PENTECOST: The 50th Day

The Day God’s Holy Spirit Filled All

Pentecost was a day already celebrated by our Jewish brothers and sisters prior to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  It was a feast celebrated 50 days after Passover, marking the sharing of first fruits of the harvest.  It was in the midst of this celebration that Jesus’ Apostles gathered and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit descending upon them, filling their minds, bodies and souls with a new understanding of the power of God’s truth.  “When the day of Pentecost had come they were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy “Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Sprit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:1-4)  Something occurred that “set them on fire” as they could suddenly speak in a language they had never studied.  They were filled with knowledge that came from on high. This “speaking in tongues” was for the sake of those who gathered in Jerusalem from many lands, so that they too could hear the good news of Jesus Christ and have their lives changed forever.  When the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost, something new and different occurred for all humankind.  God was suddenly made accessible to all—no one would be left behind.

How often do we stop and reflect on the power of the work of the Holy Spirit?  How often do we stop to fully appreciate the goodness that has come into our lives because God has sent a direct presence to give us peace?  How often to we slow down enough to listen, perhaps to FEEL, the presence of God’s saving presence in our lives?

In anticipation of the phenomenal possibilities of God’s Holy Spirit amongst us, let me share with you a deeply humbling experience I had recently.  It came to me completely by surprise, yet I should have been aware and ready.

After the wonderful good works of the English Tea and Garden Tour, and a week of trying to get life to settle back into some sense of “normalcy”, I found myself rather stressed out sorting out things that, of course, are not in my control. After working in my office, making evening phone calls, trying to get caught up, I was very aware that I needed to complete my Newsletter article. I wanted to focus on the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. I suddenly realized I didn’t have my Book of Common Prayer in my office.  I had left it in the Church Sanctuary.  So I went to get it.  As I opened the Sanctuary doors, it seemed as if my whole being was enveloped in a warm, loving embrace--a giant “warm fuzzy” washed over me, and took my breath away.  It was calm and gentle in the Church; this tingly joyful feeling filled me from head to toe, from back to front. It caused me to say, out loud “WOW, The Holy Spirit is Here! Mary, you NEED TO COME IN HERE MORE OFTEN!!”  And I just had to sit in a front row seat to take it all in.  I sat there for quite some time, simply rejoicing in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit in our little church sanctuary that some say looks more like an office building than a house of God.  What do they know?  God comes into this place through the people who come each week to serve God . As we pray and celebrate our love for God and each other in Christ we allow God to be present more and more, making this space holy for His purposes. It is our gift to enjoy and share.

Pentecost came early for me this year.  I am not worthy of this.  I give thanks not only to God but to all of you for filling this place with such a tangible presence of the love of God that my life was blessed to feel that presence in the middle of a busy work week.  I pray each of you also find the positive power of God’s Holy Spirit filling you with His complete love, even when you least expect it.        

             Peace to you in Christ, Pastor Mary and Jim Blessing

 

NOTE:  Pastor Mary and Jim Blessing will be away on Pentecost Sunday at the graduation ceremony of their daughter, Becky, at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.

Sunday, June 3 at the 10 service we will have our Family Service celebration with special attention given to our graduates from high school, Stephanie Dodds, Simon Evans, Claire Potts, Mike Powers and Stephen Sanguinetti, as well as college graduate, Becky Blessing.  Please be sure to be here to wish them all Godspeed in their new adventures in life!

Pastor Mary wishes to give many thanks for the tremendous work done by so many for the work of the English Tea and Garden Tour.  It was fantastic fun!  Thank you for your gracious support of Pastor Mary’s mother, Ruth, who visited from San Francisco that weekend for a very special Mother’s Day indeed.