St. Paul’s Cycle of Prayer – Tuesday – Seekers and other Young Adults, those in our community who are unchurched, our community and those in need, especially Family Promise and CROS ministries

We continue in the New Testament lessons in the Daily Office lectionary with the 21st chapter of Acts. I was struck yesterday and today of the power of Paul’s leave taking as he makes his way to Jerusalem, where he knows things will not go well. Yesterday he said goodbye to the people of Ephesus, where he had spent much time starting up and building up the church. Their parting was filled with weeping. Today we see Paul on his journey back to Jerusalem, making his way by sea and land he is now close to the city. Despite all the warnings and prophecies against it, Paul makes it clear to all who loved him that he must, for the sake of Christ, depart and go on to Jerusalem.

One of the hardest parts of doing interim ministry is the knowledge that your time is short and that you will be leaving at some point sooner than with most calls. As my time winds down (I have a few months yet) at St. Paul’s, these words reminded me of the goodbyes to come soon, and also of the love I have for the people here, and their great support of me and my ministry. Yet, as Saint Paul himself reminds us, we press on towards the goal, which is always primarily about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Great adventure awaits for us all!