During this season, we continue to remember Jesus's appearances to his disciples during the days after the resurrection. With these appearances, he restored and renewed their calls to follow him and to go into the world to share the incredible gift he came to bring.  In a few weeks, we will remember his ascension into heaven, followed by Pentecost, where the power of the Holy Spirit established the church.

               As we remember the days past, I pray we also ask God to bring us to a recognition of today, a day when we, who are Christ's representatives, find our calls restored and renewed.  I pray we will have a renewed sensitivity to the presence and direction of the Holy Spirit. It is through following the Holy Spirit that Christ can and will be demonstrated to those we encounter.  That same spirit calls us to pray for all who need to know Christ and for believers walking in times of trial. Our Assembly of Bishops recently sent out a Global Call to Prayer. We are asked to pray daily for our brothers and sisters in Africa who are facing conflict, political instability, demonstrations, terrorist activity, and civil wars.  Some of the specific countries named in the email are: Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Niger, and Rwanda.

               Please also take time to pray and listen to where the Spirit of God is moving in our midst. How is God speaking to you? Pray about what it means for us as individuals and the church to fully embrace the Global Methodist Mission "to make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly." Does our local mission emphasis to "plant, grow, share" impact how we are present in our community?  What do each of these words mean to us? How are we living into them? How do we hope to live into them?

Boldly looking forward to what our amazing God is doing in our midst,