Pentecost, Prayer, and the Mission Before Us

Hello Apostles Church,

As we reflected upon the Ascension of our Lord, we were reminded that Jesus Christ is not absent from His Church, but enthroned over it. The Ascension is the continuation of Christ’s reign and the beginning of the Church’s mission into the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are a people called first and foremost to develop and express a deep love "worship" of God and to give Him highest praise.  Before Pentecost, the disciples gathered together in prayer, learning to trust not in themselves, but in the promise of God and His Sprit who would guide, strengthen, and send them forward.

As Church of the Apostles continues moving through the application process toward Mission Status, this season calls us not merely toward organizational growth, but toward spiritual openness, humility, and renewed vision for the sake of the Gospel. Pentecost reminds us that the Church was never meant to exist only for its own preservation, preference, or comfort, but to bear witness to Jesus Christ for the life of the world. We will continue growing ministries, strengthening relationships, and building carefully upon the foundation of Christ together. And doing this we are asking the Holy Spirit to shape us into a church increasingly focused outward in love . . . that is mission!

This coming Pentecost, we look forward to celebrating together with a special coffee hour themed around the imagery of fire and the Holy Spirit. We invite everyone to wear red and, if able, bring a red-themed food or treat to share as we celebrate the Spirit poured out upon the Church. As we prepare for Pentecost, let us pray that the fire of the Holy Spirit would renew our hearts and burn away whatever does not carry the Gospel or the mission of the Church forward, and replace those things with humility, courage, wisdom, and genuine hope for what God can do.  

“All of these were constantly in prayer together.” Throughout this week leading to Pentecost, let us join together each morning at 9:00 AM in prayer wherever we may be, asking the Holy Spirit to fall afresh upon our congregation, our leadership, and our diocese. Let us pray together, specifically, for renewed clarity in mission, deeper unity in Christ, openness to the movement of the Spirit, and the grace to become not merely a gathered fellowship, but a faithful Gospel communitysent into the world for the sake of others in the name of Jesus Christ.  

I love you.  I am praying for you.  

Faithfully 

Fr Bill