Pentecost is celebrated as the birthday of the church. It marks the Biblical witness of the coming of the Holy Spirit in wind and fire. We remember the Spirit of God sweeping thru the disciples and sharing gifts, most notably the gift of language and understanding. Then the disciples pushed out into the street and witnessed to the good news of Jesus Christ, and thousands were converted to following Jesus in that one day.
The term Pentecost comes from the Greek meaning “fiftieth”. It was the Greek way of referring to the Jewish festival of Shavuot celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover. It is also known as the “Feast of Weeks” and the “Feast of 50 days” in rabbinic tradition. That is the feast which was being shared by the disciples on the day when the Holy Spirit came upon them. In Jewish tradition the day celebrates the Torah, or the law as given to Moses in the 10 commandments. In Christian tradition we believe Jesus Christ fulfills all the law. The coming of the Holy Spirit signified a movement from law of God to Spirit of God.
Beyond the memory of the day, the church today celebrates the whole season of Pentecost with the challenge to share the good news of Jesus in the world. That is our primary call. Show others God’s love. Tell others about God’s grace. The season lasts for half the year, stretching out till the beginning of Advent in November. The season of Pentecost is about living our faith in ordinary days in ordinary ways, remaining faithful in the long journey of life.
This year We will celebrate Pentecost on June 5 in church by wearing red and praising God. Join us for worship and for the work of Pentecost in the following months.