The Spire - June 2003

Genesis 1:1

There is a Pentecostal wind moving around Central Presbyterian.

We will observe Pentecost on June 8, with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. As we remember the event in the early church, when the Spirit lighted upon all the disciples, we may also observe the Spirit moving among us at Central Church.

The word “spirit” in the Hebrew Old Testament is ruach—which is also translated as:

• “wind”—like the wind that separated light and dark, land and water at creation, or
• “breath”—like the breath of life breathed into the first human, like the breath that moved over the valley of dry bones and initiated life in unexpected ways and places.

We might see evidences of all these forms of God’s presence.

There is a “wind” that is sweeping through our building. Plans are being made to improve our beautiful sanctuary, create a new infant room, place a mural on the hallway walls in the education wing, bring order out of chaos in the basement youth room, and completion of the improvements in the session meeting room.

There is a “breath” of newness as we greet our Korean brothers and sisters in the hallways on Sunday morning; as the CIA crafts new ventures for our Extreme Faith Trek; as our confirmands enter into the mission and ministry of our church as full members; as our Wholeness Service celebrates communion and gathers around the table in song and proclamation.

There is a “spirit” of empowerment and transformation as our Child Development Center celebrates 10 years of ministry by expanding its playground and making room to care for increasing numbers of children; as our Christian Education program seeks more rooms for learning; as our Presbyterian Women install new officers to lead them in their continued task of mission and study; as our Stephen Ministers continue to walk with us on our journeys of faith.

John’s Gospel mentions that Jesus had breathed the Spirit onto each of His disciples before leaving. But Pentecost was the first day that the Spirit took hold of the followers of Christ as a group or body, and came to stay. It was the first time the Spirit’s raw power was there in anyone who followed Christ, not just the Twelve.

One of the images that Acts leaves with us is that of people from all corners of the kingdom, hearing and understanding the good news in their own language. At General Assembly this year, Tom and I were invited to the Stated Clerk’s Ecumenical Dinner. Advisory Delegates from churches across the globe were in attendance. It is a well-know fact of ecumenical relations, that the Presbyterian Church in Korea and the Presbyterian Church in Brazil have experienced conflict and division that has resulted in several different Presbyterian denominations. However, at the Ecumenical Dinner, the leaders of the Korean denominations and the Brazilian denominations all sat together, breaking bread and sharing fellowship. Was this an effort of conciliation and reunion? Or was this bond driven by the fact that they were the only ones in the room that knew each other’s language? It is difficult to say. But a testimony to the power of God’s Spirit—the breath and the wind that gives us life and moves us around to serve God in spirit and in truth.

As we prepare to celebrate Pentecost, may we also prepare to be part of the wind of change, the spirit of transformation, and the breath of new life in our church and community.

Blessings,

Cathy