And After Pentecost, part 4 of 4.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. — Acts 2:42

A couple of months after I retired from full time ministry, I had lunch with a more experienced colleague who had been retired for about a decade. I asked him what he missed about the parish.

He froze, silent and staring at nothing. Or maybe it was something faraway.

Seconds passed.

And expanded.

Fearing this highly respected leader of our Conference was having a stroke or something, I said his name and reached for my phone.

He suddenly blinked, cleared his throat, looked at me and said loudly and firmly, “I can tell you what I do NOT miss. All those MEETINGS!”

According to Acts 2:42, our ancestors in the faith spent time in prayer. We spend time in meetings.

Sometimes we combine them and talk about Prayer Meetings.

Which suddenly sounds as oxymoronic as an Exact Estimate.

And we wonder why we lack the power of the earliest church.

Acts 2:42 is clear.