|
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age." -Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20)
"Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you."
-Dallas Willard
Dear Kindred in Christ,
Now that we've entered the season of Pentecost, I encourage you to be particularly mindful of how God's Holy Spirit is at work in your life. Sometimes when I speak to children about the Holy Spirit, I compare it to the wind. The Greek and Hebrew words that our English Bibles translate as "Spirit" actually have roots that mean "breath" or "wind". Neither is something that we can see directly, but we can feel them, and we can see their effects on other things and people around us. Sometimes it's helpful to think about the Holy Spirit this way. Though we might not see it, we can see how it moves others, and at times we can feel it.
We also continue to see God's Holy Spirit at work throughout our common life together. At FPC we have now ramped up for a summer of youth trips, special events for children, and even service projects as we love and serve our community. This Sunday, we will commission our mission team for the upcoming Guatemala mission trip at both services - one of many commissionings in the coming weeks! We have many opportunities to proclaim the Spirit's presence whenever we gather for worship, study scripture, engage in prayer, or simply share food and fellowship together. God's Spirit is everywhere!
Finally, speaking of the Holy Spirit, this Sunday is Trinity Sunday. It's the Sunday on which we celebrate the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our scripture readings will be Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Matthew 28:16-20. If you're reading ahead, ask yourself why these particular passages have been chosen for Trinity Sunday. What do they say about God? What do they say about Jesus? What do they say about the Holy Spirit? Could you formulate a doctrine of the Trinity based on these passages alone?
Thank you all for your continued prayers and dedication to Christ's church at FPC. May we be guided into God's Spirit-led vision for us!
Grace and Peace,
Lee
|