Sunday is Pentecost. It is the day when we celebrate the birth of the Church.
Luke describes the Church’s birthday like this:
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.”
Jesus’s disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the era of the Church began. It is a truly breathtaking moment in the narrative of God’s work in the world. In sending the Holy Spirit to transform otherwise unremarkable people, God chose to work through us to share the Good News of Jesus with a world desperate for a good word.
We know Jesus because of the Church. I think that’s worth celebrating.
So just as I might offer a word of thanksgiving for a dear friend on their birthday, I’d like to pen a few words of thanksgiving to a God who has given us the gift of our church.
I thank God for a church that is generous with their resources.
I thank God for a church that is eager to serve when a need arises.
I thank God for a church that joyfully provides hospitality after worship each Sunday, and on Wednesday nights.
I thank God for a church that errs on the side of grace and mercy when it would be easy to judge and condemn.
I thank God for a church that loves children and delights in providing a place for them to learn about Jesus.
I thank God for a church that is encouraging and optimistic.
I thank God for a church that chooses to respond to challenges rather than react.
I thank God for a church that has a history of honoring and celebrating the role of women in ministry.
I thank God for grandparents who go out of their way to bring their grandchildren to church.
I thank God for a church that sets a beautiful table for families who mourn the loss of a loved one.
I thank God for a church that sings hymns with power and conviction.
I thank God for a church that texts, emails, Facebook Messages, writes, and calls one another throughout the week.
I thank God for a church that purchases tickets for a pancake breakfast from our youth and children so that they can attend mission camp this summer.
I thank God for a church that picks up nails on the playground while workers were replacing our roof.
I thank God for a church that loves and studies God’s Holy Word.
I thank God for a church that allows the Holy Spirit to transform them into the hands and feet of Christ.
But most of all, I’m thankful for each of you who choose to be church together.