Receive the Holy Spirit

The Gospel is John 20:19-23

Lay members of our congregation, Linda and Mike Smith, provide the sermon and practice today.

It took awhile for the disciples to understand what they had received. They surely reflected and prayed to come to a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus, not a one time event but an ongoing revelation of the kingdom of God as Love which opened them up and lit them on fire. New opportunities open for growth, and learning to see differently.

Each of us can be filled with Spirit, and more than once in our lives—perhaps during a sunrise, seeing children playing, in the challenge of daily living. Our task is to notice and welcome the Spirit when it comes.

The Body Prayer of Julian of Norwich can be helpful to us in opening to Spirit.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.