May 19, 2024

Acts 2:1-21

Rev. Kristen J. Kleiman

Today is Pentecost, which means that today is Go day.  Today is the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The gift of the Holy Spirit to each and every one of us.  Today is the day we go!  Go out and share God’s love with all.

Pentecost is often described as the birthday of the Church because on Pentecost, the Church grew from a couple hundred followers to over three thousand followers.  Recently I read though that Pentecost is less of a birthday party and more of a block party.

And here is where I need to pause for a moment just in case you don’t know what a block party is.  I’m not age-splaining.  It’s just that most block parties disappeared long before COVID.  A block party is simply a neighborhood party.  Sometimes, it is held in someone’s yard; sometimes, neighbors block off the street in front of their homes.  Basically, it is a party where you invite all of the people who live around you.  You invite your neighbors.

Ten days before Pentecost, Jesus had told his followers they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so they could be witnesses to Jesus’ love.  And then Jesus rose/ ascended into heaven and his followers hung out in Jerusalem getting ready, getting set to receive the Holy Spirit and go and be witnesses.

And today was the day to go out from where they were gathered.  No more preparation; no more waiting; no more getting ready and set.  Today, Pentecost, is Go day.

Today is the day they received the Holy Spirit like a rush of a violent wind.  Today is the day they experienced the Holy Spirit like divided tongues of fire resting on each one of them.  Today is the day the Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages.  Today is the day the Spirit gave them boldness and inspiration, the ability to dream dreams and see visions of what could be.

All so they could witness to the good news of God’s love.  All so they could share hope, give comfort, create just peace communities and make our world a better place for all.

So Pentecost is less of a birthday party and more of a block party, spilling out of the Church house into the neighborhood, connecting with others in the way that feels most comfortable to them – like when the disciples spoke in others’ native languages; drawing new lines about who belongs, who is welcome, and what inclusive community looks like.

And here is where I turn the message over to all of you.  If Pentecost is a block party, a party for our whole neighborhood, what would the First Congregational Church’s block party look like?

What kinds of activities would we have?  What kinds of foods – because every party must have food?  How would we decorate?  Who would we invite?

I invite you to gather with a few other people; to take a deep breath of the Holy Spirit; and boldly dream dreams and vision what God wants for God’s community.

If you are worshipping online, you can do this with others online or perhaps in your household – at this moment or throughout the week.  I hope you will share on the Facebook comment feed.

If Pentecost is a block party, a party for our whole neighborhood, what would FCC’s block party look like?

Who would we invite?  Who would you invite?  What kinds of activities would we have?  What kinds of foods?  How would we decorate?  Would we play games? music?  What kinds?

And remember, this is the First Congregational Church’s block party.  What gifts does this Christian community have to share?  What good news?  How can we share joy and God’s love with our whole community?

I’m going to give you a few minutes to gather, introduce yourselves, and talk.  If you want paper to write notes or draw a picture, there are clipboards up here.

(Time to Gather)

The Spirit comes into our lives on Pentecost to inspire us and make us new.  I invite you to share how the Spirit has inspired you as we seek to be witnesses to Christ’s love.

(Time of Sharing)

God is pouring out God’s holy spirit on all of us.  Jesus is inviting all of us to be his witnesses: sharing hope, creating community, bringing joy.  The Holy Spirit is blessing us – with boldness, with abilities, with confidence that we can make a big, big difference in our world.

It’s “Go” time because the moment to spill out into our neighborhoods and share the good news of God’s incredible love, God’s unconditional love is now.