Exaudi-The Seventh Sunday of Easter

After Jesus ascended into heaven, He told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until He sent the Holy Spirit to them. Ten days later on the Feast of Pentecost, the Spirit, the Helper, came to them as they were gathered in the Upper Room. What did they do for those ten days? They waited. We too, after having just celebrated Ascension on Thursday, await the Feast of Pentecost next Sunday. Today is one of those in-between Sundays when we twiddle our thumbs and wait for what is next. In the Gospel for today we hear the words that Jesus addressed to His disciples on the night they were betrayed. First Jesus promises that He will send His Holy Spirit to the disciples. We need to hear that promise too! God will send His Spirit to strengthen and keep us. Second, Jesus warns His disciples that they will not be treated well in the world. Knowing persecution will come, and that the world, the devil, and our sinful nature will persecute our confession of Christ, today we pray for God’s help so that we might in times of persecution and temptation, remain faithful to Christ.

Join us today for this service where we also observe the rite of Confirmation. Our sermon today is entitled, “Confirmation is Forever” and considers the meaning of confirmation in our lives.