What is the church and what is it for?
This week we discussed this question with each other; appropriate on this Sunday when we think again about the beginnings of the church; appropriate on this Sunday when we remember the Ascension of Christ and the disciples who were about to see Jesus leave for the second time in a few weeks; the sorrow at his death, the amazement and growing joy at his resurrection and now he was going back to his father in heaven.
This time though it was different, they would not be alone.
Jesus told them
“ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and all over Judaea and Samaria, and away to the ends of the earth.”
They would have Power to fuel the Plan for the future. A plan to start close at home, then further out into the areas around and then on into the whole world.
As hymn 522 in CH4 puts it, ‘The church is wherever God’s people are praising, knowing they’re wanted and loved by their Lord. The church is wherever Christ’s followers are trying to live and to share out the good news of God.’
