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A message for Pentecost
Pentecost, or Shavuot as it is known in Judaism, has many names in the Bible: the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, and the Latter Firstfruits.
In Judaism the festival is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover and is traditionally a time of giving thanks and presenting offerings for the new grain of the summer wheat harvest in Israel. The name "Feast of Weeks" was given because God commanded the Jews in Leviticus 23:15-16, to count seven full weeks beginning on the second day of Passover, and then present grain offerings at the Jerusalem Temple, as an expression of thanksgiving for the goodness and generosity of the Lord of the Harvest.
In Christianity this Jewish Festival is now celebrated as the Birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ; the day the Holy Spirit came on the disciples in power in Jerusalem. In Acts 1, just before the resurrected Jesus is taken up into heaven, he tells the disciples about the Father's promised gift of the Holy Spirit, which will soon be given to them in the form of a powerful baptism. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which will empower them to go out into the world and be his witnesses. Right from the start of the Church, we see that God intended his offer of salvation to extend to all nations. Whoever calls on the name of Jesus, repents, and believes in him will share in his Kingdom.
On Pentecost Sunday (27th May) we will celebrate the new birth which we receive through the Holy Spirit and the power that we have to proclaim Christ throughout the World. As well as celebrating the Birthday of the Church, we will renew our Baptismal Vows as a rededication of ourselves to Christ, and as a prayer for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. The focus of our prayers will be ‘Growing the Church in Mission’.
Today, 2000 years later, believers in Jesus are still filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot live the Christian life without his help, and need to learn to call on him whenever we need strength or guidance.
May we know the power of the Holy Spirit at work in each of our lives and in the work of the Gospel, as together we call all people to share in Christ’s love and care.
Rev Willie Nixon.