Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Rev. Phil Brochard This sermon reflects on the period between Jesus’s Ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples waited in uncertainty for the coming of the Holy Spirit. The preacher connects the disciples’ “in-between time” to today’s cultural instability, political upheaval, climate anxiety, and technological transformation. The disciples ask Jesus whether he will restore the kingdom of Israel, but Jesus redirects their focus toward God’s greater kingdom beyond earthly power. After Jesus departs, the disciples return together to pray and wait faithfully. The sermon’s central theme comes from Matt Skinner: living with “urgency without haste.” Rather than reacting fearfully or impulsively, the disciples remain together in trust and discernment. The preacher encourages listeners to do the same in their own uncertain lives, trusting that God continues authoring a story of justice, compassion, and hope even when the future is unclear.