Sunday, June 8

We have arrived at the end of our celebration of Eastertide. This Sunday is the Day of Pentecost, the 50th day after Easter Day, and the conclusion of this season. On the Day of Pentecost, a principal feast day on the Church calendar, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. We read in the Acts of the Apostles that on this day “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4, NRSV). This enabled them to preach the Good News of God to every family, language, people, and nation in languages the people could understand. After this moment, as Peter addresses the crowds, those who believed in his message were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the household of God (Acts 2:41).
As we gather on Sunday to celebrate the Day of Pentecost, we will share in the tradition of welcoming others into the household of God. At our 10:00am liturgy we will baptized Hope and Tanner. As we rejoice with Hope, Tanner, and their families, all os us (at both services) will have the opportunity to renew our own baptismal vows. Once more we will proclaim, “I will, with God’s help” as we recall the ways we have been called to live in this world by virtue of our baptism.
These vows create the framework we are called to live by, the reference points we follow as we make decisions for our daily life and work. In the midst of the uncertainty and chaos of the world around us, it is especially appropriate to refocus ourselves on practicing this way of life. As we celebrate this great festival day, as we prepare to renew our vows, I hope you will some some time reflecting on how God is calling you to live out these promises in your life personally and in our life collectively.
How will you, and how will we . . .
. . . continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowing, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers?
. . . persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
. . . proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
. . . seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
. . . strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
With God’s help, and only with God’s help, we can live this way of love. When we commit ourselves to this way, when we commit ourselves to God, we might just find that our hearts have been set aflame by the power of the Holy Spirit. When that happens - the world better watch out. For the last time that happened, 100 people turned the known world upside down.








