Come Holy Spirit

As we move into the month of May, we approach my absolute favorite holiday of the year. No, not Memorial Day or Mother’s Day, though they are important too, but the second most important holiday for us as followers of Jesus (after Easter) – one that we don’t usually give enough attention to – PENTECOST! 

Pentecost, which this year we celebrate on May 24^th, is a holiday that’s been called “the birthday of the church” as it is the day we celebrate the gifting of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus, after his resurrection and ascension into heaven.  The Spirit comes upon the disciples as tongues of fire, enabling them to speak in other languages, and empowering them to share the gospel with the world.  Essentially, Pentecost is God calling and equipping us to go and be the church, the Body of Christ, in the world.  It also means that God the Holy Spirit is out and loose in the world, doing new things, breathing new life, and leading us in new ways to serve our mission of making disciples of Jesus.  And THAT is something to get excited about!

So what does that look like? Well, it starts with a reminder from Paul in 1 Corinthians that we ALL are given unique gifts of the Spirit, and we are ALL needed as parts of the Body of Christ to be the church in the world (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).  It means we can expect God to be with us, guiding and challenging us to new things, and for us to be bold in using and sharing the gifts we have been given.  It means, especially in this time of transition, that God is speaking and leading us to new ways of being church.  This is the work the Transition Team and Board of Ministry are leading us in, as together we discern what God is calling Lord of Life to in the future.

Pentecost is our annual reminder that God has gifted and called us ALL to be the church and to share the gospel of Jesus with the world, and it is time to step up and step out in faith, to take some chances, and to trust in the Spirit’s leading. Here at Lord of Life, that might involve finding new ways to serve, inviting others to join you, considering and possibly increasing your giving, deepening your prayer life, and more fully participating in God’s work both inside and outside our walls.  This is the time to call on, listen for, trust in, and follow the Spirit, and to get excited about where God is leading us next.

Come Holy Spirit!

Peace,

Pastor Kristin