On Sunday, we began to celebrate the experience of Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, we remember how the church received the Holy Spirit, emboldening Christ's disciples to be witnesses, so that they could share what they had experienced in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We too are disciples, and we continue to celebrate all the ways that the Holy Spirit is shaping us in our congregation and in the world at large.
Testimony People
On Sunday morning, the Faith and Life Class and the Present Word class combined to celebrate Pentecost together with a meaningful breakfast. Just like the disciples at Pentecost, we too are people of testimony. During the breakfast, we all shared stories of times when we sensed God's presence in our lives. We talked about the ways we have found community and been challenged in the church.
Individuals shared wisdom from pivotal moments in their lives, expressing gratitude for what they have learned over the years. We benefited from hearing their words!
We closed our time together by listening to the testimonies of the Middle School Youth in our congregation. Randal Whittington created a video of the students in her Sunday School class, capturing conversations of their faith experiences.
Our Testimony Breakfast brought us closer together and caused us to consider how the Holy Spirit is calling us at this time in our lives. Thank you to everyone who made this moment so meaningful!
Worship and Celebration
Pentecost, of course, is rooted in an experience of worship! Our worship on Sunday was celebratory and meaningful. We listened to uplifting music, and we read the scripture in a dramatic way, recreating an experience of hearing many languages. San encouraged and challenged us with his Pentecost sermon. What does it mean to be a Pentecost community? How do we continue to live as those who have been enlivened by the Holy Spirit?
And worship led to. . .
A Celebration!
The Central Time jazz ensemble filled our courtyard with beautiful music as we celebrated lunch together. . .
There were lots of smiles. . .
And how could we have a UPC Pentecost celebration without pizza? Unheard of!
Dads Do Dessert!
And we had dessert to go with that pizza! Several Dads in our congregation had a dessert competition to raise money for our Youth Ministry. We appreciate all the ways that our church supports its young people. Thank you to all who donated!
Pentecost was quite a celebration! How do we carry Pentecost into a greater season of meaning? How do we incorporate the Pentecost experience into who we are? These are good questions, and we will discover them as we together!
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