Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!” Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. Luke 22:52-54

Are you following at a distance?  Peter, in the dramatic story of Jesus’ Passion, was following at a distance.  He wanted to know what was going on, but did not want anyone to know he followed Jesus, for fear of his life. 

Often, we follow Jesus at a distance.  We come to church, we give our offering, we even do ministries around the church, but are we open about our faith?  Do we show Jesus to others, or are we following at a distance?

As you journey through this new week, find an opportunity to step out of the shadows and the distance and show Jesus to someone.  It does not need to be a grandiose thing, rather one simple caring thing you can do to show your faith.  It may make all the difference.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

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.”  Acts 1:6-8

This week begins our church’s Mission Week, where we have projects within our community.  Some will be done at the church, others at the ministry locations.  We will help clean up and paint a house for emergency housing, sort clothing for another church’s clothing drive, make blankets for people in a nursing home, and provide meals for both those in need and some of our shut-in members.  Overall, we have an ambitious few days ahead of us.

In the passage from Acts, the apostles are all concerned with power structures – “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  This is often one of the ways we deny our calling as well. “Isn’t it the job of (insert some excuse here) to feed the hungry?”  “Can’t the government help?”  “Shouldn’t the church do more (often said by non-church goers)?” and the list goes on. 

 But that is not the way of the Lord.  He reminds them (and us) of the mission – to go out and witness, to show, to teach, to do.

Whether you are a part of our Mission Week, or you have your own mission projects this week, remember it is about doing what Jesus calls us to do. 

As you journey through this week, go with one of my favorite prayers, attributed to Francis of Assisi.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Peace,

Pastor Bill