“…they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1-2).
In our Sanctuary, above the altar, are the words “Growing a family aflame, sharing God’s love with all“. That vision, that heart-felt desire, is inspired by the Pentecost miracle! When we first put up those words a colleague said to me “beautiful”, then he pointed to the word “family” and chuckled: “you are brave, family can be tough going“. In a 2013 interview Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, commented, “very often the deepest wounds we experience come from other Christians“. He suggested that the way forward is “the seeking of a people being transformed by the Spirit and in whom the Spirit fights against anger and bitterness“.
God worked powerfully at Pentecost: tongues of flame and tongues in foreign languages. But surely the real miracle was gathering 120 believers, in one place, cleansed of the blame and bitterness so often upon our tongues. And God didn’t just increase their number 2500%, but enabled them to live in harmony (Acts 2:44)! Our combined service puts us at the threshold of transformation – placing before us the gift of different generations and musical styles. My prayer is that we open our mouths for praise and our hearts in love.
God Bless, Sean