AHOC in MA May 8, 2006	We are doing children's Sunday for Pentecost. Once I had done an Easter Service that was a family service with every part of the service intentionally inclusive of children. I would like to do the same for Pentecost. Any ideas, for example of children's books, poetry to be read etc that would make up a similar service?
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A W-G rocky coast ME May 16, 2006	I will be preaching on this Pentecost Sunday in a church I have not been to before. I heard it was a difficult situation with some dark event in their history. I have been thinking about how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed everything that once was into a new day. God showered those gathered together with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the people had the responsibility to accept these gifts and use them for the good of the Community of Faith. All I can do is invite them to receive what God has for them.
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Sally May 29, 2006	A W-G: I once heard an excellent sermon based on this text (though not on actual Pentecost Sunday) for a church that was just sort of stuck. It was having to transition from a country family chapel-type church to an ex-urban church (people moving out of the city, but not a suburb). However, the refrain that the preacher used many times was, "A breath of fresh air." The Holy Spirit gave the wind and essentially aired out the place they were gathered. THEN the gifts came. That preacher used it differently, but it seems like it could apply, IMHO, to this church. Sometimes we need to air out, or clear the air, before the tongues can rest on us. It's likely the theme I'll be preaching - especially trying to help the church transition to my successor. I'm trying to keep them from the natural tendency to think of the new preacher, "Maybe THIS is the one," by keeping their eyes on the Savior they already have. I also am trying to encourage the many people who've told me they've considered leaving b/c they're fed up with the factions into sticking it out. I don't want my leaving to be associated with their leaving because I did everything I could to avoid aligning with factions. A lot to pack into one sermon, ain't it?
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Sally May 29, 2006	A W-G: when I said it could apply to this church - I meant the one you'll be preaching at, not the one I'm in... just to be clear.
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Jean May 29, 2006	I'm a new post-er. Your comments, Sally, make me think of the church I'm currently serving in and preparing to leave. It is my "home" church as a new 2nd career pastor and I've been serving as an associate for 4 years. I've been trying to think of how to tie in the breath of the HS with my leaving and the fact that they have had to have a budget cut. They will be expected to step up much more to contiue programming and building maintenance. I'm trying to encourage them to take charge of their church much as Peter and the other disciples did following the ascension of the Savior. Through the efforts of those disciples, the church spread and grew in ways it could not when it was led by one single point person. We continue to have our point-person in heaven, Christ, but now have to depend on the H.S. to continue the message and the work.
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PH in OH May 29, 2006	For Christians, what exactly is prophetic preaching? One commentary I read said that prophetic preaching is taking our present circumstances and looking back into scripture to find where God speak about it previously. But that sounds a lot like proof texting to me. But that is what Peter did in his Pentecost sermon. He had to explain why the disciples were speaking in foreign languages and came up with the Joel passage. Any ideas?
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Dogwood Dave May 29, 2006	Do you think those early Disciples really wanted to change, to be open to the Spirit's leading? Who in your congregations might be wanting to be changed and open? Who might not? Because both are at worship, is it wrong to only preach to some and not to all?
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Brian in MN May 30, 2006	Dogwood Dave, Is it not impossible to preach to everyone on any given Sunday? Also, I'm petty sure what they want is not how one decides what one preaches to anyone -- except maybe for those who are already perfect and then have no reason to change...
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Storyteller May 30, 2006	This is my absolutely favorite text in the entire bible!!! (i know i know i iknow ... i say that to the children about every text we read in on any given sunday)
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Storyteller May 30, 2006	This is my absolutely favorite text in the entire bible!!! (i know i know i iknow ... i say that to the children about every text we read in on any given sunday)
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Dogwood Dave May 30, 2006	Brian You make a good point. I think I was trying to say, Preach to those who like the text and do not fear those that do not? I did not say that earlier.
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AF May 30, 2006	Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that marked the fiftieth day after Passover. In time, the festival came to celebrate the covenant made at Mount Sinai. Still later, Luke associated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with Pentecost as the fiftieth day after the resurrection, a new covenant sealed in the body and blood of Christ.
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WLB May 30, 2006	In Acts 1:4, Jesus commands the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the "promise of God." During this time, other Jews have gathered in Jerusalem to commemorate the Hebrew observance of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. Initially this was a festival to celebrate the first harvest. After the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, the feast was transformed from an observance of the first harvest to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Pentecost literally means "fiftieth." This represents the number of days that passed between the Passover and the arrival of the Israelites at Sinai (Exodus 19:1). For the disciples on that first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, this feast of the giving of the law takes on a new significance. The writer of Luke and Acts understands Jesus to be the fulfillment of the law given on Mount Sinai. (See Luke 16:16.) Peter's proclamation, echoing the prophet Joel, is a key to understanding this new significance: "In the last days it will be, God declares, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh'" (Acts 2:17). The early church understands the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost to be like the coming of the law. Something of God's relationship with humankind is revealed in both events. These first followers of Jesus seek to interpret and explain their experience in terms of their Jewish faith. All hear the words of the disciples in their own dialect. All hear of the way of God that Jesus represents. Later in the book of Acts, the good news will be heard beyond Jerusalem and even beyond Judaism.
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Brian in MN May 30, 2006	Confirmation Sunday -- a confirmand described the H.S. as the link b/w us and God. Heretical, since the H.S. is God as much as God is, but still a useful understanding. The Acts story describes the downlink part and Romans 8 describes the uplink part; hope and prayer. DW Dave; the answer to your initial question was probably 'no,' right? My sense of the answer to the second question is actually, 'way more than think they are.'
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Sally May 30, 2006	Dogwood Dave - actually, your post spoke to me. I'm always so tempted to preach to those i think need to change but not so keen on affirming those who are lookng for a change. Maybe those who think they don't need to chhange either really don't need to change, or will be more open to the message when they don't feel like they're getting pulled into unknown territory. Also, it's not fair to lump everyone into one category. That's been a mistake of mine - to take the opinions and attitudes of a few and apply them to the whole group.
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PBG in IL May 30, 2006	I attended the Festival of Homiletics in Atlanta this year. Will Willimon ended his sevice dealing with the Holy Spirit with this benediction....People of God, the Holy Spirit is with you-Watch out! What a great image for Pentecost. You never know what the Holy Spirit has in store--if we knew what Holy Spirit was up to, we wouldn't need the Holy Spirit!
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RevAmy in TN May 30, 2006	For the last several years (over two different appointments) I have made a big deal of Pentecost. I've asked people to wear red to represent the tongues of fire, we've had red helium balloons attached to the ends of the pews as some years even birthday cake to celebrate the birthday of the church. All of this to help folks remember and recognize that this day is special, different, set aside... memorable. Trappings, I'll admit... but if they help prepare the way for God's movement, then so be it. The one thing of all of that that I will be doing again this year is the scripture reading. I will have the Acts 2 passage printed on bulletin inserts and ask the congregation to stand and join together as we read of the first Pentecost. But I have 4 or 5 different translations (1 each in a bulletin) so as the people begin to read they quickly notice that others are saying something different. Many stop reading. Some will continue, but without much confidence. Since I've experienced this several times, I've learned that I need to let some folks know what will happen and ask them to keep reading. This is a great way to look at the confusion of the many tongues speaking at once. I have been sick for several months now -- cold, allergies, something. And I'm just tired. I have no idea how to talk about or even experience the power of the Pentecost when I'm frankly just ready to get out of town. Come Holy Spirit!
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allforjesus in ID May 30, 2006	Rev Amy, We always seem to focus on the fire of Pentecost, but what of the wind? For a refreshing look, take a look at the Ezekiel passage. Our church has had so many struggling physically, but stop and hear the wind! Feel the breath of God on your face! The Ezekiel passage is another look at the breath of God filling us with power that is beyond us -- when we feel all dried up inside, another look at the same wind that blew into the room and filled the disciples, who must have truly felt a little bit alone still. Christ was not with them in bodily form any more. It was tempting to wonder how long...how long...HOW LONG O LORD?! The wind is another illustration of His love breathing into us, equipping us, helping us, healing us. The Wind. It blows on and into each one of His children.
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allforjesus in ID May 30, 2006	Rev Amy, We always seem to focus on the fire of Pentecost, but what of the wind? For a refreshing look, take a look at the Ezekiel passage. Our church has had so many struggling physically, but stop and hear the wind! Feel the breath of God on your face! The Ezekiel passage is another look at the breath of God filling us with power that is beyond us -- when we feel all dried up inside, another look at the same wind that blew into the room and filled the disciples, who must have truly felt a little bit alone still. Christ was not with them in bodily form any more. It was tempting to wonder how long...how long...HOW LONG O LORD?! The wind is another illustration of His love breathing into us, equipping us, helping us, healing us. The Wind. It blows on and into each one of His children.
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Lynn in Blair May 31, 2006	I don't know if this might be helpful, but it's a story I intend to use for Pentecost playing on the wind and fire images. My first parish was in Northeastern Montana in a very remote parish. I served a Rural Parish that the main crop was spring wheat. One early spring day, before planting, the wind came up and was blowing at 70 MPH. It was a fierce wind and there was very little traffic on the road in front of the parsonage. In mid afternoon, we noticed smoke coming up from the south. At first we weren't worried having a road and parking lot in front of us. But as the hours went on, we came quite concerned as we could see a field of flames ahead of us. I finally packed the family in the car and headed toward the field entry. There were two other pick-ups in front of my car. On the CB Radio, I could here the two concerned farmers talking. One decided to go take a look. Soon he was back on the CB saying that someone was purposely lighting the flame. Sure enough, one of the neighbors wanted to take advantage of the wind and burn the stubble field. The two farmers decided to go and have a talk with the farmer who was having a terrible time keeping the flame going. I wanted to use this story because it not only tells about the constant loud wind noise and the fire, but the fear that overtook us along with the need to continually tend the fire.

Steve: WY May 31, 2006	There is enough symbology in this text to make all the good DaVinci Code people happy. Reading William Loder's reflections on this text I learned new one for me: "It also became a time to celebrate the coming of the divine Law on Sinai. Legend has it that on that occasion a flame came down from heaven and divided into 70 tongues of fire, one for each nation of the world"
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Pastor Buzz May 31, 2006	I've had this metaphor of fire and ice running through my mind recently as I pondered Pentecost: The fire of the Holy Spirit melting the ice of cold hearts. I'm not sure where else to go with it, but I have two people called to the mission field who are returning to the church decades later to tell how they met God there. I will have little time for a message, since I am pretty much letting them share their stories.
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Pastor Buzz May 31, 2006	I've had this metaphor of fire and ice running through my mind recently as I pondered Pentecost: The fire of the Holy Spirit melting the ice of cold hearts. I'm not sure where else to go with it, but I have two people called to the mission field who are returning to the church decades later to tell how they met God there. I will have little time for a message, since I am pretty much letting them share their stories.
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Pastor Buzz May 31, 2006	I've had this metaphor of fire and ice running through my mind recently as I pondered Pentecost: The fire of the Holy Spirit melting the ice of cold hearts. I'm not sure where else to go with it, but I have two people called to the mission field who are returning to the church decades later to tell how they met God there. I will have little time for a message, since I am pretty much letting them share their stories.
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PH in OH May 31, 2006	Pentecost is the celebration of the bringing in of the barley harvest. It was only after 70 A.D. that Pentecost was associated with the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai.
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vvicars May 31, 2006	The gift of the Holy Spirit reminds us that the Church is more than the building and programming. Whatever happened to mission and a breathe of fresh air? Actually mission gives us a breathe of fresh air and revives us. vvicars in PA
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vvicars May 31, 2006	The gift of the Holy Spirit reminds us that the Church is more than the building and programming. Whatever happened to mission and a breathe of fresh air? Actually mission gives us a breathe of fresh air and revives us. vvicars in PA
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Tom in Ontario May 31, 2006	PH in OH, That may be the case but when Luke was writing Acts it was likely after 70 AD (probably after 90) and the association of Pentecost with the giving of the law could have been on people's minds when they heard or read this. They could have made the connection and so can we.
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Robbie in KS May 31, 2006	Jean, This is also Confirmation Sunday for my small class of 7th & 8th graders. Because I wanted to tie in this event in their lives -- confessing their faith, being anointed, and full membership in the church -- I am focusing on how receiving the Holy Spirit for the earliest Christians meant having to step out into new territory. As Christians today, we also have to face new challenges in order to grow into a deeper relationship with the Triune God. Whether it's setting out on a new course in our lives, or a congregation facing the challenge of doing ministry in reduced circumstances, to meet the Holy Spirit face to face we have to face "Into the Wind" -- not run to catch up (or even run to keep ahead) of the Spirit. Maybe this helps -- or not! Blessings as you continue your journey.
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tom in TN(USA) May 31, 2006	I'm liking the 'breath of fresh air" theme. It seems to have a lot of possibility and may be a welcomed shift from the ubiquitous image of fire and flames. But I came onto the site to ask some clarification (or inspiration) about Peter's quotation in vv. 17-18. In 17 God says the Spirit will be poured out on "YOUR sons and YOUR daughters, and YOUR young will see visions and YOUR old will dream dreams" but in 18, God continues, "even on MY slaves, both men and women will I pour out my Spirit." Does the shift from "your" to "my" mean anything? We don't like the idea of God having slaves, but may we correctly interpret it as servants who have given themselves to God? Should the emphasis rather be on the fact that God's "slaves" include both women and men and both will be given the spirit? That seems right, but I was taken by the differentiation of the "your" and "my," and thought there might be something noteworthy. If your linguists know anything, or you prophets discern anything, please share. Thanx, tom
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euthman May 31, 2006	Just wondering whether The giving of the HS signifies, among other the way in which God was going to move hencec. I mean, earlier in Acts1 :8 Jesus promised that the HS will come and the Apostles (and us all) will receive power. This power, being interpreted dunamis in the greek, whichc discribes an explosive kind of activity, which cannot be pre-determined, much like the coming and going of the wind. Thus depicting how the early church was going to be moving out.
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euthman May 31, 2006	Just wondering whether The giving of the HS signifies, among other the way in which God was going to move hencec. I mean, earlier in Acts1 :8 Jesus promised that the HS will come and the Apostles (and us all) will receive power. This power, being interpreted dunamis in the greek, whichc discribes an explosive kind of activity, which cannot be pre-determined, much like the coming and going of the wind. Thus depicting how the early church was going to be moving out.
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Anna in the City June 1, 2006	Dogwood Dave your question is also stirring within me. Sally, why would people be looking for change? I am preaching Ezekiel but find this discussion on change an interesting one. The bones knew they were dead and did not think change was a possibility until Ezekiel began to preach.
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LF June 1, 2006	I often hear this "Pentecost is the birthday of the church" theme. Does anyone think through the implications of that facile statement? Birth is messy, joyful, painful. It is goal-oriented; it is complicated. There are times of sound, and times of stillness. It utterly changes your life. No more self-centred DINK lifestyle - you are now responsible for a new life, with the grief and the joy that brings. Maybe thinking through the "birth process" of the church can be useful for preaching. For Confirmands: the first sounds they made were noisy, snuffly cries. (make the relatives smile!)Now they will be communicating with their words and deeds, their lives. Their lives will be a kind of language, (hopefully) communicating something of the Holy Spirit. Same with all of us.
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WaynO June 1, 2006	I know some of you in the past have requested not using others info but this fits so well with some thoughts i have read here today. or maybe not!!! anyway from the weekly illustrations newsletter from eSermons.com and SermonIllustrations.com. a free illustration and sermon starter email list: Attempting to Hear the Ocean in a Seashell A tourist stood for long periods of time upon the beach, facing away from the ocean, pressing a seashell against his ear. The water lapped at his feet, the sun beamed down upon his head and shoulders, and the waves crashed just behind him. Firmly, he pressed the seashell against his ear. He wanted to hear the powerful surge of the ocean as it heaved and rolled. See the picture in your mind's eye: a man standing with his back to the ocean, attempting to hear the ocean in a seashell. Although in the presence of the very thing he was seeking, he was oblivious to the actuality. Amazing isn't it how we have the Holy Spirit waiting patiently for us to turn around an drecognize its presence?????? WaynO in NE
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Sally June 1, 2006	Lynn in Blair - that's the best real-life story of Pentecost I've ever heard!
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Nancy-WI June 1, 2006	I have graduation so i am actually preaching on another text. So maybe next year I will preach on the fact they heard each other. Hearing requires listening... how do we listen to the babel in the streets and understand... many different lifestyles have "languages". How can we learn to listen with joy rather than judgement. maybe next year.
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anninO June 1, 2006	Dear AHOC in MA, Maybe this is a bit late but I have a fabulous children's story for P. Gabriella's Song by Candace Flemming, Ill. by Giselle Potter pub. byAladin Paperbacks (Simon & Schuster. It is the story of a young girl's inspired song and how it transforms as different people encounter it and how it weaves its way around the town - great metaphor. Having been a classical muso for 30 years, it is doublly appealing.
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Sally June 2, 2006	Anna asked me why people would be looking for a change. That's a poignant question. And the answer is, "I don't know." I think most people are not looking for a change, if their life is happy enough. It's just that sometimes when you're happy enough, you're resting on your laurels, so to speak. You become complacent. It's like my aunt Sarah. She thought buying a clothes dryer was the dumbest thing ever. Why would anyone need a dryer when there were clotheslines? Of course, it didn't matter to her that you could still dry clothes when it was raining, you could dry them faster, and the like. She was perfectly happy with the clothesline and didn't see the improvement in a dryer. (frankly, there's a part of me that sides with her - I've used clotheslines, too, and they're not THAT inconvenient). Same with cell phones - we all have them now and love them, but, fess up now, when they first started coming out, didn't you think "who's so important that they have to be available that much?" I know I did. I can't live without mine -it's so convenient! Likewise, why would a church that is happy enough feel the need to sing contemporary hymns? Or sing praise songs? Or hold a VBS? Or form a new Sunday school class? It's the being happy enough that allows a church to die on the vine. The question is, how do I, as the pastor of happy-enough churches, shake them up without criticizing them? That's hard.
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Sally June 2, 2006	2:17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I ... ' What are the last days? how long will they last? Jesus just got through telling us last week that it's not for us to know. However, Peter seems to be predicting the time.

Kacey June 2, 2006	Sally: GOOD QUESTIONS regarding the "good enough" syndrome. I sense there are no easy answers. Sometimes "good enough" is just that. Sometimes "good enough" is nothing short of perfection. Sometimes "good enough" is complacency, as you said. It seems to me that it's the dance we do with grace. What is "good enough" and how does it change for the believer?
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L8 Night Rev June 2, 2006	Good enough is as close as we will get on this side of the life ever lasting. Grace gets us the rest of the way- another gift of the Spirit. How then do we welcome the gift of change? I don't even want to change toothpaste or my morning routine or route to work. We are asking our congregations to make much more radical changes. The church at Pentecost was born into change.- Change from Judaism to ecumenism- change from us vs. them to us and them. These are cherished biases that many of us stuill carry. We have just changed alliances. It may be too much to hope that we or our churches will be thrilled with change, but God loves those wandering in the wilderness and questioning the directions, as well as those who enjoy the journey. Change is hard; new habits difficult to establish. The gifts of the H.S. unusual for many of us, and the practitioners of speaking in tongues and other gifts also looked upon with suspicion. We are helping our faithful ones become risk-takers and resting upon God's laurels- not any others.
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JKS June 3, 2006	Wow, Sally! "It's the being happy enough that allows a church to die on the vine." Thank you for that amazing insight. Growth is uncomfortable. No wonder congregations cling to small.
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JKS June 3, 2006	I'm thinking about what the followers of Jesus might have been doing, besides praying, before the HS blew in. I'm wondering if they were making plans to memorialize Jesus in some way, so the memory of him would not be lost. Maybe they had a committee working on collecting his teachings, and another cataloging the miracles. They had probably appointed a treasurer to pay rent so they could continue to gather in the upper room. They no doubt had a flower committee to keep a little shrine going at the empty tomb. Then WHOOSH!!!
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Tom in Rome, GA June 3, 2006	Then Woosh!!! There is a good sermon title! With the sound everything changed. - Cowards became preachers -Uneducated fisherman spoke with power and authority not to mention the whole multi-language option. -Jews believed Woosh – things were different! I want to hear the sound of change
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Tom in Rome, GA June 3, 2006	Then Woosh!!! There is a good sermon title! With the sound everything changed. - Cowards became preachers -Uneducated fisherman spoke with power and authority not to mention the whole multi-language option. -Jews believed Woosh – things were different! I want to hear the sound of change
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MIKE IN KY June 3, 2006	I know the hour is drawing near and this is my first post but I've struggled all week with this one because of how many times it seems it's been preached. The question I keep coming back to is "What does Pentecost teach us?" I believe it can be summed up in this way It teaches us about change/transformation tradition was changed and the disciples were transformed. Can our tradition be changed can we be transformed? gifts/empowerment all of us have been gifts and when we allow the HS to it empowers us to use them to the fullest. Are using our gifts and allowing the HS to empower them and us? unity/love the disciples were united(I don't normally use KJV but I like the way it states "they were all in one accord in one place") their love for Christ and each other made them like minded and they were united I don't think Pentecost would have happened if it had not been for the unity that was there. It seemed as if they were all plugged into the same outlet. Are we plugged in and are we loving? Thanks for letting me babble on and thank you for all of your helpful posts in the past
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L8 Night Rev June 3, 2006	Woosh! The sound of change happening. Pentecost is the dawning of God's work through humanity even through folks who don't usually matter. I'm glad I came back for one last look because this change is not a decision that was made by the disciples, but a change that happened to them. Oftentimes we get muddled up in decision making and lose our responsiveness in indecision and not making decisions. Pentecost when God happens to us.