Ready to Launch
When the day of Pentecost had come,
they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:1 (NRSV)
Dear friend,
At graduation, folks gather together in one place. (See video above, Tom Hanks
delivers the Commencement Address, Harvard Commencement 2023, the
commencement address I’d like every graduate to hear this year.)
On the day of Pentecost, folks gathered together in one place. They didn’t understand each
other. They came from such diverse backgrounds and languages, yet then a miracle happened.
With the help of Holy Spirit they found a way to communicate and become known to one another
and together they decided to form the church with the purpose of spreading
the love and justice of Jesus to the entire world. Wow.
Back in the day, every day NASA sent a rocket into space people gathered together in one
place, wherever they were, around T.V. sets and radios, and there was an especially large
gathering in one place on July 16, 1969 for the Apollo 11 launch (See video below, Apollo 11
launches, beginning epic journey to the moon from CBS). When Neil Armstrong took some
steps four days later, even more folks had gathered in that one place,
earth, peering out in their imaginations to the moon.
We still gather together in one place, even when that one place of worship
includes our sanctuary and wherever else via YouTube or Zoom.
We still get ready to launch on the day of graduation by doing the work in and out of class.
We still get ready to launch the next rocket and perhaps one day to Mars.
When’s your next launch? The time is getting closer. Try not to procrastinate too long.
It’s time to prepare. Time is getting shorter. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
I hope to be there, when it’s time for you to fly.
In the meantime, I hope to see you Sunday.
Blessings and Love,
Pastor John
they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:1 (NRSV)
Dear friend,
At graduation, folks gather together in one place. (See video above, Tom Hanks
delivers the Commencement Address, Harvard Commencement 2023, the
commencement address I’d like every graduate to hear this year.)
On the day of Pentecost, folks gathered together in one place. They didn’t understand each
other. They came from such diverse backgrounds and languages, yet then a miracle happened.
With the help of Holy Spirit they found a way to communicate and become known to one another
and together they decided to form the church with the purpose of spreading
the love and justice of Jesus to the entire world. Wow.
Back in the day, every day NASA sent a rocket into space people gathered together in one
place, wherever they were, around T.V. sets and radios, and there was an especially large
gathering in one place on July 16, 1969 for the Apollo 11 launch (See video below, Apollo 11
launches, beginning epic journey to the moon from CBS). When Neil Armstrong took some
steps four days later, even more folks had gathered in that one place,
earth, peering out in their imaginations to the moon.
We still gather together in one place, even when that one place of worship
includes our sanctuary and wherever else via YouTube or Zoom.
We still get ready to launch on the day of graduation by doing the work in and out of class.
We still get ready to launch the next rocket and perhaps one day to Mars.
When’s your next launch? The time is getting closer. Try not to procrastinate too long.
It’s time to prepare. Time is getting shorter. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
I hope to be there, when it’s time for you to fly.
In the meantime, I hope to see you Sunday.
Blessings and Love,
Pastor John
Would you pray with me?
Jesus,
may your love burn
within the heart of our church
within each individual heart
within the heart of the whole.
Holy Spirit,
light a fire of hope and purpose
within the heart of our congregation.
Burn within each individual heart
as you burn within the heart of us all.
God, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
make us ready to launch,
as we set out for places known and unknown,
ready to offer Good News
for a world in desperate need of good news.
Help us to know a countdown has begun,
and the life of earth needs us now.
God, ready us to launch.
Send us,
where no one has gone before.
Holy Spirit,
like rocket fuel,
set hearts on fire
and minds ablaze
so with imagination, creativity and perseverance,
the church may be reborn.
Fire and inspire us,
to journey the Way
of the love and justice of Jesus
in our time, now.
In you, God,
we place our trust,
our hope,
and the best of everything you created us to be,
as we ready ourselves,
to launch…
Amen.
__________________________________________________
Jesus,
may your love burn
within the heart of our church
within each individual heart
within the heart of the whole.
Holy Spirit,
light a fire of hope and purpose
within the heart of our congregation.
Burn within each individual heart
as you burn within the heart of us all.
God, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
make us ready to launch,
as we set out for places known and unknown,
ready to offer Good News
for a world in desperate need of good news.
Help us to know a countdown has begun,
and the life of earth needs us now.
God, ready us to launch.
Send us,
where no one has gone before.
Holy Spirit,
like rocket fuel,
set hearts on fire
and minds ablaze
so with imagination, creativity and perseverance,
the church may be reborn.
Fire and inspire us,
to journey the Way
of the love and justice of Jesus
in our time, now.
In you, God,
we place our trust,
our hope,
and the best of everything you created us to be,
as we ready ourselves,
to launch…
Amen.
__________________________________________________
Become the Love you Seek!
JOURNEY on The Way
SEE the Face of Jesus
in All People
BECOME a Light of Peace,
Justice & Revolutionary Love
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