From the Pastor

This past Sunday we celebrated that Jesus promised we will receive good gifts from his Father. In Luke’s gospel this good gift is the Holy Spirit. When we ask, seek, and knock in prayer, we receive the gift of the Spirit. She gives us many gifts: wisdom, knowledge, generosity, mercy, helping, leading, communication… the list goes on. Each of these gifts we use to bless others just as we are blessed by the Spirit.

This coming Sunday we will be exploring the importance of unity in prayer. We will read Jesus’ words of instruction in Matthew 18 as well as delve into a few stories in the Acts of the Apostles. Typically, stories in this book involve prayer and seeking the Spirit’s guidance to the extent that at one point the apostles state, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” We will consider a story where both Spirit and prayer are conspicuously absent. What happens when this is the case?

On August 2, we will wrap up the prayer series with a sermon on prayer and forgiveness. I did promise to come back to that line in Hebrews about the blood of Jesus speaking a better word than the blood of Abel! Sometime in the week before this service, consider reading Psalms 55, 69, and 137. These are a few of the imprecatory psalms—psalms where the psalmists pray for vengeance on their enemies. I do not plan to refer to them in the service, but my sermon will answer them.

May you produce much fruit of the Spirit, this week and always. May perfect love flow through you to each person you interact with. May each good gift God gives you be freely shared with those all around you.

Pastor Laura