Dear Friends,

I am privileged to join you in worship this Sunday as we explore the theme of “call”. Both Hebrew and Greek scriptures have stories about call this week. Having received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the spectacular story of Elijah being swept up to heaven in a fiery chariot seems to fit with the flames of Pentecost. As Elijah’s mantle fell to Elisha, empowering him to carry on the work, so it falls to us. What will we do with the mantle of call we have received? Let us remember that God’s call comes with support and a sense of grounding. We never have to “go it alone.” God is always with us, our community upholds us, and the Spirit guides us in the journey.

Peace, 

Nan

Please join us immediately following the Sunday service for our Coffee Hour

(in-person in Trinity Court or online via Zoom).

bit.ly/SVPCCoffeeHour

Theme for Sunday

For your prayer

 your journey into God,

 may you be given a small storm

 a little hurricane

 named after you, persistent enough

 to get your attention

 violent enough

 to give you to new depths

 strong enough

 To shake you to the roots

 majestic enough to remind you of your origin:

 made of the earth 

yet steeped in eternity

 frail human dust

 yet soaked with infinity.

"Your Journey into God" by Macrina Wiederkehr

Questions for Reflection

• What stories shape your life?  

• How do you encounter the Holy?  

• What injustice calls you to action?

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and the two of them crossed on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Where is he?” He struck the water again, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed over.