Pentecost

Aren't celebrations and festivals really great? They draw us together for positive reasons. I just love the Christian festival of Pentecost, celebrated on Sunday 11th May. Many see it as the birth of the Christian Church and all three churches in the Parish will be coming together on Pentecost Sunday for a joint service at 10.00am in St David's, Lordswood followed by a barbecue. So please do come and share in the celebration.

Pentecost has its roots in the Jewish festival of Shavuot. At this festival the Jews give thanks for the first fruits of their harvest. it is also a time when they remember the Ten Commandments being given to Moses on Mount Sinai and is held 50 days after the Jewish Passover Festival. Jesus had been crucified the day after he had shared the Passover with his Disciples (the Last Supper). Three days later, on Easter Day, we remember that lesus rose from the dead and, until his ascension into heaven 40 days later, Jesus continued his earthly ministry, "opening the minds" of the Disciples, teaching them the Good News of God"s mercy and grace, and was seen by over 500 people. In the intervening 10 days as the disciples waited expectantly for the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise that they would be 'clothed with power from on high', they stayed continually in the vicinity of the temple in Jerusalem, praising God.

We can only imagine the power with which the Spirit came upon those early disciples, coming with the sound of a violent wind, appearing like tongues of fire touching each of them as they were praying and praising. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The city was crowded with lews coming to the teniple from all over the known world, to bring their first fruit, Shavuot, offerings. The disciples drew the attention of the crowds by being able to speak in lots of different languages. Some at first thought they were drunk even though it was early in the morning. Peter stood up to address the massive crowd. Peter, you may remember, was a humble fisherman, called to be a disciple by Jesus, the same man who denied even knowing Jesus when lesus was arrested.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he stood and preached a sermon (Acts 2) reminding the crowd of the prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Joel, that there would come a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all people: "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions'. Peter told them how Jesus had been crucified, yet had risen from the dead. He told them that the people stood before them were all witnesses to the fact that it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Jesus, that Jesus was and is the long awaited Lord and Christ, God's Son. So moved was the crowd by Peter's Spirit-filled talk that over 3,000 became Christians that day.

The good news for all of us is that God has not changed his mind or removed his Holy Spirit from us. In prayer, we can ask God to fill us with His Spirit. You will receive and know his love for you, you will feel a deep inner peace and assurance about your life and you will know God's compassion for you and for others. Peter was given a special gift to preach: you will also receive a gift to do something special for God in the building up of his Church. Our God is the God of surprises and celebrations he will only give you good gifts and your Pentecost experience will enrich your life and the lives of those around you.

Rev. John S. Currie
( Team Vicar)