This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In modern society with current school schedules, testing, graduations, and Memorial Day weekend activities, one of the most important church holidays, a "high holy day" (to use descriptions from yesteryear), seems to have faded into the background. That day is Pentecost, the day when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost was originally an ancient Jewish harvest festival, celebrated on the 50th day after God gave Moses the tablets of the law, the Ten Commandments. This harvest festival was known as the Feast of Weeks or in Hebrew, Shavuot. During this time, late spring/early summer, farmers would bring their first fruits to the temple and offer them to God. The temple leaders would then distribute that food to the community. Shavout was a celebration of Jewish spirituality and God's covenant with God's people — “I will be your God, and you will be my people.”

The disciples were gathered together after the Passover, probably in preparation for Shavuot, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them with "flaming tongues." Driving them out into the streets, each speaking in their own language, they were compelled to go home, to their own people, and to tell the story of Jesus Christ. In many ways, Pentecost can be seen as the birth of the church because, at this moment, Christian worship ceased to be a private practice done by the disciples in the upper room. Instead, it became public, with each disciple beginning their ministry of preaching and teaching.

We celebrate Pentecost in a few ways. First, we decorate the church and wear red to represent the flames. Second, we baptize, remembering that each person who is baptized has been "sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever." Finally, we give thanks for the gifts of God given to each of us, particularly the gifts/fruits of the Spirit. On Pentecost, we remember that through all of our many gifts, the church is made strong. Through your gifts and my gifts, we are made one. One body, one spirit. I encourage you to come this Sunday and celebrate Pentecost. Participate in the baptism we will celebrate, and help us give thanks for the Spirit who sends us forth into the world, empowering us to do the work of the kingdom of God and to share God's blessing with everyone we encounter.

Peace,

Mitch