Happy Pentecost!

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit .... (Acts 2:1-4a, NRSV)

This coming Sunday will be Pentecost.  More than just the day the church was "born" Pentecost is the day when God's spirit was poured out on many and changed the world.  Those fearful followers hiding in a locked room became so filled with God's spirit they didn't have room for fear.  They were no longer afraid of ridicule, of soldiers, of poverty, or even death.  In these days when many people 'make wrongful use of the name of Lord' (Exodus 20:7, NRSV) to justify behavior of which God would not approve let us pray that we, and all those who call upon the name of the Lord, will be so filled with God's spirit that there will be no more room for fear, greed, or distrust, and we can truly mean the words we say each Sunday "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth ...."

Blessings!
Marilyn