Trinity. Christian theology is grounded in a doctrine of three in one, and Christians often pray in the “name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Pentecost was the first and definitive moment in which we can say that the Father sent the Holy Spirit to make the Son present. No Pentecost, no Trinity. 

3. Jesus kept his promise. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus told his followers, “I will be with you always, even until the end of the age.” He promptly ascended and was seen no more. What gives? Well, in John 15:26 he says, “I will send you the Advocate-the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me” (NLT). The point is: Jesus is present through the Holy Spirit. Pentecost marks the fulfillment of Christ’s promised presence. 

from buildfaith.org

Pentecost – The quick version

Click here or on the picture above

Pentecost People at St. Peter’s, 2011-2015

St. Peter’s Holy Spirit at Pentecost

A St. Peter’s tradition