Called Together

This is the second in our five-week sermon series on the vows we make to support the church by “our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness,” and today’s theme is “presence.” The reading is from Acts 2 where Peter gives a sermon, baptizes 3,000 people, and then the book describes how that community of believers comes together, essentially becoming the church in a deep spiritual relationship, sharing bread and love. “Church” is a unique gift from God, and followers of Jesus aren’t meant to go it alone. It was exemplified when John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, began forming discipleship groups who met regularly and shared their deepest thoughts. Today is Confirmation Sunday, another way of demonstrating that gift of presence as we are the church.