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Time to Regroup


I consider myself an introvert. When needed, I can handle myself in large groups, I can be social, I can hold conversations about all sorts of topics. But I'm most comfortable hanging back, just listening to other people talk.


I really prefer small groups.


I tend to believe that Jesus was a bit of an introvert, also.


We know that crowds of people followed him. But sometimes we forget "the rest" of the story:


  • Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Matthew 5:1

  • When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Matthew 9:8

  • When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew14:13

  • Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. Mark 3:7

  • After he took him aside from the crowd Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. Mark 7:33

  • But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Luke 4:30

  • The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:13


Jesus never ignored the crowds that followed him or gathered around him.


But every once in a while, he needed to withdraw and regroup.


We're still in the church season of Epiphany, but in a month, we'll be in the church season of Lent. It's a time of reflection and renewal.


It's a time to step back and regroup to renew our baptismal commitment.


Take some quiet time this Lent to regroup and renew.


--Ann Warner

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Lutheran Church Wilmington

As a Reconciling in Christ congregation of the ELCA, we believe that the gospel is God's gift to all people, shared unconditionally and without regard to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, socio-economic or family status, age, physical or mental abilities, outward appearance, or religious affiliation. We seek racial equality and justice. In this way, we live into the truth written in Ephesians (2:14)—that Christ breaks down the dividing walls between us and makes us one.

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St. Stephen's Lutheran Church

1301 N Broom Street, Wilmington, DE 19806

302-652-7623 office@ststeph.org

 

We are a congregation in the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

 

 

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