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Sometimes we say things that really don’t make any sense. For instance, “I will be with you in spirit.” What exactly do we mean by this? Certainly we do not have the ability to be in multiple places at once. We cannot send our spirit to be somewhere else while we remain. So what do we mean? Well, often we just want to let the person know we are sorry we cannot be with them and will be thinking about them, or praying for them.
When Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure he doesn’t just tell them, “I will be with you in spirit.” Instead, he promises to give them his Spirit. Jesus promises to share that same power that is at work in him with his followers! He isn’t abandoning them, he is doing something even greater than they could imagine. He isn’t just thinking of them, he will be with them, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
When it comes to the Holy Spirit in the Apostles Creed we only have one line:
I believe in the Holy Spirit….
Okay, that is a little disappointing! But for centuries the church has struggled to fully understand the Holy Spirit’s continued work. For instance, are we supposed to be filled with the Holy Spirit or baptized with the Spirit? Are we supposed to speak in tongues as a sign we have the Spirit’s power in us or is our transformation evidence enough? How about Spiritual Gifts? Are all of these gifts still active today or were some only meant for a season? There are so many questions and different nuances that I sometimes joke that maybe the early church leaders decided to table the discussion for later and never resolved anything more than, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”
Our confession is more than a statement of faith. When we profess this part of the creed we aren’t just stating we believe the Holy Spirit exists, we are opening ourselves up to the Spirit’s work in our life. We recognize that when Jesus gives the gift of his Spirit to the believers, we too have been given that same life transforming power. And though you may have never fallen to the ground in convulsions, or started speaking another language, chances are you have felt that conviction in your heart over sin, or felt prompted to do something good for someone in need. The Holy Spirit continues to work in big and small ways in our lives directing our hearts back to God. So keep listening to the Spirit’s tug on your heart, and know, Jesus isn’t just thinking of you, he is with you, working in your heart today.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Gordon
PS. Don't forget to join us for worship: Register for worship here!
We believe in our Kids!
We are looking for a few folks who are willing to invest in the next generation. Kids Own Worship (KOW) will be resuming this September. We could use people who would be willing to hang out with K-4th grade students once a month or once in every 2 months. Talk to Pastor Melissa if you are interested!!!!
We are also looking forward to resuming our Wednesday Night Children's program with a six week session this fall, and a six week session this winter. Whether you are interested in helping every week or a few, talk to Pastor Gordon.
Hospitality
At Crossroads we love being a community! You are invited to hang out with friends and church ‘family’ while enjoying snacks and coffee. If you are interested in learning more about how to help with hospitality, contact Pastor Melissa
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