A Weekend for Red

 

This a weekend for wearing red.

Red for memorial day, when many pin red poppies to the clothes in memory of soldiers who have died, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Field"

Red for Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples, and rested on them as tongues of fire.  Inspired, the disciples preached Christ crucified and risen and gave birth to the church.

A reflection on how these two holidays - both of which proclaim the importance of sacrifice, the abundance of God's mercy and our longing for peace - are more related than we first might imagine.

In Flanders Fields is a drawing by Mary Evans

Hands that Bless and Bear Witness

"You shall be my witnesses"  Jesus - book of Acts

Witnessing to Jesus sounds good, at least at first.  But many of us have bad experiences with people who do witness either in our lives and on our screens.

Yet we are not given permission to abandon this task of witnessing to Jesus.  What might this look like?  Pastor Rob focuses on the hands that Jesus raises to bless his disciples at his ascension.  These hands of blessing bear witness to the cross but also the ultimate reign of God.

I zoo, and therefore you will too"

"I zoo, and therefore you will too"  Jesus, Gospel of John (14:19)

When Jesus tells his disciples they will "live" the word in Greek is "zoo."  A reminder that our life in Jesus is wild!

Pastor Rob reflects on the wild and crazy life that Jesus brings us, a life that we don't dictate or control!

This wild life does have a shape though, a shape found in the command to love, the community of faith and person of Jesus.