Pastoral Message: “Thoughts about the Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit” Week of the Seventh Sunday of Easter May 24, 2023
Pastoral Message:
“Thoughts about the Day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit”
Week of the Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 24, 2023
Dear People of God at Faith-La Fe!
Another major festival in our church calendar is upon us, the Day of Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts 2:1-47. The festival of Pentecost concludes the fifty days of Eastertide. And we just celebrated yet another significant festival, the Ascension of Our Lord, the culminating event in the earthly sojourn of Christ which served as a tipping point to the coming of the Spirit. Pentecost inaugurated the reign of Christ via the divine energies of the Holy Spirit in birthing the church on earth as the body of Christ. When it’s all said and done, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost, while commemorating particular events in salvation history, all blend together, even as the persons of the Trinity blend together, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, yet three unique and distinct faces or expressions of the one Godhead (Trinity Sunday is the week after Pentecost Sunday – so more on the Trinity in next week’s message!).
In the blending of major festivals of the church, Easter leads to the Ascension, which paves the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. One cannot understand the Day of Pentecost without taking into account Easter, for it was the Spirit’s coming that unleashed the tongues of the apostles and empowered them to proclaim God’s deeds of power in raising Jesus from the dead. Likewise, the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost would not make sense if Jesus didn’t first return to the Father in heaven via the Ascension. So, in this way, every Sunday is Easter as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection each week. It’s also true that every Sunday is Good Friday as Easter would not have happened without Jesus’ dying. And every Sunday is Ascension Day as we always celebrate Christ’s cosmic reign throughout time and space. And every Sunday is Pentecost as the Holy Spirit comes to us anew each week working through the usual means of grace in Word and Sacraments. I should add, too, that every Sunday is also Christmas, because we are ever celebrating the incarnation of the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ, who still comes to us in fleshly ways in the word, but most particularly in the sacrament of the altar, and among us, we who congregate each Sunday in person, we who are now the body of Christ in and for the sake of the world! In short, each and every Sunday celebrates all the features of the events of Christ’s having come to this, our world.
But the Day of Pentecost as a festival gives us occasion to consider the nature of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, and to examine the effects of the Spirit’s coming on that fateful, wondrous day. With all of this in mind, I have a palpable sense that we celebrated Pentecost a week early when we had our one bi-lingual liturgy this past Sunday to open up more time on that day for our congregational meeting to hear annual reports and to elect members to the Council, Preschool Board, and Nominating Committee. In what ways was our celebration last week a Pentecost event? Recall that according to the account in the Book of Acts, one of the major effects of the Spirit’s coming was giving to the apostles, all parochial, small-town Galileans, the gift, the ability, to speak in other languages – no semesters studying those languages needed and no need as well for Google Translate or other language-learning platforms! “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:4) This was not glossolalia, speaking in tongues – a different and distinct gift of the Spirit – but the capacity to speak the languages of the known nations on earth at the time, “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia…” and on the list of nations and peoples goes in Acts 2.
We had a little taste of that multi-lingual reality this past Sunday when our single liturgy for the day was in both Spanish and English, alternating between the two languages. Think of the many nations in which English is spoken. Think also of the many nations in which Spanish is spoken. These are two of the major languages of all of humanity. So, in the two languages spoken in church at Faith-La Fe this past Sunday, we had a truly global experience.
It’s also true that languages convey not only meaning and intelligibility to the speakers, they also communicate to some extent the cultures of the peoples who speak these languages. Culture and language go hand in hand. And it’s likewise true that styles of music also accompany particular languages and give expression to unique cultures. We had a good taste of that this past Sunday, too, when we were blessed by the music of both el Coro de la Fe and our Chancel Choir. So, it was not just a blending of two languages, but a joining of distinct cultures of the nations that speak and sing in Spanish and English.
Hearing Spanish and English side by side, alternating one to the other, can be jarring and disorienting if you’re not accustomed to it. Likewise, moving from one style of music to another reveals the contrasts between and distinctiveness of human cultures. This, too, can make for some cognitive dissonance in the variety, especially in differing musical styles offered alongside each other, one style leading immediately to the next. Such jarring disorientation is also in keeping with the Day of Pentecost of ancient times when the Spirit showed up. All the noise of the apostles speaking, presumably at the same time, in different languages, made for quite the commotion and it got people’s attention. “And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?” (Acts 2:6-8) Sunday’s bi-lingual worship gave us the flavor of the Day of Pentecost of old. This may have been particularly evident when we recited together the Lord’s Prayer and Nicene Creed simultaneously in our preferred native tongue, either Spanish or English, making for something of a festive cacophony.
But here’s the main thing: the Spirit’s coming on the Day of Pentecost, while it enabled Jesus’ followers to speak in the languages of the many nations, what they spoke was a singular message, namely, of God’s deeds of power in raising Jesus from the dead (cf. Acts 2:11). It was in many languages, but one message: Jesus Christ, the one crucified, is risen and death no longer has dominion over him, or over us. That’s the one message we heard and said and sang both in English and Spanish on Sunday. It may have been in Spanish or English, but it was still the one confession of faith in the Nicene Creed. It may have been in Spanish or English, but it was still the Lord’s Prayer, the universal words of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thus, even in the diversity of languages, cultures, and nations – diversity having been part of the emerging Christian tradition from the get go – there is an essential unity in Christ, a unity that Jesus prayed for when he prayed to the Father in the presence of the disciples on the night before his death, as we heard in last Sunday’s gospel reading from John – “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:11b) Such unity, even amidst diversity, is another effect of the Spirit’s coming. We embodied that unity this past Sunday, enacting in that bilingual liturgy the reality that we are one congregation even if we have two missionary focal points in ministry with Spanish speakers and English speakers. And in our unity as a single congregation, we also share in the unity of the whole, diverse church throughout the world as the one body of Christ! Our local reality thus reflects a global reality. It’s a wondrous thing. Thanks be to God!
All of the meaningfulness of this one liturgy came to a head for me in a Holy Spirit moment when I was moved to tears singing the Hymn of the Day, a hymn written by an English layman and commonly sung at ecumenical events, a hymn that makes the plea for greater visible unity in the church, while honestly acknowledging our ongoing, sometimes painful divisions. So, I conclude this missive of reflections on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit with the text of that hymn as a prayer, a prayer that continues Jesus’ own prayer for unity in the body of Christ, unity locally here at Faith-La Fe and unity in the church throughout the world:
“Lord, who the night you were betrayed did pray that all your church might be forever one: help us at every Eucharist to say with willing heart and soul, ‘Your will be done.’ Oh, may we all one bread, one body be, through this blest sacrament of unity. For all your church on earth we intercede; Lord, make our sad divisions soon to cease; draw us all closer, each to each, we plead, by drawing all to you, O Prince of Peace; thus may we all one bread, one body be, through this blest sacrament of unity.” (ELW 463, stanzas 1-2)
Truly, it is at the table of the Eucharist where Christ draws us all together to him as one in the power of the Holy Spirit working in this means of grace – yet another effect of the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. And thus, at this table where all are welcome, we become what we eat: the one body of Christ, whether we speak and sing in Spanish or English or any of the other languages of the nations.
For this wondrous mystery, thanks be to God in Christ in the power of the Spirit!
Pastor Jonathan Linman
Pastor’s Office Phone Number: 602-265-5860
Email: pastor@faithalive.com
Announcements
Lectionary Readings for the Day of Pentecost
For those who like to prepare for Sunday worship through study of and devotion with the appointed lectionary texts, here are the readings for this coming Sunday, the Day of Pentecost:
First Reading – Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Gospel – John 20:19-23
Special Worship Service on May 31: The Visit of Mary to Elizabeth
You may have noticed that some of our special midweek liturgies focus on festivals related to Mary, Mother of our Lord. Thus it is that Faith-La Fe will host another one of these Marian festivals, in this case, the Visit of Mary to Elizabeth, her cousin who was pregnant at the time with John the Baptist. Join us for this celebration of Holy Communion on Wednesday, May 31 beginning at 7:00 pm. Please note that there will not be the 6:00 pm Bible Study on this festival day.
Quiet Day on the Spirituality of Preaching
Join us on Saturday, June 3 beginning at 10:00 am for a time set apart to more deeply explore the spirituality of preaching, with special focus on how sermons are occasions of spiritual guidance. We’ll also focus our time on your role as listeners to sermons, and how you can get still more out of preaching for your spiritual edification. On this day, we’ll also learn some of what Luther had to say about preaching! We’ll conclude our time together in the early afternoon. Kindly bring your own brown bag lunch. And let Pastor Linman know of your intent to attend: pastor@faithalive.com.
Congregational Meeting Election Outcomes
God’s blessing on the following slate of persons who were elected at our congregational meeting this past Sunday to serve as members of our Congregation Council: Stoney Bowen-Weiszmann, Andrea Escoto, Erik Rehms, and Cody Schaar were elected for three year terms; Froylan Islas and Sonia Martinez were elected to two year terms to fill vacated seats; and Gail Turner was elected to a one year term to fill a vacated seat. Additionally, Nancy Maxwell and Diane Selby were re-elected to serve on our Preschool Board. And the following persons were elected to serve on next year’s Nominating Committee: Rob King, Paul Bott, Francisca Shaw, Carly Chamberlain, Will Mathews.
Annual Report Booklets Still Available
A very informative (and beautiful with photos!) Report was prepared for last Sunday’s Annual Meeting. A limited number of copies will still be available in the Narthex. If you did not get a copy last week, you are encouraged to take one the next time you are at Faith/La Fe while they last. Or you can request by email to info@FaithAlive.com to have a PDF of the Annual Report emailed to you.
Condolences to Will Mathews on the Death of his Mother
Will Matthews desires our prayers and expressions of concern at the death of his beloved mother, Labutius Selina (Straw) Mathews, also affectionately known as Boots. She died in Florida in early May after a long illness. Will was present in Florida during this time. We wish Will and family our prayerful condolences during this season of grief, but also celebration of the life of a woman devoted to the Lord. We pray Godspeed also on Will as he has traveled this week to Connecticut for the funeral.
Another Rummage Sale is Coming, but Not Yet!
We enjoyed great success at our last rummage sale, and another one is being planned in the coming months. Thanks to generosity and hard work, our January Rummage sale was such a compelling event that we want to do it again. In the meantime, kindly do not yet bring rummage sale items to the church, for there is no place to store the items. We will announce the date when items for the coming rummage sale can be and will be received. Again, no date has been set at this time, so please do NOT bring any items to Faith/La Fe for our next rummage sale until we announce the date and put out a call for contributions. Watch this space for updates. Thank you in advance for helping us make our next sale as successful as our previous sale. And thanks, too, for your patience in holding on to your treasures at home for a little while longer.
Invitation to Contribute to These Weekly Pastoral Messages
Please remember that our congregation newsletter is now published quarterly and has more of a wider community, outward-facing, evangelistic focus to herald special, seasonal events at Faith-La Fe. Which is to say, these weekly pastoral messages and their announcements effectively take the place of the more membership-focused concerns of our congregational life. Thus, if there are events and matters related to our life together that you wish to have included in these weekly messages and announcements, please let Pastor Linman know: pastor@faithalive.com. He is always looking for and welcomes new content.
Mark Your Calendars Now for Upcoming Special Worship Services
Further details about the following special occasions for worship is forthcoming, but please note these special liturgies now in your calendars!
May 28 at 9:00 and 11:00 am + Day of Pentecost
May 31 at 7:00 pm + Visit of Mary to Elizabeth, Holy Communion
July 22 at 10:00 am + Mary Magdalene, Apostle, Morning Prayer
August 15 at 7:00 pm + Mary, Mother of Our Lord, Holy Communion
September 14 at 7:00 pm + Holy Cross Day, Evensong
November 1 at 7:00 pm + All Saints’ Day, Holy Communion
Upcoming Saturday Quiet Days at Faith-La Fe in 2023
Saturday, June 3 – a day to more deeply explore the spirituality of preaching, with special focus on how sermons are occasions of spiritual guidance. We’ll also spend some more time on your role as listeners to sermons, and how you can get still more out of preaching for your spiritual edification. On this day, we’ll also learn some of what Luther had to say about preaching!
Saturday, September 30 – on this day, close to the commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi, we will explore Franciscan Spirituality and what it might mean for Lutherans in ministry and mission in the 21st Century.
Saturday, October 28 – as we approach Reformation Sunday, this will be a day devoted to revealing key features of specifically Lutheran Spirituality, or Christian spirituality with Lutheran accents. We will discover that there’s a lot to draw from in our own tradition to take us ever more deeply into the spiritual life.
Saturday, November 18 – this day will be devoted to spending our time together in our beautiful nave doing “Stations of Our Stained Glass Windows,” a series of visual meditations on our stained-glass windows and the miracles and parables of Jesus they depict. We’ll explore in conversation the bible stories the windows are based on, and then look carefully at the windows to see features of the story which the stained-glass art highlights. Each station will feature a hymn before we move on to the next window.