new beginings

Good morning sisters and brothers,
As many of you know, my brother and sister in law have been very active in working for peace in Yemen. Through them I've been watching the struggle to build a democratic movement in that nation. Yesterday the autocratic president of Yemen left for Saudi Arabia. Please keep the people of Yemen in prayer that this step might lead towards peace and democracy and that forces of violence and chaos might not win the day.

Our reading from John continues Jesus' last words to the disciples. Here he promises the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide the disciples. This is a challenging passage and worth reading a couple of times. Don't feel bad if it still doesn't quite make sense. I think the most important take away is that the world will be challenging for Jesus' disciples (including us), but the Spirit will give them (and us) what we need to be faithful.

The passage from Acts is Luke/Acts version of the great commission. Jesus tells the disciples that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and wlll be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. That's still our story today. Today's worship service will be an important day for our witness to others. We're worshiping outside and hosting our neighbors for a picnic lunch afterward. I hope you can bring a friend, but most importantly, bring your joy to welcome new neighbors to Laurelton. Please dress comfortably and informally and keep your eyes out for chances to make someone feel at home.

God bless,
Sam

John 16:7-15

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.


12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.



*Sunday

Acts 1:6-14

6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.


10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”


12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.