May 4, 2008, Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:12-14, John 17:1-11

Our church chapel is on the second floor of this building. A lot of churches in Japan are built this way. It makes a lot of sense where property is small and expensive. In a lot of churches, the first floor is the fellowship hall, like our church. Or the first floor might be classrooms or a kindergarten. Actually a lot of churches in the USA are similar, except they have a full basement, but in Japan, basements are quite rare.

Another reason I like a chapel on the second floor is because the very first church was built that way. In the book of Acts, the disciples met in an upper room. The Last Supper was also held in an upper room, perhaps the same room. So, when I think of our chapel on the upper floor, I think of that room where Jesus and his disciples were: before the passion, after the resurrection, after the ascension, and perhaps on Pentecost, too. We too gather to be with our Lord and to be with other Christians.

What shall we do in the upper room chapel, or in any chapel? Just as the disciples and Jesus. We pray. Acts 1:14 says, �gThey all joined together constantly in prayer.�h At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for the disciples, he prayed especially that they might all be one (John 17:11): one in faith, one in love, one in hope, one in purpose, one in mission, one in union with God. This is the constant prayer of the church today, too.

Today there is confirmation. After studying the catechism book, we celebrate that we are one in faith, one in understanding of the faith, and one in our desire to for salvation in Jesus Christ.

But the church does not seem to be �gone.�h There are over 1000 Christian denominations. The protestant church is constantly protesting each other and making new denominations. Even our own Lutheran church is splintered by many things, from trivial things like what sort of music is best to very serious things like the understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But can we be one? The fragmentation of the Church of God is the greatest of all scandals in the church. Can there be true ecumenical union in Christ?

Each one of us is a sinner. Sin pulls us away from God. The devil tries to split us off and away from God and away from the community of believers. The devil says that faith is a personal thing, just between you and God alone. But he is a liar. Jesus says that faith is a community. First, we are made one with Jesus. We are made one with the Triune God in our Baptism. We are one when we gather in the chapel for prayer. We pray for forgiveness of those sins that separates us. We pray that we will be one with Christ and one in Christ. And in that way we are one with each other. Together we are in mission to spread the Gospel of forgiveness, love, and eternal salvation. We celebrate that oneness today. There are prayers, hymns, the profession of faith, and the Lord�fs Supper, which is often called the Holy Communion, which means, holy union, union and oneness with God and with the other saints around the altar.

And so we come together in our chapel of the upper room. Some kids run up the steps, some adults hobble up with weak knees. We come to call upon the name of the Lord in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

Amen.

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