Christ Memorial was a church plant of Salem Lutheran in Affton in 1948. Our history is God “sowing seeds” and “bearing fruit.” What will he grow in the next 75 years? Martin Luther once said, “Even if I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant my apple tree today.” We continue to plant seeds for coming generations of gospel multiplication. More people loved in Christ, more people sent into the world.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matt. 5:7) You are the great Giver of mercy. Move me to show your mercy. Amen.
Word: Galatians 5:22-23
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8a) … “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
Meditation
Receiving Power by Megan Roegner
Even though I love to read as an adult, I don’t think I’ll ever recapture the magic of reading in late childhood and adolescence. In those days I was consumed with fantasy novels, stories in which the young, seemingly prosaic protagonist discovers they have a hidden power and an essential role to play in the battle of good versus evil.
As an English teacher, I talk about how the hero’s journey archetype symbolizes the path all humans take as they attempt the process of self-actualization. For an adolescent protagonist, this archetype is especially meaningful because it mirrors the process of maturity.
Which is cool and all, but I really wanted to wake up with a magical power when I was 11. Alas, 30 years later, I’m still just ordinary old me.
Before ascending to heaven, Jesus tells his disciples that they will “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” This happened on Pentecost in a dramatic fashion: As tongues of flame appeared over their heads, they could miraculously understand the myriad languages of the people who had gathered before them.
As Lutheran Christians we believe the Holy Spirit is still with us, turning our hearts toward Jesus, bringing us together in the Church, and sanctifying us in Baptism. Yet, while we confess this belief in the Spirit’s activity and presence, I would guess that many of us have not often felt or seen the Holy Spirit working in tangible displays of power. We have not spoken or interpreted tongues. We have not miraculously healed or been healed. In fact, I would imagine that many of us feel skeptical about those who do believe they have experienced these events.
When grappling with what it means to experience the power of the Holy Spirit as just an ordinary person, I turned to the fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
I may not have discovered an ability to travel through time like Will Stanton in The Dark is Rising or to communicate telepathically with dolphins like Vicky Austin in A Ring of Endless Light, but I do demonstrate, fleetingly at times, the fruit of the Spirit. And, having been on the receiving end of this fruit from many people in my life, one might argue that these gifts are even more urgent, necessary, and powerful than time travel or dolphin telepathy. Thankfully, they are much less rare as well.
Ultimately, the way that the power of the Holy Spirit manifests itself for the majority of our lives is just another reminder of how Jesus’s kingdom is so different from our worldly understanding of how power works. We have no need to dominate, no need for supernatural abilities. The battle has already been won.
Holy Spirit, thank you for your gifts, even when they are hard to comprehend. Keep us turned toward Jesus and in loving community with one another. Let us both display and receive your fruit with thanks and gratitude. Amen.
Prayer for Neighbors
· For my immediate geographical neighbors.
· For my community, neighborhood, town/city.
· For neighbors hurting from broken families, addiction, violence, abuse, poverty, sickness.
· For the eyes of the Good Samaritan, to see and help my neighbor in need.
Closing Prayer
O God of mercy, teach me to be merciful. O Humble Lord, show me the way of humility. You are the exalted King over all things. I worship you alone. Amen.