Rochester, MN UCC - "Pentecost - Still Speaking" - Acts 2:1-21

Try to imagine a long thin insect. Now watch that insect as it slowly, deliberately, and with a great deal of effort, climbs up a screen door. The insect loses its grip and begins to fall what must be a terrifying distance. Then, mere milliseconds after it falls from the screen, two large wings protrude from the insect, start flapping, and allow it to hover in midair. All that struggle and all that fear of falling, only to find out that he had wings all along. 

 Out of our love and concern for the church we often try to do everything we possibly can to help the church. This is a natural and even praiseworthy instinct. We absolutely should be of service to the church in whatever capacity we feel called. We should take this work seriously and do it well as a service to God. However, sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our work to help the church that we begin to resemble that insect. We struggle and fight to save the church on our own, all the time forgetting that we have wings. The Holy Spirit is present in the Church. God in the Holy Spirit transforms and guides and sustains the body of believers. We have wings because God is not only above us and with us, but also within us. 

 On this Pentecost Sunday we will celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ disciples’ 2,000 years ago. We will also celebrate our belief that the Holy Spirit is working within our congregation and our individual lives today. It is only by relying on the Holy Spirit, trusting in the guidance of God, that we come to be a part of God’s mission in the Church. We are called not to rescue God and the Church, but to allow God to rescue us and lead us into God’s mission here and now. This Pentecost, let us celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit by letting go of our illusions of control and welcoming God to work within us and guide us along the way. In the Holy Spirit we have wings, let us trust in Her and take flight!

Pastor Shannon Smith