This year, the feast of Pentecost falls in June.
[Take a moment to think about that word, ‘feast’. What does it mean to you? What does it bring to mind?]
Pentecost is sometimes described as the ‘Birthday of the Church’.
[And what do you associate with the word, ‘birthday’? I don’t want you thinking that I’m going to do all the work here!]
For myself, I am not keen on referring to Pentecost as the Church’s birthday. However, I must admit that the account of the first Pentecost in Chapter 2 of the book of Acts certainly reads like something of a party, birthday or otherwise.
[You know what to do by now. Not all of us enjoy parties, so try to concentrate on what is good about them, even if they are not your cup of tea (or stronger beverage). Incidentally, you should be able to find a copy of the book of Acts at https://colwich.church/acts.pdf: enjoy!]
For me, Pentecost is less about a birthday and more about God’s extraordinary gift to those who follow him through Jesus. It is not enough for Jesus to die for us and be raised for us. God goes further, pouring the Holy Spirit into us so that we can be different and can make a difference; to give us the power and wisdom needed to live for God in a world that for most of the time ignores God, at best.
I need to take care here! ‘The Holy Spirit is God, but only one of the three persons of God (more details on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Pentecost). However, in the Christian Scriptures the word ‘spirit’ also has echoes of what we would describe as our ‘soul’, or our ‘inner person’. God’s gift is a meeting of spirits: God’s and ours; God in us, not replacing our inner selves, but working in partnership and empowerment.
[Now that really does need thinking about? I wonder if I let that partnership make a practical difference to my life, my vision, my dreams… ?]
Will there be birthday cake at our Pentecost services? Possibly! But with, or without, cake, we shall gather together to:
· feast on the word of God;
· celebrate (that is, party, in a suitably Anglican way, about) all God’s gifts to us; and
· go out in the peace and power of God, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, to love and serve the Lord!
Happy Pentecost!
Mark Davys