What we're wondering about:
The Day of Pentecost -
Happy Birthday, Church!
Guess what, even though it's the Church's birthday, WE get the presents: gifts from the Holy Spirit! Jesus promised the disciples - and promised us! - that after he went up to Heaven, he would leave us with the Holy Spirit, who brings special gifts to everyone. These gifts change us!
In Jesus' day, it was 10 days after Jesus had gone to Heaven. The disciples and others were gathered, and waiting. . . and then the Holy Spirit arrived in a loud rush of wind, with something that looked like tongues of flame touching everyone's heads. Suddenly, everyone could speak other languages! And sons and daughters were prophesying, old people were dreaming, and young people were seeing visions.
All these things and more are given to us, now, too! Some people get one type of gift, some another. (Here's a sweet song celebrating you and your gifts - plus a reminder to use them.) We are asked - commanded - to use all these gifts to spread the gospel everywhere in the world.
On that very day, long ago, the disciple ("learner") - now apostle ("messenger") Peter went right out into the crowd and preached about Jesus: this is how our church was born! Will you be a messenger for God, too? Happy birthday, Church!
