May 15, 2016 (full size gallery)
An amazing combination of events- Pentecost , the 3rd most important festival of the year along with Christmas and Easter and the 180th anniversary of St. Peter’s, visits from 2 former priests. And to top it off a covered dish luncheon!
It was on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers in an upper room in Jerusalem as they awaited the baptism Jesus told them they would receive. Jesus had promised this event just before He ascended into heaven. It was on that day St. Peter’s was proclaimed ready for its role by Bishop Channing Moore in 1836. The readings are here as well as the bulletin.
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
The symbol of fire is important for Pentecost.Fire has long represented God and the presence of his Holy Spirit. Fire consumes but is its own energy force. That energy is around action and for the church, mission. Acts is about mission, about speaking, proclaiming, the good news to people everywhere, in languages (and language) they can understand. This is the day in which the mission of the church was given birth
Pentecost is a time of the unexpected – the story of Acts2 demonstrates this with tongues of fire, words understood in your own language, the whirl wind – all connected with the Holy Spirit.
The unexpected event today was the arrival of Karen Woodruff and John Wall, two former priests. Karen served from 1994-2003 and John 2005-2009. With Catherine’s 5 years, there are 18+ years but only 10% of St. Peter’s 180 years. (See all the priests here).
At St. Peter’s, a year ago the old curtains were taken down and a new set of Pentecost fabric panels designed by fabric artist Susan Tilt replaced them. It’s a day to try to perceive what the Holy Spirit has going for us – taking something like our anniversary – and making something new with it in mission and ministry. The promise of the new kitchen is one such thing new and how to make a difference with it. What will the restored altarpiece bring?
Cookie, Susan Tilt and Catherine decorated the church on much of Saturday for Pentecost. Susan’s wall hangings from last year plus new doves created for today were beautiful and made it a special Pentecost. Catherine ascended the scaffolding to place them on level 1. Cookie place flowers in all of the windows and two flower pots outside for flowers.
We had 37 at today’s service. We celebrated Michael’s 10th birthday. Karen and John helped Catherine during Communion. Roger and Helmut helped by distributing the "Holy Spirit" during the Sequence Hymn, "Sweet, Sweet Spirit." All of this with some very unsettled weather – cool, alternating between cloudes and sunshine.
After the service there was a covered dish luncheon celebrating both Pentecost and the 180th anniversary. The church contributed fried chicken and there was a blueberry jello salad, baked beans, salad, macaroni and numerous vegetables. Desserts included Brad’s bread pudding, cookies and a wonderful strawberry dessert.
The sermon was about Pentecost "a day of endings and beginnings"…"leaving behind that which has passed, and the launching forth into that which is only now beginning to be."
"Today’s gospel also marks an ending and a beginning. Jesus is going to the Father, ending his time of being physically present with his disciples on earth " For the disciples it is a transition from Jesus here present physically to the Holy Spirit. The Gospel reveals the intimate connection between Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
"And that foundation is made up of love– love for Jesus and for each other." In the case of St. Peter’s Bishop Channing Moore who came to St. Peter’s 180 year ago had helped rebuilt the Diocese of Virginia on " the foundation of loving obedience to God, and the church in Virginia was reborn.
"How fitting that today scaffolding covers the wall behind me. We are a work in progress. Not only does this work on the altarpiece connect us with our past, but this work symbolizes our ongoing rebirth as a congregation."