This weeks “lectio” reading is pretty weird!

Angels, trances and visions. It’s a great reminder that this “eastern religion” called Christianity is meant to be very different to the neat, predictable, logical and polite set of rules and routines it is often seen as.

Following Jesus means following the person who healed people, did miracles, confronted demons and rose from the dead. Within a rational Western culture some of that stuff can seem as unpalatable as the sheet of “unclean” animals offered to Peter the well behaved Jew to eat. The temptation is to ignore it and limit our “gospel” to the teachings of Jesus. But we don’t have to read many of his words to realise that the two can’t be divided. The gospel without the power of God isn’t good news. It becomes just a load of unfulfilled promises, impossible rules and insipid expectations.

This Sunday is Pentecost.
The day we focus on God’s gift of his Spirit.

There are two Dream events that will focus on Pentecost this weekend.

Breathe, our retreat day on Saturday will give space to “breathe in”, receiving renewed life and hope from God, and to “breathe out”, being sent by the Spirit with power to change the world around us.

Then on Sunday evening, the Dream service at the cathedral is called “wild goose chase”. The wild goose was a powerful symbol of God’s spirit in early Celtic Christianity, and we’ll be creating space to encounter God’s power and allow him to take us on a whole new journey into the unknown.

Both events are going to be wonderful opportunities to reconnect with the presence and power of God.

If you can’t make it, perhaps because you are one of the people who receive e-dream but live on the other side of the world, we pray for you and for ourselves, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people. Kindle in us the power of your love”