In Sunday's reading, an angel of the Lord says to Philip the disciple, "Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."  Mapped in the Twin Cities, here's what the Spirit would be saying:  "Philip, get up from Forest Lake, where 35E and 35W come together, and walk down to North Trail Elementary School." (You can read the full Scripture here).  Then, when Philip is "snatched up" by the Holy Spirit and goes from Azotus to Caesarea proclaiming the gospel, it's like walking from Meadowview Elementary all the way down to Rochester.  On foot.  In sandals!

The Spirit is taking some pretty crazy chances with Philip -- sending him great distances to preach the joy of Jesus.  But the chances get even crazier when we start to look at who Philip was meeting.  The Spirit sends him to meet an Ethiopian eunuch -- someone who was definitely one of the "outsiders."  But Philip is sent, just like Peter was sent to Cornelius, bringing the "outsider" to become an "insider" in the name of Jesus.  What does that mean for us?  Are we ready to get involved in this kind of life-changing, rule-breaking relationship?

Come to North Trail at 10am on Sunday and wonder. ~~ Intern Pastor Emmy

Come to North Trail Elementary at 9:00 am on Sunday, May 19 for a community pot luck breakfast. Bring your favorite morning goodie: egg bake, potato casserole or coffee cake. Sign-up sheet by the coffee table. Didn't sign up? Come anyway! Enjoy conversation, too.  Wear your LOTW T-shirt (if you have one) or order yours that morning!

Now available for ordering: your very own LOTW T-shirt. Whether your kiddo has outgrown theirs, you've never had one or want another, you can order one now. Cost, which is an optional donation, is $9.  (Of that amount, $7+ is what we pay for each shirt. XXL are $8+.) Any additional monies that are collected will support our Summer Youth Musical. Deadline for ordering is May 31. Questions? Contact Gina Stangl at ginastangl@gmail.com or Lana Hedlund at lana@lotwl.com.