Learn, Gather, Pray - August 1

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]; Judges 6:25-40; Acts 2:37-47; John 1:1-18

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Following a remarkable and first Pentecost, Peter began preaching.  We are told that those who welcomed his message were baptized, and they lived out the Christian life in this way. It’s taken me nine years to baptize maybe 100 people or so and Peter had 3000 people baptized in one morning.  I guess I have a few things to learn!

I’m struck by the simplicity found in Acts of the Christian life.  A dedication to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, a commitment to breaking bread, and prayers.  Recently, I was having a conversation about strategic planning with our Senior Warden (Chair of the Board).  We have a pretty informal plan that we like that includes committing to outreach (care for people in need), pastoral care (care for people in our community), formation (Christian learning), and caring for creation (taking care of our home) and these should be encouraged by our worship together.  I like our vision, but Acts breaks it down even further.

In the offices of Saint Stephens, we are doing some cleaning.  We have converted the old choir room in the office suite to be two offices and our staff conference room.  The closets were in desperate need of being cleaned out. Just after starting this reflection on Thursday afternoon, to be finished Monday morning, I unrolled a banner that had this passage of Scripture.  Was this used at Saint Stephen’s at one time as a vision for the Christian life?  (This line is also one of the questions of our Baptismal Covenant).

Maybe it is as simple as the book of Acts – learn, gather, pray.   We shouldn’t diminish the power of our worship, of prayer, and the studying of Scripture. Saint Stephen’s might have a small church feel, one of the benefits of multiple worship services, but we are a corporate church with lots of programs.  It can be challenging sometimes to navigate community, and to figure out just what is necessary for our own growth in our faith and love of God.  Today is a reminder that sometimes the busyness of the programs doesn’t matter.  Just showing up to pray and learn does.  I hope I’ll see you Sunday (the schedule changes to 7:45 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 5:00 p.m.) and I’ll trust that’s enough.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection: If you were to pick a mission statement for the church, what would it be?  Does the Acts vision miss anything you think is necessary?  Did you know the informal vision of Saint Stephen’s before?  Does it make sense to you?

 Daily Challenge: Learn, gather, pray.  Right these three things down on an index card and next to each one, write, how you commit to doing it.  Place the card in your purse or wallet as a reminder.