The day of Pentecost falls on May 23 this year. Pentecost is a principal festival in the church. It marks the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples fifty days after Easter. The story of the descending of the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 2: 1-4: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”
In the Old Testament, the fiftieth day after Passover was celebrated as “the feast of Weeks.” In Deuteronomy 16: 9-10 we read: “You shall count seven weeks; begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. Then you shall keep the festival of weeks for the Lord your God, contributing a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing that you have received from the Lord your God.”
The season of Pentecost is the longest season in the Church year. Originally this season was set around particular saints’ days: St. Peter and St. Paul; St. Lawrence, and St. Michael.
It’s interesting that the Old Testament account calls attention to proportionate giving and the New Testament account talks about violent winds and other languages.
Maybe they fit together more than we realize. Money talk often stirs up violent wind! Not the holy kind of vio- lent wind but the winds of anxiety over what we do with our possessions. Nevertheless, God has entrusted us with possessions. And God expects that we use these possessions to further his kingdom. The gospel speaks of other languages. One might be generosity. To that end, the church council has implemented a stewardship team to make individual home visits. These folks have been trained and are prepared to discuss two things. First they will answer any questions you may have concerning the new position of Director of Youth and Family Ministry and second they will give you the opportunity to revisit your 2010 commitment and to commit to the 2011 budget.
“We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us”
Peace,
Pastor John Albertson