Day of Pentecost*
Healing and Reconciliation Sunday
1When the day
of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came
a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where
they were sitting. 3Divided
tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there
were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered
and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language
of each. 7Amazed and
astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of
us, in our own native language? 9Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, 10Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from
Rome, both Jews and proselytes 11Cretans and
Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed,
saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They
are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter,
standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea
and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I
say. 15Indeed,
these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the
morning. 16No, this is
what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it
will be,God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men
shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves,
both men and women,
in those days I
will pour out my Spirit;
and
they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents
in the heaven above
and signs on the
earth below,
blood,
and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned
to darkness
and the moon to
blood,
before
the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Acts 2:1-21
Choirstall - detail
Woodcarving
of the Pentecost with tongues of fire descending upon the apostles.
1508-1519
Cathédrale
d'Amiens
Amiens
France
|
Note: |
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is included in the scene, based upon
the text from Acts 1: 12-14. In the actual Acts 2 text, Mary is not mentioned
directly. Early Christian tradition frequently included Mary, and the first
known illustrated instance is the 6th century Gospel Book of Rabbula, now in
the Biblioteca Laurenziana in Florence, Italy. This beautifully animated
wooden choir stall carving continues that tradition, separated by almost a
millenia. Donated by James T. Womack and Anne Richardson, Nashville, TN. |
Truth is still truth, no matter how many people doubt it.
I may deny the law of gravity, but that does not change
gravity.
And just because we break God’s laws, that does not
invalidate them.
A lie doesn’t become a truth and wrong doesn’t become right
and evil doesn’t become good just because it’s popular.
~
Rick Warren
It has seemed to me sometimes as though the Lord breathes on
this poor gray ember of Creation and it turns to radiance – for a moment or a
year or the span of a life. And then it sinks back into itself again, and to
look at it no one would know it had anything to do with fire, or light. This is
what I said in the Pentecost sermon. I have reflected on that sermon, and there
is some truth in it. But the Lord is more constant and far more extravagant
than it seems to imply. Wherever you turn your eyes the world can shine like
transfiguration. You don’t have to bring a thing to it except a little
willingness to see.
Only, who could have the courage to see it?
~
Marilynne Robinson
Book Club
Joanie
Tadewald, Carolyn Alexander, and Kelly Selva
Four
more people joined us to discuss the book.
Anxious
People
by
Fredrick
Backman
At
last!!! Frost Days are over!
(We
hope.)
Congratulations
to my next-door neighbor, Kaleb!
The
graduation ceremony was at Red Rocks ampitheater
on
Thursday evening.
Luncheon honoring Kaleb
at Church of the Transfiguration
Evergreen, Colorado
Kaleb
Horsely
Kaleb
with his grandparents, Jimmy and Robyn Mangham.
Kaleb
has lived with them since he was six.
Kaleb
with his dad, Robbie, who lives in Georgia.
Before
you tell your life what you intend to do with it,
listen
for what it intends to do with you.
Before
you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to,
let
your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent.
~
Parker J. Palmer
May 23, 2021 Day
of Pentecost Year B
* The Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorates
the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s disciples.
Pentecost
is celebrated fifty days (i.e. 49 days with the first day counted, seven weeks)
after Easter Sunday, hence its name. Pentecost falls on the tenth day
after Ascension Thursday (which falls 40 days after Easter).
26"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father,
the
Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You also are to testify because you
have been with me from the beginning.
16:4b"I did
not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent
me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6But because I have said these things
to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7Nevertheless,
I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not
go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to
you. 8And when he
comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not
believe in me; 10about
righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of
this world has been condemned.
12"I
still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he
will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will
speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to
come. 14He will
glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For
this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
Agnus
Day, by James Wetzstein
Agnus
Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
Acts 2:1-21 OR Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:22-27 OR Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
First Reading Acts 2:1-21
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in
one place. 2And suddenly
from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided
tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them
ability.
5Now there
were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered
and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language
of each. 7Amazed and
astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of
us, in our own native language? 9Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, 10Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from
Rome, both Jews and proselytes 11Cretans and
Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed,
saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others
sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter,
standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea
and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I
say. 15Indeed,
these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the
morning. 16No, this is
what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it
will be,God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men
shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves,
both men and women,
in those days I
will pour out my Spirit;
and
they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents
in the heaven above
and signs on the
earth below,
blood,
and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned
to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before
the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Or alternate
First Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
1The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the
spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of
bones. 2He led me
all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very
dry. 3He said to
me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4Then he said to me, “Prophesy to
these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus says the Lord God to these
bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6I will lay sinews on you, and will
cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you,
and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.“
?
7So I
prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a
noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on
them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no
breath in them. 9Then he said
to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus
says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these
slain, that they may live.” 10I prophesied
as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on
their feet, a vast multitude.
11Then he said
to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones
are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and say to them,
Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from
your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the
Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14I will put my spirit within you, and
you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that
I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”
24 O LORD, how manifold are
your works!
In wisdom you have
made them all;
the earth is full
of your creatures.
25 Yonder is the sea, great
and wide,
creeping things
innumerable are there,
living things both
small and great.
26 There go the ships,
and Leviathan that
you formed to sport in it.
27 These all look to you
to give them their
food in due season;
28 when you give to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your
hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are dismayed;
when you take away
their breath, they die
and return to their
dust.
30 When you send forth your
spirit, they are created;
and you renew the
face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the
LORD endure forever;
may the LORD
rejoice in his works —
32 who looks on the earth
and it trembles,
who touches the
mountains and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD
as long as I live;
I will sing praise
to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be
pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in
the LORD.
35b Bless the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD!
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains
until now; 23and not only
the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan
inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope
that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not
see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the
Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart,
knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
saints according to the will of God.
Or alternate
Second Reading Acts 2:1-21
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in
one place. 2And suddenly
from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided
tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them
ability.
5Now there
were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered
and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language
of each. 7Amazed and
astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of
us, in our own native language? 9Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, 10Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from
Rome, both Jews and proselytes 11Cretans and
Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed,
saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others
sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter,
standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea
and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I
say. 15Indeed,
these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the
morning. 16No, this is
what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it
will be,God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men
shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves,
both men and women,
in those days I
will pour out my Spirit;
and
they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents
in the heaven above
and signs on the
earth below,
blood,
and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned
to darkness
and the moon to
blood,
before
the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
Gospel John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
26"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the
Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my
behalf. 27You also are
to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
16:4b"I did
not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent
me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6But because I have said these things
to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7Nevertheless,
I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not
go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to
you. 8And when he
comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not
believe in me; 10about
righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of
this world has been condemned.
12"I
still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he
will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will
speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to
come. 14He will
glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For
this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."