“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.” – Acts 2:2

The third great celebration of the church year comes in June this year, and no, it is not “summer vacation”!  It is Pentecost, the celebration of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the church and in our lives.  Unfortunately this great celebration, this earth-shaking, life-changing, God empowered event is met too often with a sense of apathetic distraction.  It’s almost as if we are too preoccupied with lesser things than ready to receive God’s gift of forgiveness and life.

But God’s Spirit is still very much at work in our lives, and in our congregation.  Don’t dampen that fire by attitudes that look for excuses to be negative.  Don’t miss that breath of life because you’ve fallen prey to the distractions of lesser things.  As we move into summer make sure you find a balance of time to get away, and a time to come together.  Just like an ember dies when removed from the fire for too long, we too can grow cold in faith when we stay away from the fellowship of worship for too long.

Most of all find reasons to celebrate the goodness and grace of the Lord our God in creation, family, and our church.  Find space to feel the breath of God’s grace warming, forgiving, and filling your heart.

Hear this prayer for Pentecost:

Come Holy Spirit, our souls inspire and lighten with celestial fire. Ignite our hearts, inflame our souls, and kindle our spirits that we may burn anew with your love. Overcome our timid and tepid faith with these encouragements of your presence and gospel. Warm up all that is cold or frozen in us. Give us the flame of lively living and believing. O Spirit of God, take our words and speak through them; take our minds and think through them; take our hearts and set them on fire. Amen.

In God’s Spirit,

Pastor John Twiton

Donald Juel, professor at Luther Seminary, reflecting on the resurrection account in the Gospel of Mark, once wrote that:

“None of the Gospels can really end the story of Jesus.  The whole point is that it continues–and that its significance continues.” (Mark (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1990) 234).

I like this point of view, because Jesus is raised, and lives even now, the story does not end.  The question for all of us who have experienced this good news is this:  “How does Jesus’ story, the good news of victory of life over death, continue to be seen in our lives day after day?”

We do a pretty good job of celebrating Easter.  The flowers, the music, the celebration of the day are wonderful.  But how quickly do we allow the story to be pushed aside by our hurry to get on to other things?  How often do we go back to living as if fear, guilt, and death are more powerful that the light and love of Easter morning?

The story of Jesus will continue.  Because he lives, we continue to be blessed by the grace that gives life.  Because he lives, we continue to be forgiven and made new.  Because he lives, we have the promise that he is with us always.  Because he lives, we are called to be about the work of his kingdom even now

How will you continue in the story of Easter?  Each of us has gifts and opportunities to share:

• To reach out to the lonely and the lost.
• To offer forgiveness and reconciliation
• To worship and invite others along
• To feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and work for justice
• To build up the body of Christ.

Blessings on your continuing journey in Christ’s resurrection!

 

Pastor John Twiton