Pentecost Is Here!

This Sunday is our celebration of the birth of the church. Not Faith UMC but THE church. It falls on the 50th day after the resurrection. Pentecost is based on the scripture from Acts 2n where the Holy Spirit descends on all the people “like tongues of fire.” It may even evoke a reminder for you of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus and God’s voice claiming him as beloved. It is a tradition in churches to wear Red on this special Sunday. I have changed the paraments in the sanctuary to red as well. We have special elements planned for worship and our Bell Choir will be playing. On that first Pentecost day, over 3,000 people were baptized and they became THE church. Pentecost is our origin story.

In this season of transition from school to summer, graduations and weddings, it is nice to pause and give thanks for this gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus leaves with us. Jesus describes the one who is with us as the Advocate. An advocate is someone who supports you publicly. When we think of the Holy Spirit as an ever ready supporter it adds depth and dimension to our relationship with our God. This idea that we are never fully on our own but that we are held in love is a comfort that surpasses all understanding. For some of us, we never feel fully worthy of allowing ourselves to believe that we are that valuable to God. We have decided that we have messed up too many times or held secrets about who we truly are to the point that God has given up on loving us. Forgiving us. But that isn’t possible. Maybe if we forgive ourselves for the ways that we have failed than we call allow ourselves to believe how deeply loved that we are.

We are currently getting ready for some really big events in June- Youth Camp and Vacation Bible school. We have sooooo many students signed up for camp that we need at least two more adults to attend with us. We need another man and another woman. Reach out to Mark to find out what is expected as a Youth leader and figure out if this is a place where you might use your gifts. I will be there all week and love going.

I am also still recruiting for the Welcome Team for Sunday mornings. We have 50% of the slots filled right now. Serving on our Welcome Team is the most important thing that we do. These folks set the tone for the guests who arrive looking to engage and worship with us. Statistics tell us that people decide if they are ever coming back in the first few minutes that they enter a church. Without a warm welcome, people don’t have the opportunity to connect or find community in which to do life and faith together.

God loves you and I love you!