West End UMC Podcast Audio Podcast

Turning the World Upside-Down

Turning the World Upside-Down – Today we continue our readings in the Book of Acts with a story of Paul’s early ministry that will lead us to our summer look at Paul’s letters. It was said about the early Christians that “These people are turning the world upside-down!” Carol tells us a bit about the arrival of Paul and Silas in Philippi that was prior to our reading in Acts today, things they did that were turning that world upside-down and resulted in their being beaten and imprisoned. Carol thinks they might actually have wanted to go to prison to be with those who had also been imprisoned without due process. They even have mercy for their jailer, and the whole family of the jailer is saved. Throughout this story there are multiple examples of Paul, Silas, and thus the faith of God turning things upside-down. Living the way of Christ sometimes results in this kind of thing, and Carol gives numerous examples of how following Jesus can effect family or social systems and change them for the good.

Upon Each of Them

Upon Each of Them – Today is Pentecost Sunday, so, appropriately, the scripture reading is the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, when, in a gathering of Jews from many nations on Pentecost, flames and a wind came, and the Holy Spirit filled them all, and they were heard by a variety of people in their own languages. Peter cited a prophecy from Joel to show that this was a predicted end-time for their salvation with the Spirit poured out by God on their souls. In Carol’s years of ministry at our church, she says there have been six different people who have come forward to say they’ve been called to ministry and are going to divinity school, but in fact we are all called to ministry, as indicated by what is always written on the list of staff on the back of our bulletin. The gathering in Acts 2 was of 120 people, well beyond the disciples, including women, and perhaps a number of those whose stories are recorded in the Gospels. While they are gathered, the Holy Spirit comes upon all of them – no one is left out. So they have different stories about their experience with Jesus and God. We all have different stories, and we, as individuals, are needed and are called to be in ministry. We may feel helpless and hopeless in our own lives, but this story reminds us of the strength and call of the Holy Spirit through our baptism. The Holy Spirit filled all of the people in the Acts story, and our life together in the church reflects this.

Conversion Continues

Conversion Continues – We continue reading in the Book of Acts as the early beginnings of Christianity begin spreading. The story we’re reading today is a long one, and we’re only reading part of it. As background, Simon Peter has been preaching, teaching, and healing. Our reading begins with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, praying to God. He is part of Rome’s occupying army, keeping the Jews in line. But an angel appears to Cornelius and tells him to send soldiers to Joppa to find Peter. Peter is having visions of his own, and at some point he answers a knock on his door and encounters soldiers from the centurion who invite him to the centurion’s house for a meal. Peter does go to the house of Cornelius and enters and is invited to speak. When Peter speaks, all in attendance are said to be filled with the Holy Spirit, much as happens on Pentecost. The context of the Holy Spirit filling those Gentiles is a radical change, and Peter understands that change as God creating something new. Carol says this should prompt us to be open to being changed by the Spirit. She cites some historical changes in the history of the Methodist Church that demonstrate radical changes, also prompted by the Spirit.

On the Outward Road

On the Outward Road – Today is communion Sunday, and our senior pastor, Carol Cavin-Dillon, expresses how our communion is an open invitation to everyone, not just to members of our church or our denomination, but to everyone. Today we start working with the book of Acts and its account of the effect of the invitation of Jesus to everyone, not just to Jews and people of Judah and Galilee, as belief and faith spread. Today’s scripture is a story in Acts 8 that concerns Philip, who is not one of the original disciples but who is a Greek speaking convert. In this story, Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading from an Isaiah scroll. As a eunuch, he was likely prevented from being a member of the Temple or even entering the Temple, and here he is heading home, rejected, but reading from Isaiah. Philip is inspired to encounter the Ethiopian and tells the man about Jesus and the open invitation of Jesus. The man asks if he can be baptized, and Philip invites him and baptizes him. This is an early example of God’s expanding table, and it’s an example for our inviting anyone and everyone to the open table of communion and faith. If we, ourselves, ever feel excluded and on the outside, we need to remember the open invitation of God’s grace for joining his kingdom.

Loving Jesus with Our Lives

Loving Jesus with Our Lives – Today is Confirmation Sunday, when youth who have been participating in the Confirmation Class are confirmed as members of the church. As we have been doing for a few weeks, we are following the Fourth Gospel, and our scripture passage for today is the story from John 21 wherein three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. The sermon today is given by the Rev. Maggie Jarrell, our Pastor of Children and Families. This encounter of Peter with Jesus wipes away the three denials of Peter in that earlier scene. This underscores the foundation of love as Jesus. Maggie says this scene reminds her of her life’s reliance on checklists. But following Jesus can’t be reduced to a checklist. God offers love in abundance, and we don’t have to earn God’s grace. The words of Jesus in this scene with Peter open the door for us to love our neighbors with our lives, being open to being moved by the Holy Spirit. Maggie offers some suggestions for how to feed the lambs, but she cautions us not to reduce them to a checklist.