Tracy's Blog

  " May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14 This was part of the Epistle reading for last Sunday - the Sunday in which we celebrate and adore the Trinity.  It's a wonderful verse because we see all three Persons of the Trinity (if we take "God" to be "God the Father") and some of the wonderful gifts that the Trinity shares with us.  I have not studied much on the Trinity but I know that the emphasis on Trinitarian theology of the last number of years has helped individually-minded Christians (like me!) repent of independence and consider our place in the Body of Christ - that we are interdependent and united.  We are one in Christ even though we have so many differences. This move from Trinitarian theology to Ecclesiology (theology of Church) motivated me to take a second look at this verse from 2 Corinthians.  Often when I hear ...

Wondering what is on my mind by the title of this week's blog?  I'll give you three hints: 1. John 7:37-39 2. John 3:7-8 3. Acts 2:1-4 If you said, "The Holy Spirit," you are correct!  Or maybe you said,  "Tracy is thinking about how elements of the physical world are used as symbols of the Holy Spirit in Scripture.  She is also wondering what that means for our lives and how we could remember to walk in the Spirit in the midst of our summer days spent in the water, feeling the wind, and sitting by camp fires." If you did, you have me figured out! It is starting to feel like summer in Manitoba and with that comes more socializing (possibly many hot dogs roasted over fires), time at the beach with the sun in our eyes and the wind on our faces, and, hopefully, a more laid back pace of life.  But the change of weather and lifestyle doesn't mean that we are any less dependent on God's Spirit for the love, power, and strength to ...

We are over half way between celebrating the Ascension of Christ (May 29) and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (June 8).  I went to an Ascension service last week and was surprised when the priest started to talk about the coming of the Spirit.  "Hey!" I thought, "Isn't this service about Jesus' exaltation as Lord over everything?"  As in the Collect we had already prayed: "Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord."  (BAS page 343) But then the priest brought us to John 16:7 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send him to you." So, the Ascension and Pentecost are inextricably linked.  This turned my thoughts to when I first became aware of my need for the Holy Spirit in my life.  Interestingly, it was right at the same time that I...