June 4, 2006 Day of Pentecost

Pastor Gary E. Benson

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota

 

                                              “It’s All About the Spirit!”

Admittedly it has been a long, long time, but I do remember, and many of you do as well, when in high school the bell would ring and we would all go to the gym on the day of an athletic event for a “pep rally.”  Again, years ago, that meant the pep band playing (and trust me, we knew the songs by heart), cheers were being led, speeches given all for the purpose, shall we say, of “getting into the spirit” – getting connected to the event that was only hours away.  Oh certainly, I also recall there were those who sat and acted bored during the pep rally, but most “got into it,” cheering, clapping, waving the hands. They were anticipating with great excitement the game and evening ahead.

 

Today, it’s Pentecost. It is not about a pep rally, but it is about spirit, the Spirit of God.  When the winds of God’s spirit blew boldly into the hearts and lives of God’s people, the church was created and God’s people moved forward with promise and possibility empowered by the Spirit working and stirring through them. 

 

As a pastor, one often hears, “Well, you know, we don’t hear much about the Holy Spirit.”  We hear about God as Creator, “In the beginning God created,” – that works for me. We hear about Jesus as God’s Son our Lord, “…for God so loved the world,” – that works for me. But God the Holy Spirit --- can’t see it, can’t touch it, what’s with it?

 

I am reminded (and have told the story over the years), but it bears repeating like any good story or verse of Scripture.  This occurred in my home congregation at a church council meeting.  The congregation was considering some remodeling in the sanctuary and specifically in the altar area.  It was suggested by a council person that a large dove representing or symbolizing the Holy Spirit be painted on the wall.  It was then my aunt, who is quite able to speak her opinion, said, “Well, look at the service cross. Twenty-one persons have been ordained from this small congregation. I think the Holy Spirit is working; we don’t have to paint it on the wall.”

 

Indeed, the Spirit may be hard to grasp yet it is certainly active.  I have here my Small Catechism from our recent confirmation interviews.  Let’s be reminded of the Third Article, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church….”  And what does this mean?

 

      “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or effort believe in Jesus Christ my         Lord or come to him.  But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel,      enlightened my with his gifts and sanctified and kept me in truth          faith … In the same way he (Spirit) calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian          church on earth …….”

 

Pentecost is a day to celebrate hope, a hope evoked/born by the knowledge that God, through the Holy Spirit, is at work among God’s people. It is a celebration of newness, of renewal of purpose, mission, and calling as God’s people, not only in the past or in the sweet by and by, but in the now. (Gospel train)

 

Recently at the Senior Pastor’s Conference Bishop Hanson asked, “Today, how is God being made known through you, members of your congregation, and through the ELCA?”  That is a Holy Spirit question, “How are you, we, allowing the Holy Spirit, (God with and within us) to lead, empower, and enliven our lives?”

 

In that regard, Bo Bronson in his book, What Shall I Do With My Life?, says, “We all have passions, if we choose to see them.  Most often we don’t have epiphanies; we don’t get clarity.  Our purpose (direction) doesn’t arrive neatly packaged as destiny.  We only get a whisper, a blank, non-specific urge, that’s how it starts.”  Sounds good on the surface, but Bronson doesn’t talk about God, the Spirit; so we might ask what good is purpose and direction if such are simply actions of our urges and self-serving goals?  Without the Spirit guiding and leading the purpose of our life (or the church), it is like being out on an ocean not seeing the shore and simply starting to swim.  If you don’t know where you are ultimately going, any path will get you there.

 

As many of you, I am enjoying graduation receptions. I am doing so because, for the most part, I have seen these young people since first grade.  I have also witnessed how the power of the Holy Spirit, God within them, has blessed, directed, and gifted them.  Just a couple of weeks ago, when so many of our youth participated in worship, it wasn’t only about the awesome kids, it was about an awesome God – who calls, gathers, gifts, enlightens and brings new birth to the church continually. (Gospel train)

 

In that regard, pastor and author Leonard Sweet (again at the Senior Pastor’s Conference) shared a saying, “The church is headed for the perfect storm as it confronts “Post modernity, Post Christendom, and Post Scale,” (a world of change) any and all of which could sink the church as we know it.  Bottom line, in the perfect storm, crew mates are needed.  And if you (the church) are going to survive, you best get out of the harbor. If you stay in the harbor, you will be the chaplain of the hospice.  As a church, “We have to go out; we don’t have to come back.”  Sweet says, “The church is not about fads and trends or simply tradition, it is about lashing yourself to the mast – the cross of Christ.  It is about lifting up Jesus who says, “When I am lifted up, I will draw others unto myself” and trust where God’s Spirit is leading – boldly, creatively, faithfully.”

 

And know well, the Holy Spirit is not simply a feeling, but rather a fact.  Turn with me to page 124, and let’s read together the blessing of our baptism under #13. When it gets to the “name,” say your own and be reminded “U R” the church, and together we are the church, the living spirit filled people of God. (And, yes, it all began on Pentecost.) Yet today we are called into mission through baptism and the Word.  God has always had a people. We are God’s people baptized, filled with the Spirit and sent into the world.  May we live spirit filled lives to the glory of God.