The Season of Pentecost

If all the blossoms on our 100 year old pomegranate tree grow into fruit this year, we might have a Pomegranate Festival this fall! I’ve never seen so many flowers — the tree is covered! A symbol of the Resurrection and our hope of eternal life, the abundance of pomegranate blooms is the perfect ending for the Easter Season celebration of new life in the Resurrection.

May 19th this year commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit and begins the long Season of Pentecost. Scripture gives us conflicting reports (John 20:22,23 and Acts 2:1-21) about the coming of the Holy Spirit. She comes either as a soft, silent breath or as a loud, rushing wind with flames of fire. Which is it?

Both — and neither, possibly. John and Luke described the coming of the Spirit, as Jesus had promised, as well as they could, in story. Our part is to enjoy the stories and not to miss the significance: that God is as close as the air around us and within us and as powerful as wind and fire; that God dwells with us and empowers us to live the Gospel. God’s presence is constant and forever, so it’s fitting that the longest season of the church year is given to exploring and experiencing and witnessing to the presence of the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday, June 2nd, we’ll combine celebrations of Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and the Continuing Feast with our Parish Picnic. Come join us after the 11:00 service for hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill, drinks and dessert. We’d love for you to come anytime for worship and fellowship! Our weekly services for summer are:

Saturday
5:00 pm Holy Eucharist

Sunday
9:30 am Communion and coffee in front of the church (not a service but a sharing of fellowship with our neighbors) All are welcome!
11:00 am Holy Eucharist with hymns and sermon
9:45-12:30 Nursery

The Continuing Feast: On the first Sunday each month we continue the Eucharistic Feast with a pot luck lunch after the 11:00 service — the best in town! It’s a good time to meet and get to know one another. Please come!

Wednesday
12:15 pm Holy Eucharist using Enriching Our Worship liturgy
6:00 pm Holy Eucharist, Rite III; supper, video and discussion