Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, oil, baking powder, salt, egg, and 1 1/2 cups flour. Mix in enough flour to make dough easy to handle. Knead in remaining flour. Let rise until double. About 1 1/2 hr.
Heat 1/2 cup brown sugan and margarine until melted. Remove from heat.
Stir in corn syrup.
Spread in 9×13 pan.
Punch dough down, roll into rectangle (12×10″)
Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar and cinnamon.
Roll up, pinch edge, cut into 12 1″ slices. Lay in pan.
Wrap pan tightly with heavy foil.
Refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 48. (to bake immediately, do not wrap)
When you read Scripture are you reading for information or transformation?
The practice of Lectio Divina is rooted in the belief that through the presence of the Holy Spirit the Scriptures are alive, active, and God brief (Hebrews 4:12).
The four movements of Lectio Divina:
READ (lectio) listen for the word or phrase that stands out from all the rest. This is the word or phrase that is addressed to you.
READ (meditatio): What is it in my life that needed to hear this word today? How is my life touched by this word today?
RESPOND (oratio): is there an invitation or challenge for us to respond to? What is my response to God based on what I have read and encountered?
REST (comtemplatio): simply rest in the word of God.
Reflect
How was the lectio process the same and/or different from the way you normally read Scripture??
What move(s) in the lectio divina was most helpful or meaningful? Which move was most challenging?
What was God’s invitation to you through this reading? How might you practice the final move of lectio divina, the resolve to live out the word that has been given to you?
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Are We There Yet? 1 – Together Acts 2:42-47 April 26, 2020
Growing up, one of my favourite things to do was to go on road trips with my family. There was something exciting about hoping into the backseat of our 1981 Buick Century, and later on our Caravan to go on a family vacation that was exciting. It usually meant camping along the way to go see relatives in another province. It meant seeing new sights along the way, stopping to do fun things as a family as we travelled, and being out on the open road.
I still love road trips. I still love to get the family in the car and go new places. For me, there is something therapeutic and relaxing about being on the open road. My boys, not so much. There is one phrase that every parent has heard when driving anywhere longer than across town that induces complete frustration: “Are we there yet?” And the more that question is asked, the more likely fighting ensues in the backseat. Reason – because they are bored of the journey. They are excited and just want to get to the end destination.
I can’t help but think we are a bit like kids on a road trip (minus the fighting I hope!). Life feels a bit like a road trip right now in that COVID has come in and nicely taken us from our normal routines and life and placed us inside quarantine which feels like being locked up in a car on a long road trip. We know that eventually COVID will end, but our destination may in many ways look different than where we started. The fear of the unknown has passed, but now we are bored, anxious, stressed, tired, and the longer this carries on the more we want to say “Are we there yet?”
As a church we are likely feeling the same thing. We are not meeting together in person. We are now meeting on Zoom, which prior to this many of us hadn’t heard of. Many of us have signed up for Facebook, and you are watching me live this morning from your home. Some of you are watching through our website now, or will later today. Some of you will be watching this on Saturday evening on the community tv station. Some of you are not even able to watch this, and are resorting to reading the transcript later by email or snail mail. We are making a lot more phone calls, and doing whatever we can to stay connected. And yet, as word starts trickling down from our governments about a gradual reopening of our province and country, we look forward to us being able to do some of the things we did as a church. Yet in the back of our minds, we know that being the church may not quite function the same as it did before. And in this in between time, we find ourselves asking (maybe in frustration, tiredness, and stress) “Are we there yet?”
While this morning, I do not profess to know any of the answers of what the future may look like for us, I do know first of all that we have a God who knows all things and is bigger than our unknowns. We need to go to Him in prayer, trust Him, and follow Him as we walk into uncharted, post pandemic territory. Second, regardless of what life will look like a month from now, even though we wonder in confusion if “we are there yet”, even though this is an all new road for us to drive down, some things stay the same. Our identity, purpose, and calling as the church has not changed. And as we look down the road to our destination, or new normal, our existing purpose, vision, identity, and calling becomes that much stronger.
In January, we unfolded a vision for HMC that I think is even more relevant and important today than it was in January. We want to be, as HMC, Generations Following Jesus Together. I think the vision statement is pretty self explanatory, so I wont spend a lot of time defining it.
How we get there is where we need more help. We have four core values, or mission words that are steps in helping us be Generations Following Jesus Together. They are “Gather, Grow, Give, and Go.” I want to practically unpack those words with you over the next several weeks. In order to do that, let’s look at Acts 2:42-47
As you are turning to Acts 2, I give you this thought: the people of God have always been heading into unknown territory. They have always been wondering “Are we there yet?” We have seen it in the Exodus narrative that we have been looking at with Amos. We see it in the New Testament as the church is birthed. We see it since then all through history, and we see it now. Yet remember this, God is unchanging, and He will bring us to our destination.
Acts 2:42-47
The church does not yet officially exist – it is still too new. Right now it is just the informal gathering of those who considered themselves followers of Jesus, and they are likely trying to figure out where they are going. Life isn’t what it was; it has changed for them. Yet they also have no idea what is in store for them either – if it were today, they would find themselves saying “ARE WE THERE YET?”. A lot has been going on culturally and religiously in that context that turned their lives upside down. In the last couple months, Jesus has been killed and has come back to life again. He then spent 40 days appearing to many and getting His disciples ready to carry on His work here on Earth. He then goes up to Heaven. Ten days later, as His followers were gathered together, God sends His Holy Spirit down to them, they are filled by this Spirit in a way they have never before experienced, they begin to speak in languages they did not personally speak, the message of Jesus went out, and a new movement was born that was drawing in many (thousands) of new followers.
Like us, they were in new and uncharted territory. Yet there were some values that came out of this new community that was changing culture, changing the religious scene, and changing lives that have carried on through the ages and God wants to be a part of our church today.
These verses give quite a list of what the first followers were doing. We need to remember that these verses are less about being specifically prescriptive (as we are sometimes tempted to take them as a method for instant church growth), and more about being descriptive of what was happening. That being said, there are some principles here that I think we need to pay attention to; some foundational principles that the church (in general) often forgets, but needs to embrace more so, especially in these times. As we look ahead, these things will help us make it through this time of transition and will help us be stronger as we arrive.
We need to GATHER; we need each other! Practical faith happens in community.
As we look at this list of practical things that the followers were doing, I want you to notice something specific that comes out through this whole passage: practical faith happens in community. Community was natural and foundational to practical faith in Jesus being lived out. As we look at the example of the early followers, we see that faith is a community affair that finds its expression as people of faith come together and practically live it out. We see three different examples in this passage that stress the natural value of “community togetherness” as the early followers practically lived out their faith in Jesus.
Vs 42 – Fellowship: Koinonia This is the idea of a community built around a joint share or participation in a cause, where there is intimacy, mutual contribution, and association. As the believers got together, and practically lived out the teachings of Jesus, there was a sense of identity, community, association, and participation together that was natural and engrained into those teachings, that was foundational to those teachings.
Vs 44 – They were together, and shared what they had – The believers chose to be together physically, and share with each other everything they had with those who had need (which was a teaching of Jesus – but more on that in weeks to come). While this is not a command for us to embrace communism, there is a value here we can’t ignore. Following Jesus, when lived out in community, allows us to share life and what we have with each other, it allows us to love each other the way Jesus commands.
Vs 46 – ‘together’ – Of one accord, passion, mind, heart– What united the believers wasn’t a Costco or fitness club membership. It wasn’t an all access pass to the local country club. It was a deep, life changing, heart altering, direction changing set of beliefs in and obedience to the person of Jesus Christ. As they lived out the teachings of Christ, grew closer to Him, and devoted themselves to all the things listed in verse 42 (the apostles teachings, fellowship, sharing meals, remembering communion, and prayer), they did so together, united together because of Jesus. It was in the setting of community that their public faith practically happened.
Does the Bible back this up elsewhere?
1) The Old Testament law expected it: Lev 19:18 – Contained in the Mosaic Law that the Israelites followed, passed down from God, through Moses. What does it say? Don’t bear a grudge or live in bitterness against your neighbour but love them. Practice community with your neighbour. It is expected as a natural part of your faith.
2) Jesus endorsed it: Matt 22:37-39 – When asked by an expert in the law which was the most important command in the OT Mosaic Law, Jesus summed them all up in two ideas: community with God, and community with others. Love God, love your neighbour. Community is expected as a natural part of your public faith expression.
3) We need it to reach our God-given potential: Heb 10:24-25 – The early followers, the early church wasn’t to stop meeting together. It wasn’t so that they could get people to give to an offering to pay the bills. It wasn’t so that they could compete with the other churches for the amount of people they had. It wasn’t to create a social convention or club. It was because it was understood that as we live out our faith publicly and practically, it is hard. There are days where we will want to throw in the towel and quit. We need the support of a community to encourage us on as we live out our faith, and follow Jesus in love and good deeds. Community is expected as a natural foundation of your public faith expression.
SO WHAT?
We feel like we are on a journey. We feel like we have been ripped out from all that was safe, and all that we knew, and now we are on this journey to ‘who knows where’. It is stressful, it is confusing, it is uncertain, we feel anxiety, and we want to know “are we there yet?”
First of all, find comfort! Psalm 46 says “Be still, and in that quietness from all the calamity around, you will find out who God is.” Psalm 23 (which Matt read this morning) reminds us that we have a Good Shepherd who is guiding our journey and will take care of us.
Second, isolation reminds us of who we were meant to be, and how we were meant to function as the church. It reminds us of our identity. If isolation has done one thing for us, it has reminded us that we need community, we need each other, we need to GATHER. That reality doesn’t take a break because of COVID; it just looks different.
If we want to live out our faith publicly (which is a major part of it) in the way that Jesus taught, the way that brings hope and life change to others, the way that delivers joy and comfort in times of stress and fear, we need each other. The public expression of our faith in Jesus does not have a solitary option. Jesus, through his life, death, and life again, has invited each of us to be a part of His body, all united together, and functioning as one. For us to be who He has made us to be, we need to be there for each other, we need to encourage each other, we need to be involved in the lives of each other. We need our family, our community. We don’t work right otherwise. We need to GATHER; we need each other! Practical faith happens in community.
So the challenge to you is invest in others. Be involved in our Zoom Rooms where we share life, we share our needs, we encourage each other, we pray for each other. Call someone up on the phone this week who you need to encourage or reach out to. Maybe even (all be it virtually), find someone this week that you can mentor and shape, and they can mentor and shape you. Maybe you can do a Bible study with someone these next several weeks. If you need more help with that, talk to Pastor Kristina.
Find strength, purpose, and identity in community. Maybe have a virtual coffee over skype or Facetime with people from the church you haven’t seen before. Maybe today, after this service, download the family curriculum that Pastor Amos has made and as a family practice community together as you grow in your faith together (and pastor your homes). Maybe this week, as your individual household family, find another family that you don’t know as well but you can ‘adopt’ – you can get to know them more, talk to them, pray with them and for them, share life. Here is the encouragement: a pandemic with isolation measures that could threaten to tear apart a community because we can’t physically gather could actually be an amazing opportunity to build deeper relationships, and maybe with someone you do not know.
Maybe today as you listen to me, you feel lost, on a journey with no idea where you are going, but you also feel very alone. You hear me talking about being the community, being the family, and us needing each other because that is how Jesus designed the church to function. You want to be a part of something like that, but you don’t know Jesus, and you don’t know how to be a part of a community like this.
Jesus invites you today to find Him, to open your life to Him, to let Him in. Jesus invites you today to let Him transform your life and give you a new hope, purpose, identity, and a sense of belonging. And in so doing, Jesus invites you to be a part of His body, His family, and find community with Him and us. And if this is something you want to know more about, please send me (or any of our pastors a message) on facebook, find us on our website and send us an email, reach out. We would love to tell you more.
Remember, that even in the times of uncertainty where everything looks different, our purpose and identity does not change because Jesus, who our foundation is built upon as His community, His body, His family, does not change.
1 ¼ cups / 300 ml warm water (you may need ± ¼ cup /60 ml more)
3 ½ cups / 500 g bread flour or high gluten flour (will need extra for kneading)
1 ½ teaspoons salt
Optional Toppings: Caraway seeds, cinnamon sugar, coarse salt, minced fresh garlic, minced fresh onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or a mix of your favorite flavors.
Instructions
1. In ½ cup /120ml of the warm water, pour in the sugar and yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit for five minutes, and then stir the yeast and sugar mixture, until it all dissolves in the water
2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture.
3. Pour 1/3 cup / 90ml of the remaining warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed. Depending on where you live, you may need to add anywhere from a couple tablespoons to about ¼ cup/60ml of water. You want a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.
4. On a floured countertop, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to form a firm and stiff dough.
5. Lightly brush a large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let it rest for another 10 minutes.
6. Carefully divide the dough into 8 pieces (I used a scale to be extra precise, but it’s not necessary). Shape each piece into a round. Now, take a dough ball, and press it gently against the countertop (or whatever work surface you’re using) moving your hand and the ball in a circular motion pulling the dough into itself while reducing the pressure on top of the dough slightly until a perfect dough ball forms (as pictured below). Repeat with 7 other dough rounds.
7. Coat a finger in flour, and gently press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about ⅓ the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Repeat the same step with the remaining dough.
8. After shaping the dough rounds and placing them on the cookie sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425ºF / 220ºC / Gas Mark 7.
9. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat. Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to lower the bagels into the water. Boil as many as you are comfortable with boiling. Once the bagels are in, it shouldn’t take too long for them to float to the top (a couple seconds). Let them sit there for 1 minute, and them flip them over to boil for another minute. Extend the boiling times to 2 minutes each, if you’d prefer a chewier bagel (results will give you a more New York Style bagel with this option).
10. If you want to add toppings to your bagels, do so as you take them out of the water, you may use the “optional toppings” (listed below) to top the bagels and if you’re risky like me, make a combination of the toppings to top the bagels with. However, before hand, you will need to use an egg wash to get the toppings to stick before putting the bagels into the oven.
11. Once all the bagels have boiled (and have been topped with your choice of toppings), transfer them to an oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet.
12. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until golden brown (I usually err on the side of 20 minutes).
13. Cool on a wire rack (or if you’re impatient like I am, slice one of these babies open, and spread on some softened butter or your favorite cream cheese.
The birds are back and singing their little hearts out. How about making them a little treat so they’ll want to hang out in your yard. Watching and listening to birds is a great way to spend an afternoon, not to mention that you can learn about different species along the way!
WHAT YOU NEED
pine cones
peanut butter (shortening or suet for households with nut allergies)
birdseed
string
scissors
butter knife or spatula
plates
1. Prepare your pine cones
Go on a walk to find some nice big pine cones. If your pine cones and tightly closed, let them sit out on a counter for a few days so they can “bloom”—or, bake them in a 300° oven for ten minutes to get them to open up.
Tie a string to the tip of the pine cone.
2. Add the peanut butter
Use a butter knife or spatula to cover the pine cone with peanut butter. Be sure to get it in all the cracks! Try to do this over a plate to contain the mess.
IS PEANUT BUTTER SAFE FOR BIRDS TO EAT? Peanut butter is a good high-protein food for birds, and they eat any of the same types humans do. If you’re buying it specifically for birds, look for natural or organic types with the fewest additives. It’s best to avoid low-fat varieties, which may not have as much nutritional value for the birds. (birdsandbloom.com)
3. Roll it in bird seed
Pour some birdseed onto a plate and roll the pine cone in it. The seed will stick to the peanut butter. Once your pine cone is covered, push the birdseed into the peanut butter and roll again. Get as much seed on it as you can.
4. Hang it up
Find branches that you can see from a window in your home and that are high enough off the ground that animals won’t try and steal the bird’s treat.
Enjoy watching the birds!
BONUS CHALLENGE: MAKE A BIRD TREE!
Give the birds a feast by decorating a whole tree for them. There are many treats you can make for them besides the pine cones.
Popcorn strings
Whole apples or apple slices
Peanut butter toast with raisins pressed into the peanut butter. (Try cutting the toast into shapes with cookie cutters before hanging)
JOSHUA 1-2 (Previous bedtime story: Spies in the Land: Take Two!) Characters: YAHWEH, Moses, Joshua, two Spies, Rahab, the King of Jericho
REVIEW the context
After forty years of nomadic living, the generation of Israelites that left Egypt had died. It was again time for Israel to enter Canaan. But it would be different the second time around. Moses would not be with them. In a dramatic and profound handoff, God’s Spirit had been passed from Moses onto Joshua, who wasted no time. He secretly sent two spies to scope out the land and gave orders for the entire nation to prepare. He read the Law of Moses. Joshua was ready. He wasn’t about to miss what God was doing.
REENTER through the 2nd story
a REIMAGINING of Joshua 2:21-3:5
‘Sir. Two men are here to see you. They say it is urgent!’ Joshua lowered a scroll and quill from his hands. He waved to his guard, ‘Yes, yes. Send them in at once!’ The tent flap opened and two men covered in dirt and sweat entered. ‘You made it!’ Joshua said. ‘You spied out Canaan – now tell me what it was like!’ The two men smiled. ‘Commander Joshua, the Promised Land is everything you said it would be!’
Joshua motioned for the men to sit and poured them water to drink. ‘Tell me!’ he said with urgency. ‘Tell me everything you saw. Every detail. I must know.’ Without delay the two spies began to recount their journey into Canaan. They spoke of the lush greenery, palms, and farmland. They spoke of the springs, and freshwater pools that surrounded the city of Jericho. ‘It’s like no other place I’ve seen!’ They recounted the layout of the city, the fortifications, and the walls that surrounded it. ‘The walls are so thick that two chariots can pass on top!’ They remembered their near capture, the friendship with Rahab, their promise to her, and their escape. ‘Canaan is filled with giants and fortified cities,’ the spies said. ‘But the Lord has given us this land. Rahab told us that the entire city has heard of Yahweh. They know how God struck down Egypt. They know we are coming. And they are afraid.’
‘But I sense there is something more you wish to say,’ Joshua said, looking at men intently. ‘Do not be afraid. I know your hearts are pure.’ The spies looked to each other, hesitant to speak. ‘Yes, there is something else.’ They paused. ‘It is the Jordan River. When we first crossed, the waters were quick but passable. On our return they were surging. Powerful. We nearly drowned.’ Joshua leaned back in his chair and chuckled. ‘Ah yes. The springtime runoff! The snow melt has overflowed the banks! No matter. It is not a concern.’ Joshua stood to his feet and moved to a large table that sat in the middle of his tent. It was covered with scrolls and cups and small painted stones that were dotted across a map. ‘Beg your pardon, commander – but how will our women and children and carts cross a raging river?’ Joshua lifted a worn scroll from the pile. ‘You were not there!’ he said. ‘When God parted the Red Sea. Or when he spoke on Mt. Sinia. Or when he first fed us manna and quail in the wild. Put your doubts to rest. Nothing is impossible for God! No river can stop Yahweh. We will take the land.’ Joshua called to his servants to pour two hot baths for the spies for a well-deserved rest. ‘Prepare your strength. In three days you will see the Lord do wonders among us!’
RETHINK in sacred sharing
Spend some time in sacred reflection, conversation, and listening. Use the following questions as a guide.
Q: Have you ever moved to a new place or gone on a big trip? How did you prepare?
Q: KIDS: name two things that Joshua did to prepare the Israelites for their move into Canaan.
Q: Is it possible to ‘ponder the law day and night?’ (Joshua 1:8)
Q: How has God prepared you for this moment in time?
Q: What awaits you after this time of isolation? What are you preparing for now?
Q: What are practical things you can do to be spiritually ready?
Q: Rahab was not an Israelite but she was ready to meet God. Have you seen God at work in unexpected people?
RECREATE in sacred play
Spend some time in sacred play recreating the Spy-Jericho scene! Below are a list of props, characters, ideas to use your space, and a general flow-of-the-story.
COSTUMES/PROPS: Ancient spy satchels (*see Crafty Time video), swords and shields for guards, flax stalks (pillows and blankets), rope.
CHARACTERS: The characters should be divided. KIDS: the two spies of Israel, Rahab.
ADULTS: the King of Jericho, Jericho’s guards.
SPACE: Set up the space to resemble the ancient city of Jericho (push together two couches!) Your city will need thick walls, an inner court, and Rahab’s apartment on the outside wall.
FLOW: The two spies arrive in Jericho are quickly discovered. The King of the city set guards to catch them. Rahab, who fears God, hides the spies under a pile of flax stalks. When the guards leave her apartment, she lowers them by rope out of her window and safely out of the city.
First, act out the story in play, and then replay the story as a game: Hide-a-Spy (hide-and-seek!)
REMAKEin a sacred meal
The two spies Joshua sent were not overly good spies. Almost immediately upon entering Jericho they were discovered. Rahab, a woman who lived in the city, hid them under a pile of flax!
CHALLENGE: Make a loaf of flaxseed bread! Flaxseed is healthy, nutritious, and delicious! You can find a good recipe online and flaxseed at the grocery store. Not in the mood for bread? Bake a tray of flaxseed muffins instead! Or flaxseed pancakes! Mix in some berries and enjoy the ancient goodness!
RESPONDin sacred prayer
Most of the Israelites who were preparing to cross the Jordan River had not seen the parting of the Red Sea. They had not heard the audible voice of God at Sinai. They were the first true generation of faith: ‘having hoped but not seen’ (Hebrews 11).
We too are a part of a family of generations of the faithful. We rely on people who have gone before us, who have been formed and shaped by Jesus. Take a moment and contact one of your ‘ancestors’ of the faith. Someone who has taught you, and discipled you. Take time to pray together. Listen to their stories of faith. Be encouraged. God is with you!
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