Pentecost

I expect that nearly all of us celebrate birthdays, our own and those of loved ones. We send or receive cards, messages and gifts and (in normal times!) gather with others to mark the occasion.

Pentecost, which this year falls on Sunday 31 May, marks the birthday of the church and is something that we should celebrate! Coming 50 days after the Resurrection, Pentecost is when the Holy Spirit came permanently on the first Christian believers, shown in a tangible way as a strong wind, tongues of fire and the speaking of many languages, as recorded in Acts 2. As we read in John 14: 15-31 and 15: 26, the Holy Spirit had been promised to the disciples by Jesus before his death, as an ‘advocate’ and ever present help, to enable them to continue His ministry and mature as believers. The ‘pouring out’ of God’s Spirit had also been prophesied in the Old Testament, the sustaining presence of God with us at all times. This amazing gift built on the occasional times when the Holy Spirit had been experienced by particular people at particular times for particular purposes.

Although Pentecost is not celebrated widely in our culture, without the ‘significance’ of Christmas or Easter, for Christians it is an important festival. A time for us to give thanks for the gift of God’s Spirit and to reflect on how the Spirit helps us to live more fully with and for God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to continue Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) – to bring news of God’s presence, peace and power to all.

I encourage you to join our online worship at 9am or 11am on Pentecost Sunday, as well as to spend time in the week allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to you through prayer, reading and reflection. Pentecost Sunday also marks the end of ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, the prayer initiative that encourages us to share the love of Jesus by praying for 5 people to come to know Him, as well as for our own growth in faith. You can find out more about this on our website.

Especially this year, let’s remember that it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers us to bring God’s rule and reign to earth – without it we can do nothing. And let’s also welcome the Holy Spirit to fill and lead us through each day.

Happy Birthday church!