7th Sunday of Easter, Year A

    At Peace in God's Embrace

All who seek to follow Jesus will find safety – protected from evil by God's own hand.

This week's lectionary Bible passages:

Acts 1: 6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4: 12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

“A God who protects and defends, one that gives strength and joy, is a God worthy of praise."

Valerie Bridgeman Davis

“In Luke’s account of the Ascension, Jesus lifts his hands in blessing as he is taken from them.  Not only are we protected by God's hand, but we are called to lift our hands in blessing.  This is important for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as we seek the blessing of our relationships and our callings by the church."

Mona West

"The Kin-dom of God means that all the beautiful diversity God created is fully valued. How exciting it is for the church to live into this realm especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

Linda Thomas

"We know no bounds for the love of God.  And it is our calling, to the best of our ability, to imitate God's love." 

Norman Kansfield

    What's Out in the Conversation
    A conversation about this week's lectionary Bible passages

In Acts 1:6-14, the author of the books of Luke and Acts wants us to understand that for 40 days following Jesus' resurrection, Jesus presented himself alive and spoke of the "Kingdom” – the commonwealth of God.  It is hardly surprising that "when they had come together" (verse 6) the apostles asked Jesus if the moment had arrived for Jesus to "restore the kingdom to Israel." Jesus responded, "Don't worry about that!  That's in God's hands.  But you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (verse 8).  So seize your power and change the way things are now!  LGBT Christians and our allies are empowered, not to reconstitute the power of the old realm, but to share power and use power to establish Jesus' realm. We are called to join God in God’s commonwealth on this ordinary earth in this present moment.

	When you think about your faith, is it oriented toward now and life on this earth or after death and a world to come?  What difference does that orientation make in how you live your faith?

In Psalm 68:1-10, God is described as "father" to those who have no parents – to those who have no legal standing, no source of protection, no one to care for them.  God gives the desolate a place to live, and leads prisoners from incarceration to prosperity.  In this era when more than one out of every hundred citizens of the United States is in prison, these are important words about our calling.  God shares the power to care for those totally without power including LGBT persons and their allies.  We are empowered to undertake acts of justice for all people.

	If you truly believe God acts as "father" to orphans and "protector" to widows; provides a home for the desolate, as well as frees those who are in prison, what difference does it make in how you live?

LGBT people of faith in Jesus often find their faith counted as nothing by others who follow Jesus.  In 1 Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, Peter reminds us that we are blessed to share in Christ's suffering so that God may supply us with strength and glory.  Even when others of faith discount our own faith, we may cast all our anxieties on God, because God cares for us!

	Many LGBT people know what it feels like to be "reviled for the name of Christ " ( 1 Peter 1:14).  What good news, comfort or challenge do we hear from Peter?

The sixteenth chapter of the gospel of John concludes with Jesus saying:  "I have said this to you, so that you may have peace.  In the world you face persecution.  But take courage:  I have conquered the world!" (verse 33).  Then in John 17:1-11, Jesus prayed the prayer that forms all of chapter 17 – a prayer for those committed to following Jesus.  LGBT people, as well as all others who believe in Jesus, are in Christ Jesus made one with God and receive power and eternal life through Jesus.  Jesus prays, on our behalf, that we be made one in the same way that God and he experienced oneness.  This is a oneness of purpose, a desire for the welfare of each other.  This is a powerful, powerful love.  This is possible, because Jesus has conquered the world!

	In what ways does the inclusion of LGBT people of faith in the “oneness in Christ” challenge the church?