After celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost last week, we return to our journey through the Gospel of Mark in Mark 3:7-19. The Kingdom of God continues to break in through Jesus and His healing, and crowds have begun to follow him. So many people are pressing in on Him that He teaches from a boat near the shore. From the crowd of followers, Jesus chooses 12 of them to fill special roles in the new Kingdom: the Apostles. Among them is the quartet of fisherman He called at the beginning, and the rest seem to be as unremarkable in their background and ability. Over the course of their close walk with Jesus, however, they are made to be better vessels, and once His Spirit is poured out upon them on Pentecost, they are brave, emboldened, articulate, fearless healers and preachers of the Gospel themselves. The ruling authorities even note the apostles’ remarkable abilities, each of them unschooled and humble, and remark that these simple men had spent time with Jesus. We are called to the same journey and are transformed, empowered, healed, and compelled by the same Spirit!

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On Sunday, we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. So much changes in the universe that day, the prophet Joel uses extreme language about shifts in reality that point to God’s presence within and use of all people regardless of gender, race, age, or station. The scriptures use several metaphors in describing the Spirit to help us wrap our minds and hearts around the multiple layers of His presence, power, perspective, and our partnership with Him. He uses us long before we are perfect, and when we look back on our journeys with Him, we can be amazed at all He has done in us and through us!

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In our Mothers' Day worship service, we explore themes from Proverbs 31:25-31 and then hear narratives of Eve, Ruth, and Mary the mother of Jesus through the voices of Oakhaven sisters.

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