The disrupting Spirit Week 3: Tuesday Reading Acts 2.1-13 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ Reflection The beginning of Acts 2 records a decisive moment in the life of the Early Church. Some affectionately call it the birthday of the Church. But this is perhaps a rather a bland name for a truly dramatic event. The Spirit comes in power and disrupts everything, fills everything, displaces everything! Disciples locked away in fear become emboldened. Those who could not speak were filled with a new energy, new giftings, and new fire. Peter, the one who had denied Jesus, becomes the first preacher. There is no shame here. There is simply a deep freedom in testifying to the great work of God in Christ Jesus. Thanks to the disruptive power of the Spirit, those being hunted down by violent oppressors are now not afraid to disrupt the status quo to preach the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Ultimately, the Spirit always disrupts lies, violence and fear. Watch Consider ways the Holy Spirit might be disrupting your life and plans. ...and pray for humility to allow the Holy Spirit's power to reshape and redirect. Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2024.
Week 3: Spirit This week we contemplate the work of the Spirit. The Spirit of God, or God as Spirit, is key to understanding Black Spirituality. God is spirit, and life, and movement, and shows up in every aspect of Black spiritual traditions. Prayer for the Week Great Spirit of God, you remain unquenched, and we dare not attempt to domesticate or limit you. Disrupt our false ideas and idolatries. Remake and renew us in your work of recreation. Amen. The mighty Spirit Week 3: Monday Reading Acts 1.6-11 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 towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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.' Reflection Spirituality, or the presence and power of the spiritual world is emphasised in Black religious traditions, and other, mainly non-Western traditions. Black culture operates on the idea that the spiritual is intertwined with the physical and is inherently powerful. This is true within the Biblical tradition. As Jesus ascends at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, he promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, not in a contained and inconspicuous way, but with power. The disciples would be empowered to be witnesses to Jesus and to become people they never imagined they would be. This is the same Spirit of God in operation at the beginning of Creation in Genesis 1, who hovers over the waters, bringing order out of chaos, bring life into being. The Spirit of God is mighty! Watch Look out for ways in which the Holy Spirit might be moving in the world today. ...and pray for a deepening sense of the Holy Spirit in your everyday life. Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2024.
Last Saturday was the first of our Team Women’s Ministry Events. We went on a walk together, setting off from Edenfield Parish Church, and then returned for hot drinks and croissants. All of our four team churches were represented and it was lovely for us all to get to know one another. It was a little damp initially but the sun came out. Watch this space for our next event in June, an afternoon tea! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/retmwomensministry?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWwC0SSWrfZpVjO6eolyFmABcmaR3eA7S5ln53PBh_Au5odypmW40TKSXuzEOlp9_lRbsJhG7YiWxpYl_tc_oGtYD3PwR5Djx80yyhe3eIoJupABcj36a4hwtaJjvnrGhJsI8A9IbOeKG2ccXLdSmxDaRyjZQiFuXxzFJjDi0Ts35-gsEyguMx0nnNaznbqMa8&__tn__=*NK-R">#RETMwomensministry</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fellowship?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZWwC0SSWrfZpVjO6eolyFmABcmaR3eA7S5ln53PBh_Au5odypmW40TKSXuzEOlp9_lRbsJhG7YiWxpYl_tc_oGtYD3PwR5Djx80yyhe3eIoJupABcj36a4hwtaJjvnrGhJsI8A9IbOeKG2ccXLdSmxDaRyjZQiFuXxzFJjDi0Ts35-gsEyguMx0nnNaznbqMa8&__tn__=*NK-R">#fellowship</a>
The God who moves Week 2: Weekend Reading Genesis 50.15-21 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. Reflection We come to the end of the Book of Genesis. We also come to the conclusion of Joseph’s story. What began in family trauma and betrayal, now ends in the most spectacular display of forgiveness and love between Joseph and his brothers. Joseph who was once a slave, then a prisoner, is now the most powerful person in Egypt apart from the Pharaoh. There is a wider consideration. His forefather Abram once moved to Egypt because of famine. He is now the preserver of his kinsfolk who are in the midst of another famine. An even wider lens reveals that all along, God had been moving through their generations to bring about peacefulness and flourishing, despite the hardships, conflicts, and trauma. God is the God who moves – ahead of, alongside and behind his people. Watch Remind yourself of moments of clarity and forgiveness in your life. ...and pray for wisdom to discern God's larger purpose for your life. Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2024.
