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Pentecost by The Rev. Laura Queen On the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the disciples are all together in one place. They are waiting to be given power from God, because that's what Jesus promised. They are not passing time; they are praying with hope and patience. Suddenly the heavens open and the Spirit comes down and fills them to overflowing. Enveloped with power from God, they move out of their closed, small world into the open streets, with the wind of the spirit at their backs and their hearts on fire. In an essay entitled "The Holy Spirit and Inspiration," Charles Gore wrote: "Christianity is essentially not a past event but a present life, a life first manifested in Christ, and then perpetuated in his Church. Christianity is a manifested life, a thing, therefore, like all other forms of life, known not in itself, but in its effects, its fruits, its results." This means that we are always intended to move beyond our individual lives and experiences and be open to the yearnings of the Spirit to bear fruit in us and through us for others. We are to be a community of faith and as Pentecost people; we are connected both to God and to each other and in ministry, to the whole world. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. Looking back, we celebrate that time when the Holy Spirit guided the early Christians to spread the Good News of God in Christ to all people: Jew or Greek, male or female, rich or poor, young or old, slave or free. But we also remind ourselves that we are followers of that same resurrected Christ and are thus, by the Spirit, the presence of Christ in the world, with a mandate to share that same Good News in our day and our circumstances, to all people. The Feast of Pentecost gives us the opportunity as a community of faith to gather together to celebrate the abundance that God has given us and to renew our commitment to mission and ministry, with a community picnic and cook out. The 10:30 service on that day will be held outside in the garden and following worship, we will all enjoy a picnic luncheon and festivities for children of all ages. Come for the biggest birthday celebration ever on Sunday, May 11th, 2008. And as you are able, wear something red. Copyright © 2008 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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