Pentecost & Youth Sunday
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” -Jude 1:24-25
This week in worship we celebrate Youth Sunday with a single worship service at 10am. Youth Sunday reminds us of the good work of Jesus Christ through all ages in our church. We hear testimonies, give quilts, sing, pray, and worship together as a family of God.
This year, Pentecost falls on the same day. Pentecost is the celebration of the events in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus as tongues of fire and enabled them to speak in many languages. Acts 2 tells the story of Peter preaching before all the people gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of first fruits. Shavuot was the second of three great pilgrimage festivals in Jerusalem. (Passover is first, and Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles is third).
When the people heard the message of salvation in Jesus, they were cut to the heart and asked the disciples, “Brothers, what must we do?” (Acts 2:37)
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you… Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:38-41) This is why we consider Pentecost the “birthday of the church”.
We may not have 3,000 people join us this Sunday in worship. However, we will see the fruit of the Holy Spirit working among us through our youth volunteers, staff, and church family. We will hear how the Holy Spirit is healing hurts and growing our faith.
I pray you will join us in worship this Sunday as we celebrate our church family.
The Spirit that rushes in like a violent wind is also the Spirit of gentleness.
The Spirit that tears down walls between people is also the Spirit that opens hearts and minds.
The Spirit that burnishes with fire is also the Spirit that renews and creates.
The Spirit that brings a language of its own to our lips is also the Spirit that carries the prayers of all to God.
Come, Holy Spirit. Strengthen us to stand with our neighbors, to fight against oppression, to stand for peace, to trust in God’s faithfulness, and to live and die in Christ for the sake of the world. Come, Holy Spirit! Amen.
