Pentecost - May 31, 2020 - Acts 2:1-21

This past Sunday was, of course, Pentecost Sunday.  Here we are brought again and again to the story which is often called the 'beginning of the Church'.  It's the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit and it's a Sunday when we typically sport the trappings of 'red' either in our clothing or almost certainly adorning the Sanctuary.

It's a day that we all simply want to hear once again the old story about the 'tongues of fire' and the talking in 'tongues'.  We want to hear the old story and feel comforted in our worship.  So, this year... I chose to preach over the 'old story' and address this desire for comfort.  Then... I turned directions... because unfortunately... these are not comfortable times.

We need to come together, we need to stop dividing ourselves... we need to stop telling lies and misrepresenting each other.  There are anterior motives at work within the Church and the fact of the matter is the only motive that we should be promoting is the motive of God.  His motive is that we love Him and that we love one another.  Can't we just do that?

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Acts 2:1-21 NRSV
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
        and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’