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Writer's picturePastor Linda Settles

And Just like THAT!

06/01/22


If you check out the sermons from Easter until now, I’ve been talking about Jesus’ post-resurrection ministry. How He appeared to the disciples and others many times over a 40-day period. How He ate with them, cooked breakfast, and gave them instructions on their “next.” And just like that, as the disciples were looking up to the sky, He left! Jesus ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.


But I’m reminded of an old saying…what goes up must come down!


When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 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


Maybe you’ve had a just like that moment. Just like that you get a call from an old friend who was thinking about you and it warms your heart. Just like that you find out that you’re going to be a grandparent!

And just like that, the disciples have an experience that changed their lives and put them on a trajectory that gave birth to the Church.


This is what we call Pentecost Sunday, the 50th (Pentecost means fiftieth) day after Easter. And it symbolizes the birth of the Church. This scene is the fulfillment of the promise with which Jesus had left them. Wait in Jerusalem, and you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you!


And for once the disciples were united, all together in one place. Impetuous Peter, doubting Thomas, self- aggrandizing sons of Zebedee, all eleven were united. And just like that, what we see is the power of the Spirit coming down on them, emphasis on “power!” And the rest, as they say, is history!


Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost (wear red if you would like) with the sermon: And Just Like That! We’ll talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and what Pentecost means to the Church today. You can worship in-house at 10:00am (masks optional), or you can also join us online. For online worship go to www.umcgt.org.


Newest Member! Welcome to Eric Curry, our resident baritone/ bass singer! Eric joined Green Trails last Sunday and we are thrilled to see our vines grow.


State of the Church will be held in-house on this Sunday, June 5, immediately after worship for about 30 minutes. The board and I will provide an update on our finances, an update on the sexuality discussion in the UMC, and other things that the board is working on.


Trauma Healing. A safe and sacred space to just be. This group is open to all, in-house at 6:30 pm, on Thursdays. I encourage the entire church to come out and let the Lord minister healing to your soul! We have all experienced trauma of some sort in our lives. And God wants to heal you everywhere you hurt. Our book is: Healing Waters and you can pick up a copy in the church office, at no cost. Or you can just come and be.


Breakthrough Prayer will kick off on this Sunday! What is it? It is a prayer movement in which we will elevate prayer in everything that we do - worship, meetings, small groups, children, youth, and adults. There will be a prayer that we will pray together in worship, but also, we encourage you to pray this prayer every day on your own. We will have prayer request cards, moments of spontaneous prayer, whatever the Holy Spirit asks us to do, we will do. Let’s bombard the church, and our lives, with prayer. Remember, the church that prays together, stays together! And if we ever needed prayer, it’s now!


“The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26


Blessings,

Pastor Linda

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