Read Ephesians 4:7

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ‘s gift.”

Have you thought about your calling by the Holy Spirit to bring grace to others and with others?

What is God calling you to do in His world?  How have you responded to the call?

Within our congregation we see members with a great diversity of gifts- God-given gifts.  The strength of Blue Church comes from the contributions of these diverse gifts to carry out our church’s mission to “bring God’s love to the Lehigh Valley and beyond”. As we move forward in that mission, we may have the opportunity to add a greater variety of gifts by collaborating with other churches in our community to bring the hope and grace of our Lord into the lives of our neighbors.

A few months ago, we asked members about our spiritual gifts.  Together they generated a long list of blessings that we have and that we can offer as well as some ministries we would like to expand.  These gaps may be filled by answering a call to be one body and one Spirit with other churches in our community through the Lutheran 6261 Program.  Each of us, as individuals and as churches were given gifts. We are called to use those gifts to the Glory of God at Blue Church and beyond.

We find so many pathways of faith in our community- UCC, Methodist, Episcopal, Moravian, Presbyterian, Reformed Church and our own Lutheran church.  What brings us together is our unity as the body of Christ. We All are One in Mission, a hymn in the LBW (#576) reminds us:  “We all are one in mission, we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ the Lord of all...”. Our Council is discerning the possibility of becoming one in mission with some of our neighbor churches for projects or activities supported by a group of churches in our community in order that we may all share our blessings more abundantly.

As we move forward in faith, we ask that the Holy Spirit guides us into new partnerships and new faith experiences.  The Council welcomes questions and your thoughts on this opportunity that God is presenting to us.

Read Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” 

Blue Church is moving forward in faith- faith in God’s promise of grace, faith that the Holy Spirit is guiding our decisions, and a belief that we will again be transformed as a people of God living out our calling to love and bless the world.

We can move forward without fear and in full hope that God will provide for our needs.  We can face changes and challenges with hope for the future. Hope gives us the patience to live through the challenges we face individually and collectively. It gives us the confidence and the courage to make needed changes.  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. When we have this blessed assurance, there is nothing that we cannot face with faith and trust in God.

Faith is also a call to action. In Hebrews we find the re-telling of the actions of people of faith in the Old Testament. They answered the calls with faith in God’s promise, despite the odds.  Blue Church is called to move forward in faith as we discern our future calling to serve our community.

In the Formula of Concord IV.10-12, Luther provides insights into a life of faith.

“Faith is a divine work in us that transforms us and begets us anew from God,…makes us entirely different people in heart, spirit, mind, and all our powers, and brings the Holy Spirit with it.

Faith is a vital, deliberate trust in God’s grace, so certain that it would die a thousand times for it. And such confidence and knowledge of divine grace makes us joyous, mettlesome, and merry toward God and all creatures.”

Where do you see the Holy Spirit transforming our life together as God’s people in Blue Church?

How is faith sustaining you and providing you with the assurance of God’s eternal love?  Do you know someone with whom you can share that message?  

Read Acts 1: 6-8

“It is not for you to know the time and the season…”

This verse is about one of the most difficult things for us to do–wait… Wait for it to happen in God’s time-not ours.

In Acts 1 Jesus speaks to his followers just prior to His Ascension. Even before his crucifixion and in the forty days after His resurrection Jesus was giving them indications that change was coming.  Now they had a sense something more was happening imminently and they wanted answers to their biggest concerns. They may have been thinking who will lead us? Who will teach us? What will happen to us- note the question about the kingdom.  Maybe you have had similar thoughts over the past year? Jesus’ answer does not offer them comfort. He says the dreaded You have to wait and see.  They probably did not like that answer any more than we do. Then Jesus departs from them and they are left stunned and feeling like a rutter-less boat. Probably Confused. Possibly Scared. Certainly Unanchored.

The apostles went into default mode  –  back to the upper room likely where they celebrated Passover a few weeks earlier and prayed- a lot!  God answered- Peter stepped up as a leader. Ten days later- but in what may have seemed an eternity – the Holy Spirit came to them and gave them gifts so that they could witness to all they had learned when Jesus was with them. They started a new and exciting chapter in their lives. They would boldly move forward into unchartered waters girded with God’s promise and most importantly the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are prayerfully considering all of the options for our future ministry. We listen for God’s direction. We look for signs from those He has placed around us. We pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit about what ministries we can offer to engage others in worship and service to our community. We are on the precipice of a new chapter in our faith life as a congregation. We see the Holy Spirit working in and around us to bring us new opportunities for ministry.

Waiting is an important part of our spiritual life. It is a time to grow, to heal, to renew and to explore. It is also a time when we receive guidance, spiritual insight and opportunities for new ministry. Spring is also a time of waiting as we approach a season of growth and renewal in the Easter resurrection season. We look around us and see new growth in our flower beds and in our own lives. But for now we must wait for the darkness of unknown to pass and the Light of the World to shine in with new opportunities .

New Beginnings: C.S. Lewis, 20 C Author