Unexpected

In the community Pentecost service yesterday, I was struck by a line in the call to worship which said, “On the first Christian Pentecost, there were surprises; the rush of a violent wind and tongues of fire.” It made me think about no matter how much planning we do (and we should plan), when we are truly the Church we must always be attentive to the Spirit’s leading. Sometimes that leading will be unexpected and even surprising.

When Jesus was teaching Nicodemus, he said in part: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NIV 2011). What unexpected ways might the Spirit move us as we are aware of and attentive to his movements? Part of the excitement about the Christian life is the way that we are often called into experiences that are new and perhaps a bit uncomfortable sometimes. As we pray for God’s guidance in his Church at North Danvers, may we be always open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Next week we will be back to a normal schedule after having a guest speaker last Sunday and the community service yesterday. Remember that beginning Sunday, June 5th we’ll be resuming our summer schedule of meeting for worship at 9am and with Sunday School taking a hiatus for the summer months.

God bless, Brian