John Kwan - "What's Yours Is Mine"

John 16: 12-15. Last week, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, the beginning of what was to come. In today's text, we witness John's account of how Jesus

set the stage for the work of the Holy Spirit with his disciples after he was to leave.

Jonathan Chute - "All Together Now"

Acts 2: 1-21. It's Pentecost Sunday, often called "the birthday of the Church." Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples,

fifty days after Easter. It was already a day of celebration for the Jewish community, and Jews from around the Mediterranean were there for

the festivities. Many languages were present, and as the Spirit came to the disciples, they were suddenly able to speak the languages of those

around them.

Jonathan Chute - "Hurry Up and Wait"

Acts 1: 1-11. This weeks's scripture tells the story of Jesus' departure from his disciples, some forty days after Easter. In his final conversation he

tells them to stay in Jerusalem until the coming of God's Spirit. They want to know what will happen and when; instead, they are told to wait.

Jonathan Chute - "Uncharted Waters"

Acts 16: 6-15.

In this week's scripture we follow the Apostle Paul as he travels among the towns and cities of the eastern

Mediterranean. In a dream he sees a vision of a man calling him to Macedonia - a province in modern day Greece. He sets forth

on the first Christian outreach to the continent of Europe and, in the city of Philippi, discovers new possibilities he could never have planned.

Jonathan Chute - "A Place at the Table"

Acts 11: 1-18. In this week's scripture Peter finds himself before the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Over the course of his travels he

has been living and eating with Gentiles. Word has gotten back about this rule-breaking behavior. In his defense he tells them about a

strange dream he had, and how it convinced him that the message of Christ was for all people - not just some.

Jonathan Chute - "Carry Forward"

Acts 9: 36-43. This week we follow Peter as he responds to a call from the community of Joppa when a woman named Tabitha, a leader in the community, dies.

Though the story takes place long after Easter, we see the same spirit of renewal and resurrection at work.

Diane Rehfield - "Pot Luck"

John 21: 1-19. The disciples have experienced the crucifixion of Jesus and his disappearance from the tomb.

They have experienced the presence of Jesus suddenly with them again. But now life must go on in some way.

The disciples will discover that their work and Jesus' mesh well together, and that once

having known him, they can never really return to the way life was before.

Jonathan Chute - "Believing is Seeing"

John 20: 19-31. After the first Easter, the disciples are hiding behind locked doors, huddled in the room where they had last met together. In the midst of

their anxiousness Jesus appears. Given all that they had seen and experienced together, what will it take for the disciples to believe?

Jonathan Chute - "While It Was Still Dark . . ."

John 20: 1-18. Our scripture for Easter morning is the story of Mary Magdalene's discovery of the open tomb.

Later, even when Jesus appears and speaks to her, she does not recognize him. It is only when he calls her by name that she recognizes him.

Jonathan Chute - "The Servant"

Selections from John and Luke. Our scripture includes a number of episodes from the last day of Jesus' life, culminating with his crucifixion, during which he still offers

forgiveness and hope to others.