The Resurrection!

This week at Agape we finished our series on the book of Mark with Mark 16, Jesus's resurrection. Our conversation focused on the end of the chapter, where Mark connects a number of miraculous signs to the actions of believers. We prayed that we would have boldness to ask Jesus for these signs, for his participation in our actions.

Please be praying that our congregation would grow in boldness, prayer and unity.

Implication and Forgiveness: Crucify him!

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" -Mark 15:39

"Crucify him!" Today in Agape, we repeated these words aloud: Our voices reminded us of the ancient crowd, one voice rising to the Roman authorities: "Crucify him!" As we joined that voice, we found ourselves implicated in the plot. We participated in the sentencing of an innocent man. Where was the justice? Where was his power? The soldiers mocked him, and they flogged him. They put his cross on another, Simon from Cyrene, and they nailed Jesus to that tree. The centurion watched him hang there. And after Jesus breathed his last, only then, did the centurion realize a great mystery: even though the centurion has committed such a heinous act, even though he and we were sinners, Jesus had already offered forgiveness. He had already forgiven during the flogging, the mocking, the dying. The solider finally spoke the truth; Jesus patiently waits for us to do the same.

The Big Heart of Jesus

This week at Agape we did a dramatic presentation of the Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, in which Jesus has his last supper with his disciples, and then is betrayed by Judas Iscariot into the hands of the rulers. In this chapter, Jesus is also anointed with perfume by an unnamed woman, and Peter denies Jesus three times in the courtyard next to Jesus' trial.
    Thanks to the whole cast of the dramatic reading! Everyone was great.
    Some of the interesting thoughts brought up in discussion were how worship comes before service, but that LOVE needs to be the basis for both, most of all. We also see how Jesus' love is still strong, compassionate, and welcoming, even when he knows that he is betrayed. By asking us to love like he does, we are called to love and forgive, even when we feel hurt or betrayed. But we know, in return, that for those times we have betrayed or denied God, there is forgiveness to be had, and he waits for us, with belovedness and open arms.
     Please be praying for our city and for the entire Agape congregation, particularly those who might need healing of body or heart, and for those who need shelter, community, freedom from addiction, and/or employment. Also, please be praying for our continued fundraising for a building.

Elm City Echo

The Agape team is thrilled to be working with Elm City Echo, New Haven's first street newspaper. Elm City Echo is a part of YHHAP (Yale Hunger Homelessness Action Project) and is just getting started this year. Elm City Echo will be a paper that highlights the voice of the streets of New Haven. We are actively promoting it to our Agape family, and we already have two guys who are working on their stories. Agape will also provide a list of prayer requests that will be printed in the paper. Those who submit articles get $10. Contact emily (dot) foxhall (at) yale (dot) edu, if you're interested.

Also, Elm City Echo is currently one of Blue State Coffee's projects available for donations so be sure to check out Blue State and vote for ELM CITY ECHO!