Dear Friends,

What is Pentecost all about and why do we celebrate it?

While baptizing with water, John the Baptist prophesised the first Pentecost where Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Jesus confirmed this prophesy with the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in John 14:26. He showed Himself to these men after His death on the Cross and His Resurrection, giving convincing proofs that He was alive. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift from the Father, the Holy Spirit, from whom they would receive power to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:3-8). After Jesus' ascension to Heaven, the men returned to Jerusalem and joined together in prayer in an upper room. On the Day of Pentecost, just as promised, the violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of communication which Peter used to begin the ministry that Jesus had prepared him for. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay in the room basking in God's glory but burst out to tell the world. This was the beginning of the Church.

The day of Pentecost was an annual Jewish celebration of the Harvest of the Earth, very much like our Harvest Thanksgiving Services, traditionally celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover. However, for the Christian it is a celebration of the day when the church really got its start, celebrated 50 days after Easter.

As we come to Pentecost Sunday we should see it as the birthday of the Church; a day of celebration and gifts, and a time to rejoice that the Church is alive with the power of God; the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Today, in many Christian churches, Pentecost Sunday is celebrated to recognise the gift of the Holy Spirit, realising that God's very life, breath and energy lives in believers. During this service John 20:19-23 may be the core of the message about our risen Saviour supernaturally appearing to the fear laden disciples. Their fear gave way to joy when the Lord showed them His hands and side. He assured them of his peace and repeated the command given in Matthew 28:19-20 saying; "as the Father has sent me, I am sending you". Then He breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit (John 20:21-23). The celebration of Pentecost Sunday reminds us of the reality that we are all God-breathed with the unifying Spirit that was poured out upon the First Church in Acts 2:1-4. It is a reminder that we are co-hiers with Christ, to suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him; that the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7); that we are all baptised by one Spirit into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13) and the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead lives inside believers (Romans 8:9-11). This gift of the Holy Spirit that was promised and given to all on teh first Pentecost is promised for you and your children and for all who are far off whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39).

Pentecost Sunday reminds us that we should never be fearful of proclaiming our faith in Christ. Our proclamation of Christ is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, who uses our faltering words and makes them come alive in the lives of those who listen. Let us, with Peter, proclaim boldly to the world that Jesus is 'both Lord and Christ' (Acts 2:36).

Happy Birthday to St Ignatius and St Andrews!

Rev Willie.