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“All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” –Acts 1:14

Transition isn’t easy. For years I lived in it- always keeping my things in a different place, ready to move my life out of a dorm room and into another house for the summer. Then back to the dorm room to continue a life in transition. I spent 7 years living like this… and 10 years later, I am incredibly grateful to have purchased a house I can make a home. Yes, I’m still living a bit in transition as I stare at the piles of boxes in my garage, trying to figure out how to unpack those that have   become foundational to the entire packed box structure…knowing the only way   I’ll get to them is to unpack the others, even though I have no idea where to puttheir contents.

Well, we’ve hit a transition again here at FUPC, and sometimes it feels like it’s just like Acts. We’re losing someone dearly loved by this whole community, and are figuring out the next stages of our programs- what’s the future of our ministries? Where do we belong?

So, once again, let’s look at Acts. The entire book is about the biggest transition ever- the beginning of the church. How would the disciples move on with Jesus gone? Who was the message for if most of their fellow Jews were rejecting the Word, even forcing them out of Jerusalem, where Jesus had told them to start out preaching? How would they move to the ends of the earth? How could the message possibly spread that far?

I don’t know that these thoughts went through the apostles’ heads, especially after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. But they absolutely had some major adjustments to make; many followers were scattered by Saul’s persecution. The apostles had to face Saul as he changed into Paul, the man Christ was calling to spread the Gospel far and wide, a terrifying thought since his persecutions were still fresh in their minds. There were disagreements, and struggles, and martyrdoms. Disciples devoted themselves to prayer. They proclaimed the gospel. And in so many verses, we also hear about the church growing (Acts 2:41, 2:47, 5:14, 9:31).

In the Book of Acts, Luke shows us, again and again, how God is at work. I’ve been preaching about that presence and work a lot and, honestly, it seems like an act of God that we are going through this particular book as we face our own time of transition. So as we search, as we consider and take our next steps, I have a few requests: be in prayer, listening for how God might be leading us. Pray for us, as leaders-for the Spirit of wisdom and discernment. Listen and consider how God might work through you and others in this time of transition. For God is at work, here and now.

                                     Blessings and Peace,

                                     ~Pastor Annie





Pastor Annie McMillan