Monday, May 29, 2006

The Spirit Hovers: June 1, 2006

hope all enjoyed a memorable memorial day. brent is on for this coming thursday -- hooray! -- and we have the chance for our very own pre-pentecost celebration. the text is below (the long version); i imagine brent will choose a shorter chunk to work with for thursday, but our music sisters can probably go ahead and get cracking.

FOR ALL: please plan to stay after our gathering to check in regarding: 1) retreat, 2) the following three gatherings [who will lead? music? themes?], as both rosanne and i will miss one or both of the following two gatherings. we'll hopefully leave church by 8:30 p.m., as we did last week, and get to fajitas and ritas, where we can convene until 9:45 p.m. it's late, but it'll be time well spent. if we can do some online beforehand, even better!

now, for the text: John 15:26 - 16:15
26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

16 1I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. 3And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me.4But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

12I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

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