Christian churches charged to celebrate Pentecost

If ever there was a day for Christian churches to shout “Alleluia, Amen!” this is it.  Pentecost, from the Greek meaning fiftieth day, celebrated 50 days after Easter is considered by Christians to be the birthday of the Church.  After the Resurrection on Easter, Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive the Spirit to replace his presence among them.  (Luke 24:44-49)
Pentecost, along with Easter, was one of the first festivals celebrated by the early Christians.  Saint Paul celebrated Passover-Easter with the Philippians then hurried to keep Pentecost in Jerusalem. (Acts 20: 6,16).  Pentecost was adapted by the Christians from the Jewish Feast of Weeks.  For the Jews this day was the culmination of a seven-week agricultural season that concluded with a one-day festival held on the first day after the seventh Sabbath after Passover.  In its original setting (Numbers 28:26), it was a sacrificial presentation of the first fruits of the harvest, but had grown to include the giving of the Law and the formation of the Jewish community of faith.  In Jesus’ time, the holiday took on a more festive tone with a final communal meal to which the poor were invited.  The disciples had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them in a rush of wind appearing as tongues of fire over their heads. (Acts 2)  The Spirit changed them and through them transmitted the message of salvation.  Three thousand people heard the disciples and were baptized on that first Pentecost.  For the early Christians Pentecost became a thanksgiving for the gift of the Spirit and the formation of the Christian Church.
Baptism and acceptance of new members is often a part of Pentecost Sunday.  The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Church on the first Pentecost just as it was for each of us in baptism.  The Spirit continues to empower us not only to believe, but to act as disciples.
In the Middle Ages, a variety of local customs developed around Pentecost.  Roses were dropped from the rafters to simulate the tongues of fire.  Trumpets were sounded to recall the sound of the mighty rushing wind.  most widespread was the use of a dove or a pigeon to represent the Holy Spirit.  A live dove was set free inside the church to fly off or a carved one was let down by a rope from the roof.  Pentecost partying became widespread in England and Germany and, later, among the slaves and white settlers of the eastern colonies of the New World.  In Poland and the Ukraine, Pentecost is known as the “Green Sunday”.  People decorate their houses and churches with green branches, which are believed to bring God’s blessing upon the home and the people living in it, as green symbolizes new life.  In churches today the color is red to remind us of the offering of life in the service of the Lord.
Celebrate Pentecost as a family, but have even more fun by making it a week long celebration.  Begin by making your favorite birthday cake with red icing or try this one.  (This easy cake comes from my boys’ elementary school, whose school colors were red and white.)
SPX Red & White Cake
16 oz prepared angel food cake
2-3 cups sliced strawberries
3-4 cups Cool Whip
1 package strawberry pie glaze
In a large bowl, break the angel food cake into small pieces.  Add Cool Whip and mix until cake pieces are well coated with Cool Whip.  Empty mixture into a 9x11 pan and press down firmly.  Add sliced strawberries to glaze and pour on top of cake.  Chill and serve.
Decorate your table with red candles and napkins, wear red and have a birthday party. Or try some of these ideas to celebrate wind, new life and Pentecost:
• make a wind sock.  A simple one can be made from any type of tube—empty toilet paper rolls, or make your own; then add streamers from ribbon or crepe paper to one end; at the other end punch two holes opposite each other; knot a piece of string in one hole and loop over to the other hole and knot (be sure your string is long enough to make a loose handle.
• make a wind chime with any thing you can find such as old silverware or long nails.   A canning jar lid ring works well for attaching your nails or silverware.
• make a sack-kite.  Decorate a lunch sack, folding the top to the inside to reinforce the edge.  Glue strips of colored crepe paper to flutter behind the kite and attach tree feet of string.  Grab the string and run.
• blow soap bubbles
• and in thanksgiving for what you have make a donation to your favorite charity or volunteer time as a family
We invite you to dress in red and celebrate the Feast of Pentecost at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at for quiet worship at 8:00 AM or with our choir at 10:30 AM.  Following the 10:30 service we gather in the courtyard and release hundreds of ladybugs.  During the Middle Ages it seems that the insects were eating all the crops.  The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help.  Soon the ladybugs came, ate the insects and saved the crops!