Wind and Fire

Good Morning, All!

Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! Pentecost is coming! And as we prepare for MY favorite holiday in the church year, I have to admit I’m a bit disappointed…it’s only 4 days until this “great getting’ up mornin’” and I’ve scoured the town and there are no window decorations; no signs that count down the days; no special sales; no holiday recipes; no special flags for our cars…Bummer. Surprising as it may seem, there remains a marketing boom yet to be discovered! :)

And while Pentecost Day is the “official” beginning of the early Church, the birthday of the Church, it’s important not to think of it in terms of bricks and mortar and not to simply focus on Covenant Christian Church. I so love Pentecost because it is not a holiday that you can celebrate by yourself. There is nothing about self in this special day. Pentecost is a celebration of and for the community of faith wherever it is found…

It’s one of those stories in scripture that describes the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work. As described in Acts 2, it’s a day filled with activity and forward movement; filled with energy that serves to fuel and refuel people of faith.
This story contains so many rich symbols of the Spirit:
· rushing wind coming through the Upper Room where the disciples were gathered;
· breathing on them, filling them with confidence and power;
· tongues of fire, giving the disciples all the inspiration they needed to go forth and share the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ; giving them the words of speech that any and all would be able to understand;
· the Spirit descending upon them like a dove, surrounding them and enveloping them, making them whole.
· And then you add the bold vibrant colors of red and orange.

Now can you at least begin to understand why Pentecost is such a great day in the life of the Church? This day quite forcefully reminded those early disciples of how God would make good on a promise Jesus had made to them—the promise that God would never abandon them; that an Advocate, a Comforter was coming to them. And once this promise was fulfilled, they somehow knew that the roles they would play in establishing the early church meant there would be no time for standing still; looking down or drawing in the sand with their big toes…

This was a day for paying attention yet the disciples could never know at that very moment, the impact of everything that was happening around them. But their faith was their strength. Their faith was the key that allowed them to respond to this Mighty Wind and Fire. They somehow knew to respond; to grab hold; to hold on tight; all that was happening was preparing them for the bumpy ride that lay ahead—a ride that could never be captured at an amusement park; a ride that was filled with chills and thrills and literally could take one’s breath away, only to fill them with new breath—the breath that would never die.

For all of you thrill-seekers out there, if this isn’t enough excitement for you, know that the icing on the Church’s birthday cake this Sunday, is when Tom Evett, Becky Layko, Andrew Stiles & Katherine White, come forward to make their Confession of Faith…to accept Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior of their lives. And then to later share in the sacrament of Baptism. In so doing they are also saying “Yes!”—Yes to life; Yes to capturing a ride on the Wind of Faith that will indeed be their strength for whatever the road ahead brings.

With each celebration of Pentecost Day, you and I are called upon to renew our faith; to renew our commitment and dedication to support the life and ministry of Covenant Christian Church; praying for the strength and courage to move forward into God’s future. We stand at the precipice between the present and the future; toes curling over the edge, as we survey God’s grandeur before us. And we are invited to soar with the eagles; but only sprouting wings, once we dare to fly!

Let’s gather for worship on what promises to be a “great gettin’ up mornin’” and don’t forget to wear RED! If finding something red becomes a bother, come anyway!
Blessings, Joanne