PENTECOST: Wind, Fire, and a New Deacon!

First of all, what is Pentecost? The actual word “pentecost” means 50th day. At the time of Jesus, Pentecost was a harvest festival that was celebrated fifty days after Passover. In Acts we learn that the disciples all gathered in Jerusalem in one place on the day of Pentecost. And ever since that Pentecost, Christians have celebrated Pentecost as the day when the church was born. Pentecost in the Christian church has since taken place on the 50th day of Easter. And on this 50th day we celebrate the Holy Spirit descending upon the disciples empowering them to speak the Gospel (in multiple languages), and through this event initiating the beginning of the church. Up until Pentecost the disciples mostly were afraid and uncertain, meeting behind locked doors. With Pentecost, the wind of the Spirit blew open those doors and began the spread of Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

In worship on Pentecost Weekend, we celebrate in many ways. On the weekend of Pentecost everyone is invited to wear red to worship as a symbol of the fire of the Spirit and of the flames that descended upon the disciples. At the Sunday services the children will also help us visualize this wind and flame as they wave red and orange streamers. We hear the Pentecost story from Acts 2 read to us in multiple languages. (If you speak fluently in another language than English, let us know!) Hearing this Scripture read in multiple languages reminds us of that first Pentecost and also of the thousands of languages in which Christian faith is professed all throughout the world.

This year we also have an extra special and very fitting addition to Pentecost. Allan Klotsche will be onsecrated as a Deacon at the 8:30am service. Allan completed an intensive 2 year study program called Diakonia in May of 2009. Since then he has been fulfilling the additional Synodical requirements to become a Deacon. As a Deacon Allan will continue the social ministry work he has already been doing and you will see him “deacon-ing” in many other ways as well (come to the 8:30am service on May 23rd to learn more!).

May the Spirit descend upon you and refresh you
and lead you anew each day,

Pastor Shelly