Pentecost

May 23rd is the day we celebrate Pentecost, marking the coming of the Holy Spirit to the people who were gathering in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks.

Pentecost is from the Greek, meaning “fiftieth.” This referred to the fiftieth day after the Feast of First Fruits when all gave a portion of the first fruits to support the functioning of the priests and synagogues in order to maintain the communities’ religious services and spiritual centers of care of its people. This practice is linked to Passover, to God’s protection of the people and God’s guidance on the building of a strong community. Fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits comes the Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost) celebrating the harvest.

It was for this purpose of celebrating the harvest that Jewish people from all over gathered in Jerusalem and experienced the descent of the Holy Spirit, a day that would come to be meaningful to us today as the birth of the Christian church.

We will gather to hear the story of the Holy Spirit, the birth of what we have come to know as the church, and to be ready anew for the Spirit to continue working in us. How humbling it is to know the roots of our faith go deep into history and have grown to include us. Thanks be to God!

See you Sunday!