[Propertalk] Pentecost b

[robertpmorrison at charter.net]

I've been having trouble trying to post my sermons over the past few
week so I'm posting in segments today. Bob

	THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY THE DAY OF PENTECOST:
WHITSUNDAY (B) 

	ACTS 2:1-21   24th MAY, 2015 

	ROMANS 8:22-27     PSALM 104:25-35, 37 

	JOHN 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 

	 At the BAC meeting this past Tuesday evening we watched an ad
produced by the United Methodist Church. They’re starting a new
series of these to try to offer viewers and listeners a balanced view
of Christianity, about what it can do, about what it should be able to
do. In other words, it’s about the effects of Pentecost. 

	 What ARE the effects of Pentecost, the gift of life in the Spirit?
Are there any accidental effects? Are the Spirit’s movements in the
world, around us, within us, ALL designed for the purpose of bringing
us to life? Jesus’ preview of Pentecost as described in the Gospel
this morning and the reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
would say very strongly that, yes, the Spirit’s presence and
activity never fail to produce action and interaction. 

	 The ad I’m describing featured the actress Pauley Perette. She
talked of her educational upbringing, about the way that she was
invited to become one of a group of advertising models and, finally
her becoming part of the cast of the TV drama “NCIS”. 1 

	 What struck me most was the comment she made about dealing with a
real estate agent over a period of time. She noticed what she
described as how happy he was. That in itself, in the busy-ness of
Hollywood and Los Angeles culture, was striking enough, but it seemed
to govern his entire behaviour, so much so that she had to find out
what made his life so fulfilling when it could easily be frustrating
and disappointing. 

	  That’s how the actress started attending Hollywood United
Methodist Church. That is how she became engaged with the congregation
there. That’s how she herself said she’s finding fulfilment. 

	 The Holy Spirit does, indeed, have a wonderful sense of humour and a
great way of engaging us in the most surprising situations and
encounters! 

	 Mechthild of Magdeburg, a thirteenth century poet and mystic, wrote
about her visions of God and her experience of hearing God’s
invitation to communicate this with the world. The fact that she wrote
in the low north German dialect, when anyone else of note was writing
in Latin, brings her mission into clearer focus. 2 She was speaking
directly to her neighbours in a way that they could understand, or
come to understand, just as happened at Pentecost. 

	 Just as Pauley Perrette’s realtor conveyed his experience of God
through his behaviour – NOT directly his words – so Mechthild took
it upon herself to model her experience of God’s love first in the
way she faced enormous criticism from established religion, and then
through her writing. 

	 One of her poems describes how she felt about God interacting with
her and the world. 

	 Effortlessly,
  Love flows from God into man,
  Like a bird
  Who rivers the air
  Without moving her wings.
  Thus we move in His world
  One in body and soul,
  Though outwardly separate in form.
  As the Source strikes the note,
  Humanity sings --
  The Holy Spirit is our harpist,
  And all strings
  Which are touched in Love
  Must sound. 3 

	 The imagery of this is wonderful. The description of the Spirit in
the Book of Acts may to some seem quite frightening. Fire isn’t
always the most pleasant of elements. It has tremendous power, and it
can be highly destructive – witness what happened at South High
School here, among other events. So fire can still be scary. It’s
among the first things of which we warn young toddlers when they’re
at the stage of being so inquisitive about life. “Be careful! Fire
and its heat can burn, can disfigure,” we say. Even we who’re more
mature have to be aware of potential danger. 

	-----------------------------------------
 Robert P Morrison
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
PO Box 1556
Albany, OR 97321

541-921-1076
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