Candice's Comments

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the church, on Sunday, May 19, we may wonder why and what exactly are we celebrating. The following, based on Acts 2:1-22, tells the story:

It is festival time in Jerusalem. Jewish people from all over the land have flocked to the city to take part in feasts and celebrations in a festival called Pentecost. Amongst the crowd are around 120 disciples of Jesus.  It has been 50 days since Jesus had risen from the dead and 10 days ago he ascended into heaven. The last thing he said to his disciples was that they will receive a great power from something called the Holy Spirit. And so the followers of Jesus stayed in Jerusalem and waited.

Now, on this particular day of Pentecost, all these disciples were gathered in the one place. When all of a sudden, there was deafening sound, like a rushing wind and amongst the disciples danced tongues of fire. And they began to speak in languages they had never spoken or learned. This was the coming of the Holy Spirit.

What a sound the disciples were making as they spoke in different languages. And this sound could be heard out on the street by all the Jewish people from other places who were staying in Jerusalem. And they were amazed and astonished at what they heard. For they knew the disciples were from Galilee and yet they were speaking in their foreign languages. These people were from many different places and they were stunned because they could hear the disciples talking about the wonderful acts of God.

It was all too much to take in! What was happening? It was wonderful but also very… confusing.  But there were those who just sneered and said they were drunk. It seemed that not all were ready to receive the gift of the Spirit.  Now Peter who was one of the disciples who had been with Jesus from the start, heard this remark about them being drunk. And he got up and faced them and spoke in a loud clear voice:

“Drunk! It’s only 9 o’clock in the morning. We are not drunk! But what you have witnessed was spoken about by the prophet Joel centuries ago when he said that the Spirit is poured out on all kinds of different people. And you will be amazed by the wonders that will happen. Your sons and daughters will see future events. Your young men will see all sorts of visions and even your old men will dream dreams. Even those who are seen as lesser will be empowered with the spirit to see things others cannot.”

And Peter went on to speak of many things and the people all listened. And from this day a community of faith and love grew… and grew… and grew. And now we gather to celebrate both the coming of the spirit and the birth of the church… all on this special day of Pentecost.

                                                                                 

In the Pentecost Spirit, 

Candice