Sermon Notes, Pentecost (Year C)

 SERMON NOTES

Babel:
Egos.
Us vs them.
Name the other as “them” – justify division and competition.

Pentecost:
Community.
Us with us.
Name the other as kin – seek ways to collaboration.

THIS is what the Spirit does.
Speaks in ways we can hear – listen – and understand.

Has always been here –
Since beginning of creation
Will always be here –
Jesus promised the advocate.

Pentecost: the act of inspiration
inSPIRation

The wind…
Gale force wind – can be life changing in their climate.
We know wind here – this is the crop-destroying,
…and it’s the sound; not the wind.
Signifying change
But they had no other way to describe it.

Tongues – AS OF fire.
Fire: life changing. Home-destroying.
And it’s tongues LIKE fire – not fire itself.
Signifying change
But they had no other way to describe it.

Because God was moving to inspire.
Fill with Spirit.
Remind of the power of BREATH – the breath of God – the Spirit of God – that breathed all life into being.
Empowering them to get up –
Move into the reality of changing lives.
Theirs, and those around them.
Advocate – guide, comforter, supporter.
The voice that speaks encouragement into our hearts that enables us to come together in ministry
Ministry happens when we remember the Spirit abides WITH us – and IN us.
Pulling us together – inviting to give what we have to give
With shared purpose of kingdom building, we discover ways to connect, communicate, and contribute.
As God intended,
And as God has equipped.

So: let the Spirit move.
Let her blow.
Let her surprise.
Let her nudge.
…and let yourself trust her enough to respond: for she’s NOT subtle. And she won’t give up.
She is with us: advocating. Forever.


Pentecost Blessing from Jan Richardson:
On the day
when you are wearing
your certainty
like a cloak
and your sureness
goes before you
like a shield
or like a sword,
may the sound
of God’s name
spill from your lips
as you have never
heard it before.
May your knowing
be undone.
May mystery
confound your
understanding.
May the Divine
rain down
in strange syllables
yet with
an ancient familiarity,
a knowing borne
in the blood,
the ear,
the tongue,
bringing the clarity
that comes
not in stone
or in steel
but in fire,
in flame.
May there come
one searing word:
enough to bare you
to the bone,
enough to set
your heart ablaze,
enough to make you
whole again.