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 Happy Birthday to us, The Church

As we approach this Sunday, May 23rd which this year is the Christian church’s celebration of Pentecost, I thought I would explore a few facts about this yearly festivity.  Perhaps there are some details that you have not heard before that will kindle your interest and enthusiasm for what is taking place. 

  What is Pentecost?

The name comes from the Greek word “pentekoste” meaning fiftieth, as Pentecost Sunday takes place on the 50th day of Easter.  Originally this time of the year was a Jewish harvest festival called Shavuot.  The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them.  People passing by at first thought that they must be drunk from the festivities, but, as related in Acts chapter 2, Peter told the crowd that the apostles were full of the Holy Spirit.

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!  16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32):

17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  

What do we celebrate on Pentecost Sunday?

We commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus and this day marks the beginning of the Christian church's mission to the world, hence the birthday of the church.

  Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit?

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to witness for Christ throughout the world. He would empower the disciples to be able to speak with courage, confidence and authority. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

When does Pentecost season end?

Although the start and end dates vary by liturgical tradition, the season typically begins on the day of Pentecost and continues throughout the rest of the liturgical year, ending just before the season of Advent.

What colour is associated with this celebration?

In western churches, ordained officials often wear red vestments during Pentecost to symbolize the “tongues of fire” that descended on the disciples from the Holy Spirit; members of the congregation also wear red in some traditions, and the altar is commonly dressed in a red frontal cloth.

Photo:

 Pentecost Pentecost, oil on canvas by El Greco, c. 1600; in the Prado, Madrid. This work depicts the moment when the Holy Spirit, represented as a dove, descended in the form of tongues of fire and rested on the Virgin and the Apostles during Pentecost. Gianni Dagli Orti—REX/Shutterstock.com