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The Day of Pentecost

5/23/2015

 
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.(Acts 2:21)
Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day. (Acts 2:41)
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Meditation: (See Scripture Reading below)
On the Day of Pentecost, Jews from all around the world were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Shauvot - a celebration of the giving and receiving of the Law of God, the Torah, the Covenant.  On that same day the Holy Spirit was also gifted to those Jews gathered together in Jerusalem, bringing together in unity many who were so different from one another.  

"Aren’t all of these people from the same place in Galilee? How can they be talking in so many languages at once? We are from Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, Iran and Iraq, Israel and many parts of Turkey, including near Istanbul and Ankara; some of us are from Egypt and northern Libya, or visiting from Rome in Italy, from the island of Crete or from Saudi Arabia. But still we all hear the apostles speaking about God’s deeds of power in our own languages!"

On the day of Pentecost, it is celebrated that no matter where we are from, the gift of the Holy Spirit is moving and stirring us from within, bringing us together in the unity of the Body of Christ.

When I think of the Holy Spirit moving in my life, one of the strongest places where I can think of the Spirit moving is at Church Camp, more specifically Tall Oaks Camp & Conference Center in Bonner Springs, KS.  I trust that many of you, whether it is at a bonafide church camp, or a camp fire with friends, or simply a walk in the woods, we can see the abundance of diversity in creation; yet we can also see the gift of creation that brings us all closer to one another as we remember that unity in God's creation.

On Sunday, May 24, we will remember the day of Pentecost, and the Spirit moving among us.  We will celebrate the Spirit moving among us not only at OPCC, but all over the world as the Spirit brings us together into the unity of the Body of Christ.  She speaks to each of us in our own language, pulling us closer into the love of Christ who comes to each of us.  She stirs our hearts to live out our commission, to share the love of God in Christ Jesus, that we will be brought together in that love.

We can't promise a conversion of 3000 people on Sunday morning, but we can promise that you will feel the Spirit move - won't you join us?

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21
When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
    Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young will see visions.
    Your elders will dream dreams.
     Even upon my servants, men and women,
        I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
        and they will prophesy.
 I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
 The sun will be changed into darkness,
    and the moon will be changed into blood,
        before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The Logos

5/19/2015

 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…

The Word was life and the life was the light of all people.

                                                                             -  John 1:1, 4

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Logos is Greek for ‘Word of God’.  I can safely say that the average American, Christian or not, is unaware of this and, like me, first thinks about the different logos that we see on a daily basis.  

Nike Swoosh.  AT&T Deathstar. McDonalds Arches. Single images conjure brand recognition in a millisecond.

Disciples are very familiar for the red chalice logo of our denomination. We at OPCC re-created our logo a few years ago.



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I am struck, in this moment, by how wrapped up we are in images…in logos.  Thousands upon thousands of dollars and hours are poured into crafting images that resonate with individuals and groups.  When we worked our logo, there were many discussions and many drafts.

The paraments that I made for our Visioning project last summer were, first, just an image in my mind – an abstract representation of the Five Core Values of that project.  The process of bringing that image to the sanctuary is outlined here.  

We are a culture that resonate with images quickly and readily, but have such trouble with the Word of God.  The Word takes time and study.  It takes reflection and re-visiting.  It takes community and conversation.  And there is no short-cut.  Perhaps that is why artists have been trying to capture the essence of the Word for centuries and none has done it all in one image.  If we were to catch a glimpse of the image, we would be white-haired before our time!  


The End and the Beginning

5/15/2015

 
Acts 1:1-11 NRSV

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
LIfe is full of questions. Some of these questions have answers but many do not. Why is the sky blue? How does my car's engine run? When is my son going to clean his room? 

In this text, we are told that Jesus has spent the time since his resurrection (the book of Acts tells us it has been forty days) with the disciples. He has told them about the kingdom of God and has prepared them for the next step. What strikes me as crazy is that the disciples only have one question, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 

I can think of more questions...Where are you going? What will happen to us? Why are you leaving us? How are we supposed to continue on? ...and the list goes on and on.

But they just ask the one question and apparently it's the wrong question to ask. He replies as if he's reprimanding them but within his answer he proclaims, "...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

What an answer!

The disciples thought this might be an ending to an era but what it turns out to really be is a beginning. A new era for God's people. Jesus has been preparing the disciples all along for this moment.

What questions do you have for God? Will you be disappointed if the answer isn't what you imagined it to be? Are you ready to be a witness to the ends of the earth? 

We'll talk about this and more on Sunday morning. I hope you will join us!

To Those Who Show Up

5/12/2015

 
Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.  But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.  
                                                                  - Luke 24:10-11
We are approaching the end of the Great Fifty Days of Eastertide.  As we walk these final few together, we glance over our collective shoulder at that very first Resurrection Appearance.  The stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and Jesus speaks to Mary.

I know this scripture.  I have read it on Easter morning.  I have dressed in period garb and acted it out.  I have sung the words, "Where have you taken my Lord?"  Yes.  This one I know.  Yet, there is still something new to be taken from it.

Kate Moorehead, whose devotions we have been using to guide our meditations says, "God comes to those of us who are willing to search for a way to make sense of it all."  Yes.  Jesus comes to those who love him.  Jesus appears to those who seek him.  He is not going to reveal himself to those who twist his words or fail to see sacrifice in the breaking of bread. He reveals himself to those who show up with eyes to see and hearts to love and hands to work.  He reveals himself to those who show up.

Walking to Emmaus 

5/11/2015

 
While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 
Luke 24:15
I can't tell you how many times I have gotten so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I cannot see others around me. And there are times when I am faced with a problem and I am searching for answers when the solution is right in front of me. 

Getting outside of my own head is often my biggest set back in life. 

I wonder if that might have been going on with the disciples on this day. They had just suffered a great shock and they couldn't make sense of the loss of Jesus. 

What is remarkable about this text is that Jesus walked with them and talked with them. He listened to them and calmed them. He did not just blurt out who he was but he was patient and gentle with them. 

That is often what we need, isn't it. Patience. Kindness. Gentleness. 

The great news is that Jesus continues to be all of these and more. And Jesus continues to walk beside us. Even when we do not recognize him. 

~Lisa
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= Overland Park Christian 
RAV = Rios de Agua Viva Iglesia
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©2013-2025 Overland Park Christian Church
​7600 West 75th Street
Overland Park, KS  66204
(913) 677-4646
[email protected]
Sanctuary Worship Schedule:
10:30am Sundays In-Person
and Online Live-Stream Worship
Broader Way Worship Schedule:
4:30pm Sundays In-Person
​in the Fireside Room