A MESSAGE FROM REV. KAREN KINNEY: CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH
Grace and peace to you,
This Sunday, May 24, we celebrate Pentecost, which is known as the birth of the church! It truly is one of my favorite church holidays.
But why? There are so many literally and 
figuratively moving parts to the story (read Acts 2). There are howling wind, descending doves, and flames landing on the disciples’ heads. Then the disciples who have been locked away in an upper room, terrified to go out, suddenly being filled with the spirit and able to speak a language foreign to their native one. Sounds confusing and frankly a tad terrifying. I don’t know what I would think about that – it’s all bewildering.
And, yet… can you imagine being a Parthian or a Mede or Cappadocian or Egyptian who suddenly hears a Galilean of all people speaking your language to help you understand just who Jesus and God are? You totally get the good news of the Gospel and now you want to join! You want to belong to this new community of faith that is forming in Jerusalem, but soon will pop up all over the geographic area.
If we read further in Acts 2, we discover that about 3,000 were added that day to the already growing community. Listen to what they did: The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.
All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
In other words, they left the upper room and moved out into the outer world. They let go of fear and feelings of inadequacy to become a community of faith that kept bringing in people because of their fruit of the Spirit’s actions and their inclusive teaching. They committed to going into that outer world, knowing it might – and indeed did become – dangerous. These Jesus followers gave birth to the church and we follow in their footsteps.
Last week’s Mission Study retreat revealed a great deal of enthusiasm and desire to go into the outer world. To leave the physical structure and focus on developing and nurturing relationships, partnering and collaborating with others to do mission activities, and to build coalitions for advocacy for our siblings who need advocates.
Might we take the first steps by reminding ourselves that centuries ago, a group of terrified disciples trusted that the Holy Spirit had indeed descended upon them, giving them the strength, courage and knowledge to go out and be the church. Might we really embrace and embody that kind of trust.
This is why Pentecost is one of my favorite church holidays – the gift of the Holy Spirit to go out and be the church is a great gift. So let’s explore this Sunday. Come and be part of a Holy Spirit moment!
Don’t forget! Wear your red, orange or yellow or any combination to celebrate the birth of the church!
Blessings,
Pastor Karen