Recently I attended a surprise 50th birthday party for a woman
I've known since college. One of the gifts she received was a beautiful
red hat along with a lot of encouragement to be her own person in
this new decade of life. Other women at the party who were a few
years older talked about what a freeing experience it was for them
to turn 50. Many were able to shed the 'shoulds' and 'oughts' of
previous decades to discover who God was calling them to be. I also
learned that there is even a Red Hat Society that was started informally
from one woman's inspiration upon reading the poem, "Warning"
by Jenny Joseph. The first lines of this poem were familiar to me.
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple.
With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
This experience came to mind as I was thinking about the season
of Pentecost. In the liturgical seasons of the church Pentecost
is observed 50 days after Easter. It coincided with a harvest feast
that was already observed by the Jews. But for the followers of
Jesus, Pentecost was the day on which the wind and fire of the Holy
Spirit suddenly came upon them. The Comforter and Counselor that
Jesus had promised them arrived without notice. No longer were they
timid and afraid. Filled with the Spirit, the disciples shed their
fear and timidity and were empowered to share the love of God that
Jesus had shown them. They discovered who God was calling them to
be.
Life in the Spirit turned that small band of disciples into a powerful
group of preachers and teachers who started the church. None of
them could have dreamed that the fear and pain they experienced
after Jesus' death would be transformed into such a power- filled
witness. That's what happens with life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit
has a way of taking hold of our lives and empowering us to be and
do things we have never imagined. The Spirit moves and stirs new
energy and creativity and enthusiasm into our lives. And while we
cannot see the Spirit, we know when it is working.
Sunday, June 8 we will celebrate Pentecost with communion in worship
here at UBBC. We will look at the ways the Spirit is moving in our
congregation and in our lives. And did you know that the liturgical
color for the day is red? So let's be bold and passionate about
our life in the Spirit and wear red to church! Pull out that red
hat, tie, dress, shirt or socks and put them on to remind you of
the Spirit that lives and works among us!
Awaiting the Spirit and wearing red,
Bonnie
Summer Worship Plans
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