Happy Mother’s Day. Or more appropriately, Happy Mothering Day/Happy Women’s Day, or whatever we call the group we honor today. Ironically, we continue our journey in spring and the path we are traversing in 2022 yet the conditions in our area are more akin to late winter – drizzly and chilly – but I’m not specifically complaining. The beauty of God’s creation is being watered and nurtured by the “off” conditions. PSA – if you know anyone in the Suffolk area who is able to donate blood, we are hosting a blood drive on May 19. Regardless, we offer prayers for all as we continue our journey in Eastertide.

Our worship begins with the proclamation that God calls each individual personally. Our job as Christians is to respond to God’s call because we are the only ones that can answer our call. Our Psalmist sang the song in the 23rd Psalm that God is the one who leads us and gives us rest and support in our earthly struggles. The Revelation to John at Patmos recounts a vision of the gathered believers in heaven. John reminds us that the ones who have been responsive to God’s call and their relationship with God. The gospel from John is a story of the leaders asking Jesus, rather directly, to say whether he is the Messiah or not. Jesus tells them that they already have enough information to know, except that they don’t trust that Jesus is the Messiah.

Today’s sermon was based on the reading from the Acts of the Apostles where Peter raises Tabitha after she dies. Peter is called by God to be God’s witness. Peter is called by Tabitha’s friends to come and help. The people who hear of Peter’s action and faith have caused people to believe. Our job is to respond to the call we hear from God and are supported to by our community to act as God’s witnesses. Our response is ongoing to God’s personal call.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30

Video of Worship: https://youtu.be/8dJdmDYnWTw

Video of Sermon: https://youtu.be/7Aby_lmN42Y

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