May Newsletter
“Loving Spirit, loving Spirit, you have chosen me to be—
you have drawn me in your wonder, you have set your sign on me.”
“Loving Spirit” ELW #397
For six weeks following the celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter), the Church observes the season of Easter. The chancel will continue to show signs of Easter, through banners, paraments and altar cloth colors (white), liturgically we will confess the Nicene Creed, and continue to sing hymns celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. In addition, the Pascal Candle, the tall candle near the altar and the baptismal font is lit each Sunday during the season of Easter. Then we have a change of seasons.
On May 28th the Church (most liturgical churches: Lutheran, Catholic…) will celebrate the Festival of Pentecost, a season that marks the end of the Easter season and begins the longest season of the church year: the season of Pentecost or some call it “Ordinary Time”. On May 28th, the color red will drape on the altar, the lectern and the pulpit; reminding us of the tongues of fire and the coming of the Holy Spirit as relayed to us in the second chapter of The Book of Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament.
On the day of Pentecost (28th), we might wear red, decorate the chancel with red flowers, or wave red flags; imagining the tongues of fire that hovered over the heads of the disciples on that day as recorded in The Book of Acts. At Pentecost we could also bake a cake and celebrate the birth of “the church”. Before Pentecost there was actually no organized movement that could called “the church”. Yes, there were followers of Jesus, but no “church”. So for Christians the coming of the Holy Spirit affirms the formation of what we call, yet, “the church”. The Holy Spirit was sent to call the church into being, and to enliven, and enlighten the church and the followers of Jesus. Pentecost is the birthday of the church.
As Lutheran’s we confess in the Apostle’s Creed our understanding and belief in who the Holy Spirit is and the Spirit’s purpose in our life and faith. At baptism we make and receive the promise that the Holy Spirit is present to us, in the church and in our relationship with God, creation and our daily life (The Spirit: “calls, gathers, and enlightens us”).
After the celebration on the Sunday of Pentecost, the color red is replaced by the color green, representing the season of Pentecost. Green is a color that reflects growth. We NEVER stop growing as Christians!
During both the Easter and Pentecost season set aside some “growth” time to consider your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself: 1. Am I relying on the power of God’s Spirit today? 2. Am I open to being the channel through which the Spirit can work and I can share my gifts? 3. Are the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) growing in my life? 4. Am I joining others in worship, the place where we are called to gather (which is what the Spirit makes happen!) with others to give praise to God?
God bless you and continue to bless the ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church. Live each day in hope and love; acknowledging the grace of God through your words and actions as you move through your daily life!
Pastor Carol Mapa
