Call to worship:
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.Psalm 142:5-7
Gathering Video
Questions for reflection:
Why do we tend to long for the destination and resist the journey?
What do you tend to do in the waiting? What are the distinctions between consuming and communing?
What patterns does the first chapter of Acts show us about prayer?
How do our ancient siblings deal with scandal?
Corporate Prayer:
Our Father in Heaven,
We thank you for your story that centers on Your Son. Would You empower us by Your Spirit to live as witnesses to Your kingdom in every sphere of life. May we trust and serve you as we look to show your love this week.
In the name of Christ we pray, amen.If you are able to support the church financially, we invite you to give securely by clicking the button below:
Notes//Quotes//Slides:
Acts 1:12-26 - Scott Reading
Title: The Space Between
“To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
- Karl Barth
“One reason why the experiential reality of perceiving God is unfamiliar country today is that the pace and preoccupations of urbanized, mechanized, collectivized, secularized modern life are such that any sort of inner life... is very hard to maintain. To make prayer your life priority, as countless Christians of former days did outside as well as inside the monastery, is stupendously difficult in a world that runs you off your feet and will not let you slow down. And if you attempt it, you will certainly seem eccentric to your peers, for nowadays involvement in a stream of programmed activities is decidedly ‘in,’ and the older ideal of a quiet, contemplative life is just as decidedly ‘out.’ That there is widespread hunger today for more intimacy, warmth, and affection in our fellowship with God is clear... but the concept of Christian life as sanctified rush and bustle still dominates, and as a result the experiential side of Christian holiness remains very much a closed book.”
- J.I. Packer
“There are no more lots after the coming of the Holy Spirit. It’s a shame isn’t it? I mean life would be a lot easier if we just had to draw lots to know God’s will, but evidently that’s not how he wants it. The Spirit is who is in our hearts helps makes these things clear. One of my favorite prayers is, God will you make it so clear that there’s no choice? I hate choice. Of the eighteen possible variations, just make seventeen go away will you, because I’m not real bright and I don’t always get these things. I’m still hoping for casting lots to come back into use, but I’m not going to hold my breath.”
- William Mounce
“As much as modern Christians love to talk about successes, sometimes the failures of the church need airing.”
- Holman Commentary
{Verse 1}
Free fall, feet off the ground
A clean, white page, fresh snow, no sound
Here as we wait, from dark to dawn
New paths before us, the old is gone
{Chorus 1}
Unplug the lights, take down the tree
The less we have, the less we need
From Christmas night to New Year's Eve
We bless the space that’s in between
We bless the space that’s in between
{Verse 2}
December ends, make way for dreams
Wait for the light to raise the spring
Embrace it all from hope to doubt
Like ocean waves washin' in and out
{Chorus 2}
Two roads apart, come close again
Where do you stop? Where do I begin?
Each year we learn more what it means
We bless the space that’s in between
We bless the space that’s in between
{Bridge}
We bless the seeds under the snow
We bless the patience take it slow
We bless the limits, bless the tears
We bless the failures that brought us here
{Verse 3}
I wipe the frost the glass is cold
Our dreams beneath the falling snow
Be Thou my vision until I see
And bless the space that’s in between
- Sandra McCracken & Josh Garrels
O Almighty God, you pour out your spirit of grace and of supplication on all who desire it. Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from cold hearts and wandering minds, that with steady thoughts and kindled passion we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-adapted from the Book of Common Prayer