June 12, 2011
Pentecost is one great day at Bridgeport! We wear fiery colors and we enjoy beautiful banners and we get to hear and sing all kinds of great music. I love it! Yet while some Bridgeporters may have a whole lot of Pentecost in their past, truth to tell, before going to seminary I never celebrated it.
Here’s the nutshell scoop on this fabulous day: the Pentecost story in Acts 2:1-21 tells of the Holy Spirit coming upon the first Christians. The Greek word pentekostos, meaning fiftieth, refers to the fact that the Jewish festival of Shavuot was held fifty days after Passover. Pentecost / Shavuot was originally a celebration of the spring harvest and eventually became a commemoration of the receiving of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, the guiding principle of Jewish life. Since Pentecost was so soon on the heels of Passover, it wasn’t uncommon that people from far-flung places would just remain in Jerusalem then return home after Shavuot.
According to the story in the book of Acts, some 120 disciples of Jesus had stayed on in Jerusalem. And even as they were waiting for Shavuot, the gospels of John & Luke tell us that Jesus had instructed the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the arrival of the Helper that Jesus promised God would send to them. So that Pentecost morning, the followers of Jesus were gathered in traditional Shavuot prayer and study when the Spirit of God suddenly descended upon them with a whole lot of fire and wind. What a story!
So how is it that Pentecost got dumped off so many church calendars? Personally, I think it all has to do with how the church honchos were phenomenally uncomfortable with the whole unpredictability thing of the Holy Spirit. They needed to believe that they were in control of what went on in the church — not God! But of course, trying to box up or pasteurize or ignore the Holy Spirit will work only just so long and then — wham! — she bursts out of the box, reverts back to her rich, full, vibrant, contagious state that no one can ignore! And that’s why Pentecost is back in mainline churches all across the country, and why it has regained its status as the most important celebration of the Christian calendar right after Christmas and Easter.
But Pentecost is not just about remembering something that happened a long time ago, it’s about reliving the experience of Pentecost and re-encountering the power of the Spirit. On Pentecost Sunday we are invited to experience life in the power of the Spirit. We are called to remember that the mission of Jesus is too big and too important for us to accomplish on our own power. Come to church this Sunday and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and then join us in our annual potluck picnic at Oaks Park! It will be a great day, and wonderful to see you.
in the Big Love– susan
Carpool if you can and park in the center of the train track oval area or near the roller coaster and walk toward the river. We’re just on the right, with a big canopy for shelter. By all means, bring your friends, neighbors, nieces, nephews, and grandkids! It’s a blast! We get a small discount on the ride bracelets, and you can buy them at the picnic.
The GLBTQ Pride festival is next Saturday & Sunday, June 18th and 19th at Waterfront Park. Noon-11:00 pm on Saturday and Noon-6:00 pm on Sunday. The parade steps off at 11:15 from the North Park Blocks. www.pridenw.org Have you thought about marching in the GLBTQ Pride parade? All the churches of the Central Pacific Conference of the UCC are marching together & you are welcome to represent Bridgeport. Let me know if you want to carry our sign.
We are having church at our usual time -10:30 — and there’s a service at 1st Congregational UCC downtown at 9:30.
My Office Coffee Hours in June and July are on Tues. afternoons from 3 to 6 at Division Coffee located at 35th Place & Southeast Division . Come by for a cup and conversation. You can also call me anytime to make an appointment. 503-258-0992.
