The power of Pentecost

Congregations prepare to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit on day the Christian church was born

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette religion illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette religion illustration.

Voices in Chinese, French, Spanish and other languages will be heard proclaiming the Gospel on Sunday morning at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Little Rock.

The multi-language Scripture readings are a traditional part of the church's celebration of Pentecost.

The story of Pentecost, which occurs on the 50th day after Easter, is found in the second chapter of the Book of Acts, which says the disciples were gathered for prayer when the Holy Spirit descended.

According to Acts 2: "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."

Scholars continue to debate whether the disciples preached in different languages or whether they spoke in some unknown language that everyone heard in his own native tongue. But the event -- the sharing of the news of Jesus Christ to people of disparate backgrounds -- is believed to be the beginning of the Christian church as 3,000 were baptized that day.

"It's one of the great feast days of the church, right up there with Christmas and Easter," said the Rev. Danny Schieffler, rector of St. Mark's. "It's the revelation of the coming of the Holy Spirit, a member of the Trinity, so it probably deserves a lot more attention than it gets."

One of the collects or prayers for Pentecost for the Episcopal Church says: "Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

"It's evoking the memory of the Spirit coming onto those there," Schieffler said. "It emphasizes that God's love and salvation is for all people."

According to the book Holiday Symbols, the ­

symbols of Pentecost include the dove, which is often used to represent the Holy Spirit. Fire is also connected to the day, as is the color red, which symbolizes the "tongues of fire." Worshippers often wear red on Pentecost.

In earlier times churches incorporated fire into services, often in less than safe ways, according to the book. Some would drop sticks of burning straw through a hole in the ceiling to represent the tongues of fire, or shoot flaming arrows from the church roof. Because of safety concerns, many began using red roses to symbolize the fire instead, while others set doves loose during services to symbolize the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost has also traditionally been a baptismal day for those joining the church. Baptisms will be part of services Sunday at St. Mark's, and the day will include a festive mood with a picnic following worship services.

The procession will include the waving of a kite -- a pole decorated with red ribbons -- and will include incense.

"It's a day we pull out all the stops," Schieffler said.

During services, parishioners will read verses of Scripture in various languages simultaneously. Some of those languages include Greek, German, Chinese, French and Spanish.

"When we ring the bell everyone will start reading," Schieffler said. "I love it. It really does help you realize how powerful it is that the Spirit inspired people with all these different tongues and yet they were able to understand and communicate with one another.

"It's a dramatization of the potential God gives us today. If we can set aside our differences, unity is possible."

The congregation at Evangel Temple Assembly of God in Fort Smith also will celebrate Pentecost on Sunday.

"To us, Pentecost simply means the Spirit-filled life," said the Rev. Don Hutchings, senior pastor. "We truly believe that revival is hovering over us and a great awakening is coming that will be like the day of Pentecost."

Hutchings said the day is all about salvation and telling others about Christ so they can receive salvation.

"The early church, the first church, started on the day of Pentecost and every New Testament church was a Spirit-filled church ... which meant they got the power to witness and saw miracles happen," Hutchings said. "Sometimes people get distracted with Pentecost being all about speaking in tongues, and that is a part of it, but the major part is Jesus said, 'You shall be my witnesses once you are filled with the Spirit.' It's about winning the lost."

Hutchings said the mission of Pentecost -- that of sharing the Gospel -- is what his church is about.

"I'm trying to get us to go from alibis to action, and that's what happens when Pentecost comes," he said. "The Holy Spirit unlocks that potential deep down inside of us."

The congregation of First United Methodist Church in Little Rock will celebrate the day in a variety of ways. Worshippers are encouraged to wear red, music will be centered on Pentecost and special banners will be used to mark the day. In addition to being Pentecost, the day is also confirmation day and a kickoff of sorts for the church's new vision.

The Rev. David Freeman, senior pastor, said that vision is "being good neighbors to make Little Rock a place where children thrive."

To kick things off, the church will hold a birthday party for the children of Little Rock.

"Pentecost is known as the birth of the church so we're throwing a party," Freeman said.

Various agencies and groups that work with children have been invited, and the party will feature games, a cookout and activities for children.

"It's just to say we're now committed to transforming the city to a place where you don't just survive and exist, but you thrive and grow. That's what this celebration is all about," Freeman said. "Being good neighbors identifies us where we are as a downtown church, and even though children are our focus, we can't ignore the people who sleep in our doorways."

Freeman said Pentecost is an important day in the life of the church.

"We're celebrating that part of God, the receiving of that part of God that lives in us and works through us," he said. "When we look at the Trinity, of God as creator and God as savior and son in Jesus, those things exist apart from us. But how we stay connected to those is through the Spirit. That's no small thing. Sometimes we forget the Spirit is part of the Trinity. It's so abstract. So marking this day that's just as important in connecting us to God as Christmas is important."

Religion on 05/14/2016

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