For Him Who Died and Rose Again

I John 3:14: We know that we have passed from death to life.
John 14:15: (The Father) will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. I John 3:18: …let us love… in truth and action
Acts 8:26a, 27a: …an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go….” So he got up and went.
Eucharistic Prayer D: “And that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own 1st gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.”

When St. Barnabas witnesses its next baptism, it will be an Easter experience. Not only is a baptized person raised with Christ [Rom. 6:5, 11], they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38].

And so, this Easter season is a great fifty days for us. From April 16th to Pentecost [June 4th] we get busy living for him and no longer for us.

For their May meeting, the Vestry is reviewing Bishop Ohl’s charge to the last convention. That convention’s theme specifically focused on “community ministry.” Our December newsletter contained excerpts like:

􀂾 “We need the community to help us both discern and live out the gifts of ministry we have been given.”
􀂾 “Look around your town and see what needs to be done to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, give drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison.”
􀂾 “I pray that you will open your heart to the leading of the Holy Spirit to guide you into how you are being called to minister.”
􀂾 “I want to encourage you, the diocesan leadership, to affirm your brothers and sisters in the congregations you serve in discerning and exercising their gifts.”
􀂾 “I call each and every one of us, the leaders of the diocese of Northwest Texas, to redouble our efforts to discern, both for ourselves and our congregations, how we can make visible the redeeming love of God in Christ to this broken and starving world.”
􀂾 “I challenge you to pray about whom you might invite to be a part of the living Body of Christ, someone who is inactive or has never been a part of a church community, and then as Simon’s brother Andrew did, BRING them to Jesus.

The Vestry can easily respond to the diocese with attendance numbers or financial figures. We know that the more difficult brand of leadership is that which reinforces and grows our ministry to the community around us.

I hope that, in this review, we affirm the Christian pattern “Get Up and Go.” I intend to watch specifically for anecdotes. I hope to hear how Barnaby-folk found the promised “Advocate” in the lovingkindness of the person whom they we dutifully serving. May these stories be the faithful foundation that the Advocate IS with us.

And may these stories push us to deepen our response to the Bishop’s Christian charge. May Christ love over-whelm us to get up and go—go into a little more broken place than we’ve been comfortable with so far. “Let us love in truth and action to God’s greater glory.

Shalom,
David +