Pastor’s Corner - May 27, 2021
This past Sunday we celebrated Pentecost. Pentecost is one of my two most favorite holidays! On Pentecost I am reminded of God’s Spirit in all times, all places, all creatures, and all people. I love thinking about God’s Spirit – too mysterious and wonderful for my comprehension and offering comfort, companionship, consolation, conviction of my sins, correction, guidance, direction, hope…. I love the story of people from many different places gathered together speaking different languages while at the same time understanding one another… I love the energy, the movement, the divine flow…. Pentecost reminds me to give God thanks for my parents who offered me many opportunities to meet people of many languages, shades, beliefs, and experiences. It causes me to give thanks for my growing up years with classmates and teammates of many languages, shades, beliefs, and experiences. It brings me humility when I think of all the many people who have shared their stories and their lives with me. I am grateful that we live in a community with relatives who speak many languages – we are blessed by the opportunities to live with the many gifts of God’s vision of diversity – for God made us all unique in so many, many ways – how amazing. Thanks be to God!
What gifts does the celebration of Pentecost offer you? How would you describe your favorite holidays? Are there ways you hope to be more mindful and connected to the Spirit of God moving in your life this summer? Are there neighbors near and far that are helping you grow and learn? I pray that you feel encouraged and uplifted by the many ways God’s Spirit is at work in each of our lives, in the faith community of Friedens United Church of Christ, and in the global and local world God’s made and so dearly loves.
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 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. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:1-11
