May is a month of endings and beginnings. School year comes to a close, high school seniors experience the final “last times” in activities, academics and sports. There is Mother’s Day and the beginning of summer with Memorial Day weekend. Lots of gatherings, lots of planning, lots of activity! There are a few BIG festivals/occasions also on the church calendar: Pentecost and Holy Trinity Sunday. My focus in this brief note is Pentecost.
O Living Breath of God (ELW#407)
Vs. 1: O living Breath of God, Vs. 2: O living Breath of God,
wind at the beginning upon the waters; by whose power the Son
O living Breath of God, came to birth among us;
bearing the creation to wondrous birth: O living Breath of God,
(Genesis 1: 1-2) Refrain who to the creation gives
life anew: (John 1:1-9) Refrain
Vs. 3 O living Breath of God, Refrain:
bearing us to life through Come now, and fill our spirits;
baptismal waters; (Rom.6:3-4) pour out your gifts abundant.
O living Breath of God, O living Breath of God,
sighing with creation Holy Spirit; breathe in us as we
for freedom’s birth. (Romans 8:22-23) pray. (Romans 8:26-27)
Refrain
The hymn: “O Living Breath of God” (ELW#407- not the most sing-able, but the words convey the message); captures the meaning of Pentecost and the receiving of the Holy Spirit quite well. As the church observes the festival of Pentecost on Sunday, May 19th, we pause and celebrate the church’s birthday. Pentecost was the day that the Holy Spirit came upon a crowd gathered. The crowd was very diverse. Rev. Dr. Rolf Jacobson (Luther Seminary) describes Pentecost in the following way: “Pentecost was an event that “lit a fire-quite literally- (read about it in Acts 2!) under the witness of the church.”
Pentecost is fifty days after Easter (on the 7th Sunday after Easter). The church celebrates Pentecost Sunday with the color red and following this specific observation we enter the season of Pentecost (color green), which runs right up to Christ the King Sunday (November 24, 2024); making the longest season of the church year calendar.
As we enter this season of Pentecost, read all about it in Acts 2, check out other hymns in the ELW or other resources under the Festival of Pentecost and use them for devotions! Finally, come and worship, pray daily, serve your neighbor, share of your time, talents, and possessions; gather in fellowship- WEAR RED to worship on the 19th! (Ok it might clash with Truman High School colors, as it is also the Sunday, our graduates are recognized!) The Holy Spirit calls, gathers and enlightens us- the baptized people of God and “makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.” (Luther’s Small Catechism-Third Article Explanation)
WE ARE THE CHURCH! Let us move forward in mission and ministry held by the promises of God and the power of the Holy Spirit! Pastor Carol
