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Friends:

Devotion: The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2: 1-9, 12)

Two thousand years later and we are still asking the question – ‘What does this mean?’  I try to imagine what it would have been like in Jerusalem on this holy day and it is simply a mystery. What would it have been like with tongues of fire resting on me, people with speaking in other tongues. Words like ‘bewilderment’ and ‘utterly amazed’ seem inadequate to describe it.

There is so much about God that is mystery to me. Yet I am growing more comfortable with this mystery, more comfortable with not having the answer. More comfortable with things I do not understand.

Perhaps this sense of comfort has something to do with learning trust.  You might think someone who has been a Christian for 47 years would be pretty good at trusting God, but I am still learning. And mercifully, the Holy Spirit continues to help me.

There are moments when I KNOW how close God is.  Times when I have been filled by the Holy Spirit, times when I cannot escape knowing how much I am loved.  I don’t understand these moments – but I do know they are real. It is these moments I hold onto like precious diamonds in my pocket.

Holy Father – Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit.  Help me to know your presence. Help me to trust you when I feel confused and alone. Help me to trust you when I don’t understand and I don’t have the answers.  Amen.

                                                                                                                                     2025 Sheridan Lutheran Church

 

TOP THREE THINGS TO KNOW FOR THIS FIRST WEEK OF JUNE:

 

  • 1) Day of Pentecost this Sunday, June 8th, and you are invited to wear red which is the color of the day. We welcome the gift of God's Holy Spirit, three in one, one in three!

 

  • 2) June 22nd, after service, a pitch in listening and general conversation about our future! Come with something to share and some ideas, 

 

  • 3) June 29th, there is a sign up on the table in narthex/lobby, a pitch in luncheon with Bishop Tim Graham, joint worship at Faith with St. Andrew’s. Come and bring a guest.

 

Pr. Doug

 

God be with you until we meet again!