Sunday, May 31, 2020

Day of Pentecost

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

First Reading: Acts 2:1-21
     or alternate First Reading: Numbers 11:24-30
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Second Reading: I Corinthians 12:3b-13
     or alternate Second Reading: Acts 2:1-21
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23
     or alternate Gospel: John 7:27-39

The liturgical color for the day is: Red

Pentecost is full of action, Spirit-breath wind, and audible resonance with the God who continues to move among us. 

It is what God does in our lives.  A new song.  A new way.  A new view.  A new opportunity.  A new challenge.  New.  Such is the essence of the poured-out Spirit.  What if we welcomed that new thing God is doing among us rather than clung to the old way?  What if we did that in the church—what if we allowed the breeze of the Holy Spirit to blow us into a new way?  New view?  New opportunity?  New challenge?

Isn’t that just exactly our experience during this odd time of COVID-19?  Social distancing has meant we have had to do things completely different.  We have made some incredible discoveries in the world (the environment heals itself when we are not on the road, the skies are clear, wildlife emerges), in our lives (no need to be shopping and buying with abandon—living with less may be living with more), and in our churches (with our buildings closed our churches may have never been more open—open to change, open to digital connection, open to building community in new and even tried and true ways). We have been learning a new “tongue” for how to speak God’s liveliness among us!

Oh, Pentecost…it has arrived, and we are living it!

God has more in store for us than we know.  The Holy Spirit has been poured out.  We need to catch the wind and allow the Holy Spirit to blow us into a new way. 

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk