Accept our prayers and praises, God of power and might, in whom all
creation has its source. The magnitude of such power is difficult
for us to grasp, yet it extends in care for the weak and powerless
in our societies. To increase our understanding of such power, you
linked our lives with yours in the most wonderful way when you took
on our flesh as a helpless and powerless baby in Jesus Christ. Your
desire to make us truly one with you came at the cost of his
beautiful life. But the transforming words you spoke through him
give us life now and for all time. In him you are glorified and we
pray that you will continue to be glorified through the worship,
witness and service we offer in his name. Amen
We’ve been led into
worship by a psalm. Now we turn to the story of the first
followers of Jesus in the book of Acts, and hear about the
moment he left and the stage was set for the birth of the
church. We’ve enjoyed using this “Laughing Bird” paraphrase of
the scriptures many times. It comes to us from our brothers and
sisters in Australia, and is named after the infamous
Kookaburra. Listen, and be drawn “down under” into the story.
........When
they were all together for the last time, the apostles had one
burning question for Jesus: “Lord, is this the time? Will you
regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over
Israel?” ........Jesus replied, “Only
the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your
business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over
you and drench you with power, giving you the passion and
courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell
everyone about me, in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, and
even to the ends of the earth.” ........That was it - his
last words. Right before their eyes, he was carried up into the
air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood
there stunned, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared
next to them, dressed in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!
What are you standing here for, staring into the sky? Jesus has
been taken into heaven, but don’t worry. He’ll be back, just as
surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.” ........This happened at the
Mount of Olives, about a half an hour’s walk outside of
Jerusalem. When they returned to the city, they gathered again
in the upstairs room that had become their regular meeting
place. The remaining eleven apostles were all there: Peter,
John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James
the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of
James. Along with a wider group, which included many of the
women who had followed Jesus, they committed themselves to a
shared life of fervent prayer. This group included Mary, the
mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
As our God of all
grace restores, supports, strengthens, and establishes us, we
then become part of this restoring, supporting, strengthening,
and establishing work. That’s what our tithes and offerings are
all about. It’s not a tax we pay. It’s a mission into which we
are called. God gives to us what we need to accomplish it, or at
least to get one further step down the road towards its
fulfillment. That’s not just money, my friends. It’s also time
and ability and energy and a sense of purpose that our Lord
provides. It’s amazing what can happen as we let go of our
anxiety and step into God’s active caring for us. What then
surprises us are not all the bad things that can and do happen
in this world. What takes our breath away, instead, is what God
is doing all around us in this world, if only we have eyes to
see and hands ready to become involved.
As you give your
offering today, think beyond what you place in the plate. What
might God be doing in your neck of the woods this week? Are you
ready and willing to get your hands dirty in the Lord’s work?
A Prayer of Jesus (in video)
John
17
Benediction
How appropriate, this image of God’s people - those for whom
Jesus died and lived - as a ship upon the sea. Yes, to be
honest, we are all in the same boat, adrift upon uncertain
waters. Think, however, of the wind picking up and how that is
the time when sails are unfurled and this ship is propelled
forward.
In the church year, next Sunday is Pentecost, the celebration of
the coming of the Holy Spirit which blew through the followers
of Jesus like a mighty wind. And they unfurled the sails and
became the church.
That wind still blows, sisters and brothers. But, as always, we
need to work together to sail this ship, and thus fulfill Jesus’
prayer. We don’t sail alone, no matter where the next seven days
take each one of us, whether we are salty old seahands, or still
wet-behind-the-ears sailors; those familiar with the ship’s
rigging, or those just learning the ropes.
Mates, the wind is coming, so let down the sails, that God may
move us toward the kingdom. Amen.
(para traducir a español, presione la bandera de España)
Interested in Sunday School? Below is a growing list of possible sites to visit.
As you discover others, please let
us know.
International Lesson: Adult
Bible Studies
from The United Methodist Publishing House
(click "supplemental resources" and "current events supplement"
under both the "Student" and "Teacher" sections in the left hand column)