NUCC
Pentecost/Communion
Numbers 11:24-30
Acts 2:1-21
All the people. We believe that God welcomes and encourages and uses “all the people.” That was a heart-warming scene on that screen ----- seeing those welcoming, smiling faces, inviting us into the church.
All the people. We find this phrase in the Bible. In fact we find it 281 times, especially in Old Testament books like Exodus, Deuteronomy and 1 and 2 Samuel when “all the people” gathered to hear a leader like Moses or rejoiced with a king like Solomon or wept with a king like David. Among these people were “both small and great,” both “high and low.” In the New Testament we heard “good news of great joy for all the people” when a savior’s birth was announced to some shepherds. “All the people were spellbound” as they heard Jesus preach in the temple during his last days. (Luke 19:48)
We don’t hear that exact phrase in our two scripture lessons for this Pentecost Sunday, but the “spirit” of those texts tells us that God’s Spirit is for “all the people.” Listen:
From Numbers:
“Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them.”
From Acts:
“I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…
sons and daughters,
old men,
slaves,
both men and women….”
Today, we gather in this spirit-filled church to celebrate God’s love for “all the people.” Not just for a small group of people. Not just for the Church Council members, or Sunday School teachers, or mentors. Not just for adults. Not just for men or women. But for all the people. God’s Holy Spirit is working and inspiring “all the people.”
1. In the Church:
God is surely working among us here. I see a lot of exciting things happening. People are taking on ministries to feed local families, provide scholarships for Egyptian children, and visit the lonely. During this year each of you confirmands was paired with an older person and you were encouraged to give that person a call or help them out every once in a while.
As I mentioned in my pastor’s message in the Newsletter, several people have enthusiastically taken on ministries for “all the people.”
- Reaching out to men who sometimes don’t feel part of the church.
- Helping to lead a series on “unwrapping our gifts,” of spirit, mind, and body.
- Organizing a program to provide a “safe sanctuary” for all of our children.
- Forming a discussion group about and with people of faith who are different than we, but still people of faith.
On various occasions we sing songs of welcome. A favorite opening hymn of mine is “All Are Welcome.” At the beginning of communion we sing: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. Men and women, youth and children, come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and gather about Christ’s table.” This is part of our core identity as Christians in the United Church of Christ.
2. But we also recognize that God’s Holy Spirit moves in other churches. You confirmands have unanimously told me that your favorite part of the confirmation experience was Urban Immersion. A couple of you were especially moved by the spirit-filled worship at Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ. And you loved the beautiful mosaics of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Just this week I read about another Orthodox Church in
This is what an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:
Some say churches are the most segregated places in
On this Pentecost Day it must be special to worship in that church, which is a home to people who have found refuge from wars and hunger and speak, perhaps as many different languages as those people who gathered in
3. On this day we also recognize that God’s Holy Spirit can even move outside the church. Confirmands, think of the people we met at the mosque in
One day (my daughter) Emma saw a woman walking toward us covered in a veil and asked the inevitable, “What’s that, mommy?”
“Emma,” I answered, “that lady is a Muslim from a faraway place. And she dresses like that --- covers her head with a veil --- because she loves God. That is how her people show they love God.”
My daughter considered these words. She stared at the woman who passed us. She pointed at the woman, then pointed at my hair, and further quizzed, “Mommy, do you love God?”
“Yes, honey,” I laughed. “I do. You and I are Christians. Christian ladies show love for God by going to church, eating the bread and wine, serving the poor, and giving to those in need. We don’t wear veils, but we do love God.” After this, Emma took every opportunity to point to Muslim women during our shopping trips and tell me, “Mommy, look, she loves God.” One day, we were getting out of our car at our driveway at the same time as our Pakistani neighbors. Emma saw the mother, beautifully veiled, and pointing at her, shouted, “Look, mommy, she loves God!”
My neighbor was surprised. I told her what I had taught Emma about Muslim ladies loving God. While she held back tears, this near stranger hugged me, saying, “I wish that all Americans would teach their children so. The world would be better. The world would be better.”
All the people. All the people around Moses in our Old Testament lesson discovered that God will surprise us with witnesses from surprising places. All the people around Peter in our New Testament lesson were surprised when they understood the good news proclaimed by Christ’s disciples. On this Pentecost Day we may join all these people in the assurance that God invites each of us and all of us to be people of the Spirit. Amen.
