This Sunday will be a break Sunday between the sixth and seventh sermon series. Since Pastor Jeff will be out of town this 5th Sunday of May, Pastor John will be combining the True North worship service with the Healing Service that St. Mark's UMC does on the 5th Sundays. What an amazing opportunity for the folks of True North ... come and be healed.

The Pentecost service was amazing - a great way to wind up our Journey with the Resurrected Jesus. The table was full of red candles with two white candles. There was a lighted flame that was centered on the table and just behind this, hidden from those in the congregation, a simple wind chime that is battery operated that was set to chime every minute. It was very powerful to have the chimes ringing almost on command during John's sermon or at respectful moments during prayer time. I truly did feel the presence of the Holy Spirit moving among us!

This week True North will have the pleasure of being joined by Russ Harper once again. He'll be leading us in an original that he wrote entitled Drive By Jesus. We'll be outside on the lawn again this week since the temperatures will be cooler. Come on by and sit for a spell, you here?!

Blessings to you all,

memonica

This week's passage is from Luke chapter 24 verses 44-49. In Luke's Gospel account these verses follow Jesus' visitation to the disciples who are hiding in the Upper Room. It's a confusing passage to me but we'll have to see where John goes.

You see, Jesus is basically telling the disciples to remain in their hideout until they are clothed in power. Now what is this power that He will be clothing them in? The Holy Spirit. "...stay in the city until you have been clothed in power from on high." Christ Himself tells the disciples that He will "send what My Father has promised".

John, when letting me know what the passage would be for this week, self-labeled this as "Appearance and Commission". Alright, I get the appearance part, but what IS the commission. The only thing that I can see as any form of commissioning is in verse 47 - "and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem." So, what does this commissioning tell me? Well honestly I have no clue except that we are supposed to let all the world know that repentance is possible and that every person can be forgiven and redeemed through Jesus Christ. Is this then our commission in the world? Is this what we are called upon to do as Christ followers? Or is this a calling for the leaders of the church?

John, help me out here for I haven't got a clue!

Isn't that what it must have felt like to those eleven disciples all those years ago? A Big Ole Surprise Party?!

The disciples had been invited to leave their lives behind and follow Jesus. They answered the call. Jesus led them all around the Sea of Galilee and in/around/and through Jerusalem and they followed. He taught them and gave instruction and sent them out - he equipped and empowered them and they accomplished many great things, until Jesus' death. Then ... well, they ran and hid. Jesus died on the cross. The tomb was empty. They were fearful and uncertain. Jesus came to them locked behind doors at the Upper Room and they ... return to their old life.

Really isn't that what we kind of expected? They really were a haggard group of misfits after all. Who can blame them for hiding out. They feared their own lives would be lost. After Jesus returns to them they are uncertain of what to do and where to go next so they decide to return to fishing.

Imagine their surprise to come back to shore and have Jesus cooking them breakfast! What an event.

But you know what else I get from this passage. Hope in the life hereafter. Jesus has died and is in a resurrected body and yet he still is enjoying the simple things of life - preparing a meal to share with friends. How wonderful it will be when in my resurrected body I will be able to do and enjoy all the things in life that I so love!

Amazing.