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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Pentecost Year B
Introduction
Introduction
Today is yet another miraculous event to behold for the disciples. They had to have been depressed that Jesus left them—again. After all he died and they were alone and afraid. At last, he rose from the dead and stayed with them and then was lifted to the sky. Gone. Again. How could they go on? Beloved, they did go on. They did accept the challenge. They did perform miracles. How wonderful for us that they did. Now I ask you to read Amanda Gorman's "The hill we climb" with this renewed understanding about the disciples.
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: “What is really amazing is that the Holy Spirit didn't come that one time and then go away. The Spirit still lives in the hearts of Christ's followers and the Spirit is with us here today."
Scripture: May 19, 2024—Acts 2:1–21 (image); Psalm 104:25–35, 37 (image); Romans 8:22–27 (image); and John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15 (image). A video/audio journey through the scripture.
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: In this coming week consider how many ways and through which persons you are shown a new path for your life. Watch for startling nudges or sudden epiphanies; listen for sighs that signal letting go of something pressing so that you can hear the Spirit’s guidance. What have you learned? How can you give thanks?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year B, Volume 1 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press)
Symbols of the Church
Symbols of the Church
Pentecost Symbols: The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.
The first Pentecost: The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them. It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire. The apostles then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit. People passing by at first thought that they must be drunk, but the apostle Peter told the crowd that the apostles were full of the Holy Spirit.
from "BBC on Pentecost" website.
Images enhancing
the scripture
Pentecost, Peter Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/pentecost
“What the fire gives” by Jan Richardson
“Holy Spirit Coming” by He Qi
a page of Pentecost art from Asia featuring Watanabe, Tanaka, Ota, Miura, and others
A stained glass window with a Pentecost theme by Hans Stocker at the Catholic church of St. Peter in Büsserach. Photo by Roland Zumbuehl, 2017
Music founded
in the scripture
“Holy Spirit, Rain Down” by Hillsong;
“Pentecost Sunday” by Richard Felciano [click on “play” (>); my ALL TIME FAVORITE];
“Come, Holy Spirit” by John Michael Talbot
“Veni Sancte Spiritus“, written by W.A. Mozart
Other voices
about the scripture
“Windblown” by Jim Calahan
“Commentary” by Amy G Odin
Exuberant Spirit of God” by Jan Berry
Exuberant Spirit of God,
bursting with the brightness of flame
into the coldness of our lives
to warm us with your passion for justice and beauty
we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God,
sweeping us out of the dusty corners of our apathy
to breathe vitality into our struggles for change,
we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God,
speaking words that leap over barriers of mistrust
to convey messages of truth and new understanding,
we praise you.
Exuberant Spirit of God,
flame
wind
speech
burn, breathe, speak in us;
fill your world with justice and with joy.
Jan Berry, Sheffield 1990
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“Star Wars IV: A New Hope” (1977, PG), Luke learns to trust the Force, Review
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939, G), the wind picked up Dorothy & Toto and took them to a place where nothing is the same, false “wisdom” commentator draws an interesting parallel drawn between “wizard’s wind” and “holy spirit” [Ed’s note: I guess the same might be said about Twister.], Review,
“The Music Man” (1962, G), “hearing in tongues”, the mighty wind opens the door for the professor and students to receive gift, Review
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide), group activity, snacks, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft;
For middlers: See family guide/activities (another activity); bulletin; craft
For youth: Here’s a video about Pentecost. Does what happened "then" to the disciples have any relevance for you today?
Extra: Here's a folder of materials for young ones. The items include coloring pages, games, and crafts with an indication of appropriate age group. Click and explore at your leisure.
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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