Dear Caldwell,
Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th-century poet, philsoper and essayist, said: “What lies behind us and ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” (Emphasis mine.) What a great expression of what we have been thinking about as a church family in regard to the “advent of the Holy Spirit” and how the Spirit is both abiding and indwelling.
Since Sunday, I’ve spent time with two people who said they have been thinking a lot about the late poet laureate and noble spirit, Maya Angelou. Neither of these people heard my sermon Sunday about how we can look to Dr. Angelou as an example of one with whom and in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt. Funny how this Spirit thing works, isn’t it?
Surely, as Jesus promised, the Spirit dwelt with us and in us Sunday in worship as we reflected on Jesus’ words to his disciples and, then, heard Ryan Kingston’s powerful testimony about his journey and witness as a gay Christian.
As we travel this week from Sunday to Sunday, we look forward to two chances to worship as we celebrate and remember the arrival of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost Sunday. Caldwell will hold regular worship at 11 and we gather again at 4 p.m. at Caldwell to host members from four other congregations, including La Casita De Amor. This joint out-door service offers the chance for a fresh expression of our Pentecost hope and empowerment. Rev. Dr. Reginald Tuggle, of First United Presbyterian Church, will preach on Acts 1:1-8. The service also includes a special component for children. Other congregations participating are Grier Heights Presbyterian and First Presbyterian.
Then after we worship, we will share dinner and fellowship and the chance to get to know our sisters and brothers in these other congregations, African-American, white and Latino. It’ll be casual and fun.
As we all seek to revive and reinvigorate God’s church, I hope you will come and share both of these opportunities for worship and fellowship.
Don’t forget a new offering tonight at 6 p.m. called “Living the Sermon,” an interactive dialogue about ideas from last Sunday’s sermon, let by Peg Robarchek in the prayer room. The sermon is here.
Look for more news, joys and concerns and information in this Friday’s Caldwell This Week.
In Christ,
John