May 19, 2010

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the third most important feast in the Christian year, after Easter and Christmas. On this day, fifty days after Easter, pilgrims from many different countries were in Jerusalem for the feast of Shavuot. According to the account in Acts the pilgrims each heard the disciples speaking in their native language. We will re-enact the "miracle of the tongues" at the 10:30 am service on Sunday as we hear the passage from the Acts of the Apostles read in multiple languages. The congregation is invited to wear red. For more information about Pentecost, please click here.

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE DAY OF PENTECOST

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the first Pentecost: "When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. 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. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 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? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.' All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?' But others sneered and said, 'They are filled with new wine.' 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. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.'" (Acts 2:1-21)

Psalm 104 is a song of praise that mentions the Holy Spirit: "O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures ... You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; may the LORD rejoice in all his works."

The reading from Romans speaks also of the Holy Spirit: "All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:14-17)

The reading from the Gospel of John contains the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." — John 14:8-17 (25-27)

Please join us for the Holy Eucharist on Saturday at 5:00 pm and on Sunday at 10:30 am.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

Worship Services for

The Day of Pentecost, May 22-23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, at 5:00 pm: Preacher: The Rev. Christian Brocato
Sunday, May 23, at 10:30 am: Preacher: The Rev. David A. Killian

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