Psalm 68.1-6; Acts 1.6-14
Good Morning, and God’s Peace.
It’s a grand day … and I’m glad to be here.
There is much to do, and we’ll do our best.
A part of the great work of life, is right here.
Giving ourselves to something larger than we are.
Our soul needs this … we’re not made for small shoes and ill-fitting shirts …
We’re made for something grand and glorious … something gooder than good, better than better, bigger than big.
The other day, I opened up a copy of Conde Nast, the travel magazine … I love the adds … they appeal to the deepest yearnings of the soul …
On the front page, of course, the theme: Fresh Perspectives …
Then a two-page photo layout - two people, one dragging a bag, the other beneath an umbrella, dashing toward a mysterious structure, in a vast wilderness of sand, with the sky above, blue and white, stretching to the edge of creation.
Another add: The world is reopening. Open up the World.
And then: Over 900 destinations to explore …
And great tag lines: LIVE YOUR LIFE … A NEW BEGINNING … EXPERIENCE THE UNRIVALED …
And on the next page, a credit card add: What’s in your wallet?
Because all of this is profoundly expensive.
Yes, travel is good for the soul …
The more we travel, the more likely we’ll see the world differently … boundaries fall away, cultures open up … it doesn’t have to be top-of-the-line expensive … it may be only of the mind … or a quick trip to San Diego … maybe a good book with a cup o’tea.
We’re not made for small shoes that pinch and press … nor are we made for small neighborhoods that pinch the soul and press us down.
The disciples on the mountain wanted to return to the small neighborhood of their youth … when all was good and grand … summer vacations were forever, and Sunday dinner at Gramma’s house was always just perfect.
But there’s no going back … time calls us forward …
Jesus directs the eyes of his disciples to the future … it’s a huge world, says Jesus, and you’re going to be a part of God’s work, from here to there, and everywhere in between.
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and then Judea,
and then Samaria, that strange and forbidden place -
even there, you will have a roll to play,
and then, onward, to the ends of the earth …
because this is my Father’s world …
But wait, says Jesus … don’t jump the gun … don’t get ahead of yourselves … don’t rush ahead foolishly …
It will all be made clear in due time … wait for it … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you …
The Holy Spirit goes to church …
The Holy Spirit is everywhere, of course …
The Holy Spirit is the love of God …
in every bud and leaf of spring …
in the rush of melting snow …
coursing rivers on their way to the sea …
a bird’s nest built in the niche above your window …
a child’s delight with a hamburger and french fries …
The Holy Spirit is everywhere, but sometimes we need to be in a place where our sensibilities are on high alert, a place where our defenses relax, a place where we can receive the mysteries of God.
The Holy spirit goes to church …
For any of us, perhaps just a moment, a thought …
I can do this.
Yes, I can, and yes I will.
All is good.
And I will make it
A feeling, perhaps …
A sense of love … joy … hope … peace.
Something kind and good moving around inside the soul.
I am somebody …
I have skills and ability …
I can do things no one else can do.
I am me, and I’m glad of it.
A purpose begins to sing in our soul …
I belong to God.
I belong to the church of Jesus Christ.
I’m a Presbyterian … I don’t always know what that means, but I’m glad to be here.
The ancient call of God.
Moses and Elijah.
Rebecca and Miriam.
Mary, the mother of God.
And Paul the Apostle.
These are my family, they are my friends, they are the people who still pray for me, who live and move in the deeps of my soul …
they live in eternity, I live in time.
Here, in the church, we sit side-by-side.
All around me, the saints and sinners of life:
they assure me
encourage me
push me
pull me
love me.
We did it, they sing to us.
And you will do it, too.
A few moments ago in our worship, we welcomed new members into the life of the church …
They took a step, the next step … who knows where it’ll go from here?
Jesus said pointedly to the disciples, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
It is not for us to know … it is for us to trust.
There is mystery in all of this, as the Holy Spirit goes to church …
I salute the new members: Suzanne Palin, Cheryl Prentice, Deanna Gast, Phil LaRouche …
I give thanks for the Holy Spirit, at work in their lives … at work in all of our lives …
There is no singular “right way” of doing this … the LORD God Almighty maps it out … just for you … your unique life, as your are.
The Holy Spirit goes to church.
Whatever the next step will be for you,
it will unfold …
it will become clear …
you may wonder about it …
resist it, question it … doubt it … run from it with all your might … or embrace it with everything you’ve got.
it will become clear …
because the Holy Spirit goes to church …
We shed our small shoes and ill-fitting shirts.
To be clothed in the love of Christ.
To live our lives and discover the world.
And what’s in our wallet?
The coinage of God’s realm
The silver lining of every cloud
The golden rule of love.
The next step?
Whatever it is for you, it will be good … it may be hard, it may be quite unexpected, but it will be good … because the Holy Spirit goes to church … with you!
Hallelujah and Amen!
