June/July 2014 From Our Pastor This month we remember the gifting of the Holy Spirit upon the early Church. This was in fulfillment of a promise of Jesus gave to his disciples. As he was about to leave them, still in the excitement of his resurrection from death, he promised to send the spirit to bring to mind all that he had taught and done. The Spirit brings a special liberty. The same word that is used for spirit is used for wind. And it is often pointed out that the wind is always free to blow where it will. So the Spirit is free to move among the Church inspiring whomever it wants. And the Spirit is never locked into the expected or anticipated. Those who attempt to make religion a system of laws will have difficulty with the Spirit; just as the religious leaders had difficulty with Jesus’ ministry. Jesus knew and followed the Spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. And the Spirit is always attempting to free those who are bound rather than bind people even more than they are already. As Jesus read from the Prophet Isaiah in his home-town place of worship – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … to proclaim liberty to the captive.” May we each find renewed liberty to live the Good News of God’s love in Jesus, during this Season of the Spirit. Pr. Rob
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:25:28 +0000