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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Pentecost Yr A
Introduction
Introduction
Will the wonders never cease? It probably depends on who’s looking and how much they are willing to “see”. The fearful disciples are gathered together. Their senses are overwhelmed—a roaring wind assaults their ears; tongues of fire light on their shoulders; they can speak AND hear in non-native languages. Is this beyond belief, or what? It’s only believable when you understand it’s the gift promised to bring comfort, to be support in the days ahead. And clearly, these “fearful” disciples believed as they went forth, spreading the good news of the gospel, and bringing Christianity to a tired world. Do you think that after seeing Christ resurrected and ascended these disciples would be suprised still? I do.
Now, look around you. In COVID-19 days, with social distancing, and semi-confinement, where were your senses assaulted by the Holy Spirit? What did you hear that surprised you? What did you see that gave you hope? What were you saying to bring comfort and support not only to others but to yourself? How has it changed, now that restrictions have been lifted. The Holy Spirit has not gone away. It's not even hiding. Open your eyes (and ears).
Comments welcome.
Acts 2:1-21
Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples 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 of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. . . . “
From sermon4kids.com: “. . . the Holy Spirit [needs] to fill us so we can be all that God wants us to be.”
Scripture: May 28, 2023—Acts 2:1-21 (image); Psalm 104:25-35, 37 (image); 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 (image); and John 20:19-23. Illuminating the scripture, an image and audio journey.
Collect: O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection: What prophetic word for the community has God given to you? In what ways do you struggle with conflicts between your way of life and the prophetic word God would have you proclaim to others? How are the acts of God manifest in your life and witness?
excerpt from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press.
Eye Candy:
“Heaven come down” by Jewell McChesney, ". . . Holy Spirit . . . pulling fire from heaven . . .";
“Pentecost depicted in a Missal“, 14th Century, from English missal;
“Pentecost“, 1732, by Jean Restout II;
“Pentecost“, from Busted Halo website, includes reflection [interesting inclusion of women]
Pentecost, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/pentecost
Ear Worm:
“Spirit fall down“, gospel sung by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir;
“Spirit of the living God“, gospel sung by Chicago Mass Choir;
“Holy Spirit, rain down” by Hillsong;
"Double Alleluia" by Richard Felciano; warning: there is a high, piercing whistle at the beginning- keep listening [my absolute favorite]
"Breathe on me, breath of God" by Hillsong
Brain Food:
“In the spirit of the spirit” by Andrew Prior;
commentary from Miriam’s Tambourine website [includes many art images];
"Wind, wind - a reflection on the Spirit" by William Loader;
“Come, Holy Ghost” translated from Latin by John Cosin, a paraphrase of Veni Creator Spiritus:
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, / and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art, / who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above / is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light / the dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face / with the abundance of thy grace.
Keep far our foes, give peace at home: / where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son, / and thee, of both, to be but One,
that through the ages all along, / this may be our endless song:
praise to thy eternal merit, / Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Parables:
“Chocolat” (2000), wind blows the church doors open;
“Angels in the outfield” (1994), in which angels (Holy Spirit) assist;
“The Music Man” (1962, 2003 DVD), “hearing in tongues”
Hymn Notes: In its original form, "Double Alleluia" by Richard Felciano (referenced above) is a perfect depiction of the happenings on that special first Pentecost. It begins with the wind - a wild, violent wind. And Felciano doesn't stop with a 5 second wind. For those of us familiar with hurricanes, we often hear the hurricane winds. Then Felciano introduces an extremely high piercing whistle. It's not so loud as to hurt your ears but it does make you sit up and wonder what is next. Yes, it's another unexpected event. While the whistle is going, the choir begins to speak-sing disconnected syllables that will turn into words. And forget singing traditionally - the voices slide up and down and then the organist plays a "chord". I put that in quotes because it's a non-traditional chord, played with the flat palms of both hands across the keys. Now Felciano has everybody's attention. The choir, organ, and Felciano continue to tell the Pentecost story. At almost the end, there are flutters (perhaps wings), then in a monotone, as if in a trance, the choir recites the lyrics of the hymn "Come, holy spirit." How could I not love it.
For families: Study guide and activities (former guide), group activity, snacks; kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (other activity); bulletin; craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities (other activity); bulletin; craft
Coloring: Pentecost fire, Acts
For youth: The Day of Pentecost in our congregations is often marked by youth celebrating the Affirmation of their Baptism. What does this really mean in one’s life—to affirm a faith and to live into promises made for you before you were able to make them? How can one grasp the significance of being knit into this community, this body, that is both broken and beautiful, in bondage and radically freed? How have we taken this strange and wildly non-conforming notion and tamed it into something less appealing than tepid bathwater? Share.
Excerpted from SOLI website.
Comments welcome.
Each of us has heard the Acts story of Pentecost many times. . . . We know that a major influence of Acts 2 is a Pentecostal faith-language highlighted by, “As they were all together in one place, divided by nationality and race, suddenly they were all able to understand numerous other languages.” God’s spirit made Pentecost happen. . . .
The day of Pentecost reminds us how we were before God brought us together. Certainly the disciples “were all together in one place.” But they were like “sheep which have no shepherd” (Num. 27:17; 2 Chr. 18:16; Mt. 9:36, and Mk. 6:34). Beyond this, the twelve and other random followers were mostly afraid, confused, and paralyzed by not knowing what to do next.
Suddenly this haphazard group of believers, teetering on the edges of unbelief or at least having little confidence in what God’s future held for them, experienced something extraordinary. They understood one another. No other force could unite a group this diverse as the Holy Spirit did that day of Pentecost.
The same is true I suppose today too. Only God’s spirit can unite people like us. Like a mother who seems to be the only one in the house who can get all the children pulling in the same direction, so too does the spirit do this for us. Even the lofty theologian Paul valued the mother-son relationship, writing: “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother—a mother to me also” (Rom. 16:13). St. Cyprian said as well as any when he stated: “He can no longer have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother” (De unitate ecclesiae, vi.). Thank God for the Holy Spirit that takes a group of haphazard individuals and crafts, shapes, forms us into the Body of Christ—the household of faith.
The task of learning the whole language of faith, both in its joy and in its sorrow, is difficult. There should be no argument about this difficulty! The day of Pentecost, however, reminds us that it is God who sends the spirit upon the people. Speaking faith language is not dependent upon our own strength or wisdom, but rather our faith-language God offers as a precious gift—given, received, and used by people in the community of faith—for the whole people of God.
Excerpted from Speaking Spirit-Language by David Mosser from Patheos website.
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