Moving Forward When God Feels Silent
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Scriptures: Acts 1:7-8; 11, Acts 1:13-14, Acts 1:21, Acts 2:1-3; 6
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Summary: Bobbi kicked off our new series on the book of Acts last Sunday. We looked at the birth of the movement in chapters 1 and 2. When Jesus ascends, the disciples are encouraged to shift from the “why” of their faith to the “how.” One of the first things that the early did was select a replacement of Judas. But Bobbi mentioned that women who were always present in life and ministry of Jesus were missing in that conversation and effectually the leadership of this new movement. The argument is that Luke omitted women to give this new movement legitimacy in the eyes of the first readers of Acts. However, the Spirit and the work of God cannot be contained. The arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost shows us that the divine interacts with us most vividly at the start of new things. Bobbi finished the sermon by reminding us that we are still invited to fling our faith into the world. Because this movement to church we all belong now was a "birth of blessing" intended for all people.
Connect: Connect using the question Bobbi had for us during the coffee break: What does the last part of the Commons benediction (“tell the story”) mean to you?
Share: Bobbi mentioned that as she matures, she is less concerned with "why" questions (like why people leave the faith) and more focused on "how" to live out her values.
Share about how your own questions about faith have changed as you’ve gotten older? Are you more interested in the "why" or the "how" right now? And if in the “how,” what is one “how” that is on your mind today?
Reflect: Two reflection options:
1) Bobbi drew our attention to the fact that in the text where women are acknowledged as present and praying, they are immediately written out of senior leadership when it’s time to replace Judas.
How do you navigate moments when you find "stumbling blocks" or contradictions in the Bible that don't seem to align with the character of Jesus?2) Reflect on this quote from the sermon regarding the Holy Spirit:
“Do you want to feel close to God? Try starting something new.
A hobby, a family, a friendship.
A therapeutic journey, a fitness goal, a scientific exploration.
Try walking a new path in your neighbourhood, or starting a new parish in Marda Loop!Holy Spirit at the start of something new is a biblical motif: Spirit over the waters in Genesis creation, Spirit over the womb of Mary, Spirit over the church as it leaves Jerusalem and makes its home in every corner of the earth.”
If the Spirit is most "unruly" and "alive" when something new is being birthed, where are you sensing the breath of the Spirit in your life right now?
Are there any new things or initiatives on your mind right now? Or maybe it is something that you could pray about?Engage: When tying the sermon to our lives today, Bobbi has asked this question:
“Now the question we contemplate is: What does it look like for us to throw our faith out into the world a little farther?
And I don’t mean some new evangelism that feels embarrassing or a new colonial mission project. I just mean, what if the blessings in our lives were birthed by the Holy Spirit in communion with Christ and creation – and we are meant to give it all away.
To share in healing.
To share our community and our service.
To share hope in the resurrected one.“How does this thought resonate with you today?
What are some of the ways that you are throwing your faith out into the world a little father right now?Take away: What is one thing that you're taking with you into your week, either from the sermon or our conversation?
Prayer from the sermon:
Loving God,
We take a moment for some new word or slice of inspiration to find us
And make its invitation to our lives.Maybe it’s that we can shift from why questions to how,
Maybe it’s in seeing that you work with all of us, those at the centre and those on the margins.
Maybe it’s in finding some imagination around what it means to access Christ through the interacting of the Spirit.Church can be a place where we know belonging, and we know it has also been a place that has made people feel like they don’t fit the story.
So for those of us still healing, won’t you meet us with grace.
And for those in need today: in bodies, in minds, in relationships,
Won’t you show us your presence.Spirit of the living God, present with us now, enter the places of our hurt, and heal us of all that harms us.
Amen.
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CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 143
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Keep me safe, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.MUSIC Curated by Curt Muller
Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation
Be Thou My Vision
Elevation Worship - Jesus Be The Name
Josh Baldwin - Made For More
MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER
Written by Scott W.
Loving, Parenting God -
For all of the ways we’ve been mothered well
by so many individuals, regardless of gender or attachment or association,
we give you thanks.
For those who’ve recently welcomed or deepened connection with children in their lives,
we give you thanks.
For those in the daily rhythm of feeding, nurturing, and protecting children and youth—
all while filling many other roles,
we give you thanks.
Today, we hold space for those who’ve lost a significant mothering presence, or a child this year
be near to us with comfort, we ask.
We hold space to those in our community disconnected from mothering love, those longing to be mothers,
those navigating how to redefine motherhood for themselves
be near to us with courage, we ask.
We hold space for mothers feeling alone, fatigued, and unsure of how to move forward
be near to us with strength, we ask.
SERIES BUMPER
The Way Forward: Within Reach Series
