The Pastor’s Pen

Holy Spirit Days

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say rejoice!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Again, I say rejoice!

          According to the New Testament, a short time after God raised Jesus to new life, the followers of Jesus experienced the Holy Spirit: upon them, among them, and within them. The details may vary by author and book, but the church and the people who became the church experienced something that changed their lives, something that came from God. They called it the Holy Spirit (the church likes to say they called “him” or “her” or “them” – a person of the Trinity). And this Spirit gave them a newness of life, a spirit of rebirth, a spirit of being born from above. I don’t know about you, but this seems to me like something that should feel good even exciting.

          Have you ever felt the Spirit within you or among a group of people you were in? Perhaps you were on a retreat or at a service or a revival surrounded by many. Perhaps you were more or less alone in nature or a human-made space, like a chapel or cathedral. When I’ve heard or read about people experiencing the Divine in their lives, they describe something that lightens and inspires rather than something angry and weighing one down. I hope that we all experience the Spirit, the Divine in our lives. And I hope that it IS a feeling like a rush, whether like a hurricane gale or a hushed whispered breath that brings us a positive feeling. Maybe it is in the laugh of a small child or sigh of relief for a good prognosis. Maybe it is in the camaraderie of a gathering of support for an individual or a principle, like justice. Whenever and wherever it is, I hope we all make time to notice it, to mark God’s presence and activity in the world. In John’s gospel, Jesus promises that God will be sending the Spirit into the world. For centuries, theologians have told us that God is alive and active in the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, it certainly is available to be felt and noticed in our lives.

          When we gathered for worship on Pentecost this year, we sang the song that appears above. We had fun together learning the words and tune. We all sang together and then as a round. The room was filled with smiles and there was a feeling in the air. I believe that the Holy Spirit was with us then. I believe the Holy Spirit is with us in the world still. I know there is depressing reporting and bad news every single day. I know that it can feel overwhelming. But since the first Christian Pentecost event, God has been and continues to be alive and active in the world through people who love and care. The church celebrates a long season after Pentecost called, appropriately enough, the Season after Pentecost. The altar colors are green to symbolize life and growth in the church and the Kin-dom of God. Why? Because these are Holy Spirit days. Take a breath and breathe in God’s Spirit. Feel it inside you then release it into the world with your prayer – for peace, for love, for justice, for reconciliation among people and peoples. The Lord IS WITH us. Rejoice in the blessing and spread it far and wide, for we are in Holy Spirit days.