We are pleased to welcome the Society of Stewards on campus this Wednesday. They will join us for Chapel, which is followed by community meal.
We continue are regular rhythm of spiritual practices in community:
Monday
11:00am | Text Study – Zoom
Tuesday
11:00am | Contemplative Practice – OCC Meditation Chapel and on Zoom
Wednesday
11:00am | Service of Holy Communion – Chapel of the Incarnation or on YouTube. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership, is preaching from Acts 2:42-47.
11:45am | Chapel Cafe – Luther Cafe
Thursday
11:00am | Lunch Church – Dining Room A
A Reflection on the Readings
The readings from the Revised Common Lectionary this week:
Acts 2:42-47 – The Church is Born, they shared everything in common
Psalm 23 – The LORD is my shepherd
1 Peter 2:19-25 – follow Jesus example in how he suffered persecution
John 10:1-10 – Jesus said,“I am the gate” He is not like the false leaders.
The texts this week evoke a sense of awe and wonder in me. It is obvious in the Acts reading. 3,000 people were added to the numbers of disciples on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:42-47 paints an idyllic portrait of what the church could and should look like. People are living together in harmony and mutual flourishing. Their testimony is so strong that everyone around them stood in awe. Oh that it were true of us.
The rest of the texts focus on the true awe and wonder. They focus on the source of the church’s ability to live in harmony. Peter’s and John’s writings focus on the fact that Jesus suffered for us. Not only did he suffer, but he willingly took on the scorn and shame of Empire. Then, even more awesomely, he didn’t retaliate. He absorbed the violence and forgave his persecutors. In so doing he set the world free. He created a safe haven for the sheep. He became the gate through which we can enter into abundant life. He was not like the imposter shepherds of his day. He gave his life for the sheep. Peter encourages us to follow in his footsteps.
This is truly awesome and fills me with wonder.
