This coming Sunday, May 19th, we celebrate Pentecost and the abilities the Holy Spirit has given us – to spread the Good News in such a way that is meaningful, felt and understood. On this same Sunday, as we have traditionally done at St. Luke’s for many years, we also celebrate music – for the way it enhances worship, how it helps us pray and praise the Lord – and for those who share their gifts of music through their voices and instruments.
“ . . . be filled with the Spirit as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts” Ephesians 5:18-19 The Bible is filled with verses related to music and its power and role in Christian faith and daily life. In many Biblical accounts, in both the Old and New Testaments, music is portrayed as a powerful way to praise God and to reflect the joy and peace we feel towards Him. “Music paints pictures and often tells stories, all of it magic, and all of it true, and all of the pictures and all of the stories and all of the magic the music is you.” John Denver Just like the Holy Spirit as it descended upon the Apostles, music has the way of touching us in such a way that it often leaves us amazed and astonished. Someone once said that “music sounds the way emotions feel”. That may be the very “magic” that John Denver is speaking about – how music can paint pictures and tell stories so that we can better comprehend and understand. In other words, the magic of the Holy Spirit and music combine to make our relationship with God deeply personal, profoundly felt, and authentically aware. So, on Sunday, let the Holy Spirit wash over you as you attend worship and may it stay with you in the days to come. Let the music touch and inspire you and make you feel closer to God. And, may you extend your thanks for the musicians who communicate the music, the words, and the emotions that you experience: Bells of Praise Jubilee St. Luke’s Choir Instrumentalists Festival Choir Lori Murray
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Over the next three Sundays we will be celebrating three distinct Holy Days:
Ascension – 40 Days after Easter. May 12. Pentecost – 50 Days after Easter. May 19. Holy Trinity – The Sunday after Pentecost. May 26. These each in their own way celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are not events of the past, but present-day realities pointing the way to life, freedom, and hope for salvation of all creation. These days affirm that Jesus is Lord of all. The Holy Spirit has been poured out to all humankind. The true faith is found in relationship, for the nature of God is best understood in terms of a community of love – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Ascension – “After Jesus’ suffering, he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God...[Jesus told his disciples], you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up (ascended) and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:3, 8) Question is will we live up (ascend) to Jesus’ calling? Now almost 2,000 years later, we are to be witnesses to Jesus in our home (Jerusalem), community (Judea), with those who are separated from us (Samaria), and all people (to the ends of the earth). Thankfully, we do not do this on our own, but as the church with the power of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost – “Suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where [the followers of Jesus] were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them authority…Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear each of us in our own native tongue?” (Acts 2:2-4, 7-8) Question is, do we allow the Holy Spirit to speak in and through us to others? What does that look like? In baptism we pray, “Sustain (person’s name) with the gift of the Holy Spirit; ‘the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,’ (Isaiah 11:2) the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.” (pg. 231 ELW). If we allowed these gifts of the Holy Spirit embody us, we would be able to hear each other in their native tongue – which I believe is being able to hear another’s story and how it contributes to building the Kingdom of God. That requires being in relationship… Holy Trinity - And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him [Jesus] in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My [the Father’s] beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” (Luke 3:22) This is one of several scriptures that identify the relationship of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the greeting at the start of worship, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2nd Corinthians 13:14) Question is, do we allow the Spirit to lead us to greet everyone we meet in this manner, whether in our homes, community, those who are separate from us, and all people. May these three Sundays lift you up, fill you with the Spirit, and invite you into relationships with others to point the way to life, freedom, and the hope for salvation of all creation. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
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