Pastor Craig - June 2019

 I just witnessed excitement about coming to church. Stepping out of the parish hall and I saw this streak of black running to the sanctuary church doors. It was so fast I did not know what it was at first. I went out and here it was Marley, a black lab that comes with Ley and Fred Hall to church. He is a “helper” dog. You might know Marley when he has served as a greeter. Ley had just thrown a ball for him to fetch and what I saw was him running after the ball. He is always excited to come to church because he knows this place. Ley comes every week to straighten the information in the chairs and Marley lays down in the sanctuary. He knows he is safe and belongs in this place.

 This month we are celebrating the Day of Pentecost. The day when the God’s Spirit came into the world. You know the story. The disciples are in the room having celebrated the Festival of Pentecost, which is 50 days after the celebrating of their last Passover with their Lord, Jesus. When “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” (Acts 2:2-3). The Spirit drove the disciples out into the street.

 “And at this sound the crowd gathered” (Acts 2:6a). It was because of the “noise”, people came running out of their homes and ran down the street to see what had happened. Was it an earthquake, was it a tornado, did it cause any damage, are we needed to dig out any survivors? Imagine what they saw and experienced. There was no damage. They came upon a group of disciples who they knew followed Jesus, the one that was crucified just a few weeks ago standing as if they were expecting the crowd to come. The crowd was “Bewildered, because each one heard them speaking the native language of each.” (Acts 2:6b)

 Sometimes when we hear the Pentecost Story, we get so caught up in the fireworks and the noise that we forget the real miracle of that day. The disciples were probably still trying to figure out what to do. Was it even safe to go on with the message that Jesus gave them? Did they dare even go out and admit they were his disciples? You can just imagine the disagreements and the discussions that they were having on what to do next. In an instant all of their questions were answered in a big way. It was God’s Spirit that gave them the courage to go outside and proclaim that message of Jesus so that all could hear and understand.

 Marley is so excited to come to church and he is not the only one. To watch young people get out of their cars and run to the Narthex or even the playground, they know that God is here in the people that surround them with that love and acceptance. But here is the truth, I know how many people are excited to enter into the church to experience God’s love and care and be surrounded by a group of people who know and love them. Granted we may not be running, but to witness the determination of people coming with walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and persistent footsteps is in itself a miracle to behold.

 We celebrate the Day of Pentecost on June 8 & 9 (wear red), but we recognize the Holy Spirit every moment of our lives.

 In Christ,

  Pastor Craig