Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! This Sunday, on the 50th and final day of Easter Season, we join with Christians across the world in celebrating the great festival of Pentecost – the 3rd of the 3 greatest days in our lives (along with Christmas & Easter). We celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Christ’s Church nearly 2000 years ago – remembering how the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and sent them out to proclaim the Good News of God’s forgiveness & life through Jesus for all people, using languages they had never spoken! On Sunday morning, we have awesome worship with our Pentecost procession, cello, guitar, choir anthem, Disciples of Harmony, and JuBELLation Handbells. At 10:30, we also offer a special Member Welcome Blessing for 11 persons. What a joyful time it will be! Then, on Sunday afternoon, between 4:00 and 6:30, we invite everyone to come out for as much time as you like – to take in our big “Pentecost, School’s Out-Summer’s Here” festival on the church lawn. There will be free pizza & free ice cream with the Pyro Pizza and Chillin’ Cow food trucks, plus bouncy houses, adult corn hole, disciple fishin’ fun, message rocks, hope cards, jewelry for Kenya children’s ministry, tie-dye shirts, and more. There is something for everyone! Be sure to invite your neighbors, relatives, and friends. Here, at the end of Easter season, we look back and remember all the sadness, confusion, and grief the earliest followers of Jesus faced in the days of his crucifixion. We remember the depth of Jesus’ suffering, the tears of his mother & friends – and yet, how God acted with an empty tomb to confirm that God’s love will always have the FINAL Word (as Pastor Carl reminded us last week)! In the midst of the world’s pain, we cling to the power of God’s love and the promise of resurrection & life, as God’s light shines hope that darkness will never overcome! It is amazing how the Holy Spirit gives us strength, comfort & power to face so much in life – and to allow the hope & light of Jesus to shine through ordinary people like you & me. Come celebrate this gift of God’s Spirit in your life on Sunday! Christ’s peace! #SundayWorship
