Hello Crew,

Today is Ascension Day. Forty days after Easter and ten days before Pentecost, the Church celebrates Jesus’ return to heaven after assuring his disciples that they would soon have plenty of power to continue his rescue mission on earth. All they had to do was to pray and wait for the Spirit.

Waiting doesn’t come easy to most of us. We are geared for action… which is what made the 2012 General Conference so frustrating for me. We didn’t seem to accomplish much. 1,000 delegates from around the world spent ten days worshipping, celebrating, caucusing, debating, and voting. Very little change and a lot of frustration was the outcome. Our denomination is declining, our voice is diminishing, our resources are dwindling, and yet we were so gridlocked in entrenched positions that only minor changes were made in the direction and mission of the church.

Discouraging… and yet…. maybe not. There seemed to be a strident voice coming from the margins in the form of tweet traffic from young adults and those in conversation with them. Could it be the Spirit has us just where we need to be? Totally frustrated with our attempts to organize our way out of decline, could it be we are forced to wait and listen to the Spirit raising up new voices with new priorities which will reshape old forms into fresh ways to undertake Christ’s rescue mission into the 21st century?

I pray so. That is something I want to be a part of. In fact, we already are. I’m sensing a freshening of the Spirit here at Christ Church. We have a singular, well-defined priority to Make Disciples of Jesus Christ Who Know Him, Love Him and Serve Him. Our vision is crystal clear – Restoring Lives, Families and Communities. Mile makers are in place for our infants through high school grads. Our Young Adult ministry is flourishing; Alpha ministry had a great first class; and the entire Starting Points curriculum for adults is nearly completed.

Next up – Strategically aligning our resources with our Mission, Vision and Values. In the meantime – we focus on the basics; we pray; we minister faithfully; and we love unconditionally.

See you in Ascension Sunday worship. Bring a friend.

Grace and Peace,
David

Scripture Readings

Thurs, May 17 – Romans 5:8
Fri, May 18 – I John 4:7-11
Sat, May 19 – Psalm 36:7-10

Mon, May 20 – Matthew 28:16-20
Tues, May 21 – Luke 10:1-12
Wed, May 22 – Psalm 40:1-8
Thurs, May 23 – John 16:12-15
Fri, May 242 – Timothy 3:10-16
Sat, May 25 – Isaiah 1:18-20

Psalm of the Week
Psalm 98

Key Scripture:
But 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.”  Acts 1:8

Centering Prayer:
Living Jesus, empower my witness…