When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4, NIV)
When Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised his followers that they would not be left alone. He promised a comforter and a helper for them - the Holy Spirit.
The arrival of the promised Holy Spirit on the first 120 or so Christians was a spectacular moment. There was a noise like a violent wind and something that looked like fire. Being filled with the Holy Spirit wasn’t just an internal, personal moment, but one that caused them to speak in other languages.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we recall the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the first believers and see what the Holy Spirit means for us as well.
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’ (Acts 1:21-22, NIV)
Christians have good news - the best news. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension are to be shared with the whole world. When the apostles met together after Judas’ death, they carefully chose someone who had also been a witness to the whole of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The more we know and understand the good news that we have, the more we will want to share it with others.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we see that because Jesus is alive, we have good news to share.
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:46b-48a, NIV)
Last week, we saw Philip meet the ultimate outsider. He told the man about Jesus, the man believed and was baptised. This week could look like more of the same: Peter goes to ‘outsiders’ and they believe and are baptised. Why do we need to see that same thing again? Perhaps because it’s easy to lose sight of how no-one needs to be excluded from God. No-one is too far from God; no-one is so different from us that we can think that Jesus is not for them. Everyone can receive the Holy Spirit because they believe.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we see again how the resurrection of Jesus means that outsiders can become insiders.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:36, NIV)
If you feel like an outsider, or have ever felt like an outsider, you’re not alone.
As we’ll see on Sunday morning, the eunuch was the ultimate outsider. At the time, the Jews divided up the world into two groups: Jews and non-Jews. The eunuch didn’t fit into either one! Yet, he was still able, by faith, to become part of God’s family - an outsider became an insider. Because Jesus is alive, outsiders can become insiders - we can be inside God's family.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus means that outsiders can become insiders.
This is the text of the vicar’s report given at the APCM earlier today.
“Don’t be in a rush to return to the church you once were, when God is calling you to be the church you’ve never been before.”
I begin my 2021 report with thanks to all those who have served the church in some way during 2020. I approach this with some nervousness, as I am aware that I could easily miss people out; if I miss you out, many, many apologies.