Pastor's Message
May 2012
To the Disciples of Christ at Emmanuel,
If you were asked what are the two most important celebrations in the church year how would you respond? Most Lutherans would respond with Christmas and Easter. In fact, many Lutherans think that Christmas is the most important holy day that we recognize. Let’s make sure we understand that for Christians the Resurrection of our Lord (Easter) is the most important holy day or festival of the church.
The second most important holy day is Pentecost. That is probably hard for the average person in the congregation to believe, but it is. It is hard to believe when Pentecost falls on Memorial Day weekend and folks are off opening up their cottages, running in a special event, going on a long weekend for fun or just relaxing at home. It is hard to believe it is the second most important festival of the church year when it falls on Mother’s Day. In general it is just hard to believe that Pentecost is the second most important festival of the church.
Through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost God in Christ became available to every believer. Christians now had firsthand experience with God in Christ. From Pentecost on, the good news was not held only by a select few who had been with Jesus, felt his hand upon their lives, and sought to follow him throughout his earthly days. Now everyone could experience that touch of the Savior’s hand; everyone could know the healing and saving presence of Jesus Christ. No Christian need ever walk alone, for now God was present with every believer who chose to accept this holy presence.
A Guide to Prayer for all who Seek God, p.217
The funny thing is that without the Holy Spirit there would be no life in the church or the local congregation. The Holy Spirit is what animates the church and the local congregation. It is the wind that moves the church and the fire that makes the church a light to the world. If it does not have the Holy Spirit the church can’t go anywhere and it will not provide light even to itself. People would sit motionless and in the dark if there was no Holy Spirit in the church. The Resurrection of our Lord would just be another religious story told to amuse the people sitting motionless and in the dark.
Pentecost does not seem like the second most important festival of the church year. However, if the followers of Jesus Christ are not filled with the Holy Spirit then there is little chance for Christ to live through the church. Maxie Dunnam once wrote, “…the indwelling Christ is to become the shaping power of our lives.” This does not happen unless God in Christ comes to Christians by the very breath of God.
This Pentecost two young women will be affirming their baptismal vows. Hands will be laid upon their heads and these words will be spoken over and into them:
Stir up in Sarah/Stephanie (us) the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.
May all followers of Jesus Christ have these words spoken over and into them.
One of Christ’s servants,
Pastor Dave - Child of God