It’s Pentecost, the day when God puts the wind of the Spirit
in our sails and the fire of the Spirit in our hearts—the wind
and fire of God’s divine presence. For on that first Day of
Pentecost, amidst a mighty wind and tumbling tongues of fire,
the Church was born, and on each and every Pentecost God’s
Spirit brings us to new life again!
So on this Day of Pentecost, what we all need to receive is
the Holy Spirit’s gift of the untamed zest and energy for life
that comes to us on the wings of the wind amidst tongues of fire.
Now a long time ago, the Day of Pentecost was one of
Christians’ favorite festivals. Today, for most people,
Pentecost has sort of gotten lost in the shuffle, especially
this year when it’s competing with a secular holiday weekend,
when lots of people leave town. But here at Rutgers we really
know how to celebrate Pentecost. And we throw a big birthday
party, complete with a birthday cake. So bring out the cake,
Taras!! (Taras brings it out with candles spelling “1974” on
top, and he places the cake on the baptismal font.) Now there
on top of the cake are candles, some of the fire of Pentecost.
And the candles say “1,974,” because today the Church is one
thousand, nine hundred and seventy-four years old! Wow!
And boys and girls do you see any other fire around here?
Yes, that’s right. There are six candles aflame up there in
the chancel.
Now, what color is the icing on the birthday cake? And what
color are those candles up there in the chancel? That’s right!
Red!! And what else do you see that’s red? That’s right—the
flowers, and the hangings, and the trimmings, and the stoles
around our necks! Now kids, do you know why today’s
“color” is red? Yes, because fire is red—like fire trucks and
fire houses. You see, when Cheryl told you the story of
Pentecost upstairs in Sunday School you heard about the happy
tongues of fire that appeared among all the people on that very
first Day of Pentecost—long, long ago.So we have here lots of
the happy fire of Pentecost!
But what about some of that mighty wind? Well, when I think
of wind and birthday parties together, I always think of pinwheels.
Do you know what pinwheels are, kids? And do you see any here?
Hey, look at that! And I bet I have enough others for every one
of you! (Distribute them.) Now, pinwheels don’t move, do they,
until you blow some breath, some wind on them. Let’s do that!
Yes, and we’re sort of like that, aren’t we. If God wants
to get us moving, God has to blow some of the breath of the
Holy Spirit on us, just as God did to all the folks that first Day
of Pentecost. So Pentecost is about God’s blowing the wind of the
Spirit on people in order to push us along and get us going. Now,
you can’t see wind, but you sure can hear it. So
let’s see if we can get some mighty wind sounds in here. Maybe
the choir and organ can help us out.
OK choir, can you make mighty wind sounds? (Choir makes them.)
And George, can the organ help us out? (Organ makes them, too.)
OK, kids now let’s hear you make some mighty wind sounds!
Louder! And now let’s see if the rest of the congregation can do it.
Now let’s hear everybody together—choir, organ, kids, and people!
OK!!! We’ve got a mighty wind, and we’ve got lots of fire!
Now, another special thing about the way Pentecost was
celebrated in some churches a long time ago was this: they opened
up holes in the ceiling of the churches, Holy Spirit holes. Why?
Well, to point people skyward and outward to the wind-rush of God
and also to make an opening so that signs of the Holy Spirit
could come down on the people from above and fill them with joy,
just as the wind and fire did on the very first Pentecost—signs of
the Spirit coming down from above, like real live doves, sailing
on the wind and descending downward, and like red rose petals,
flickering and fluttering and coming down on the people like
tongues of fire.
Well, as you can see, we have the fire and the red decorations
we need, and we also have you and the choir and the organ ready to
make a mighty wind. And as those of you who were here the last
couple of years already know, we also have the Holy Spirit holes
we need. You bet we do!
Do you see them up there? No? Well, trust me. They’ll
happen!!
So, come, O Holy Spirit! Come down, and enter into us on this
happy Day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church!
OK, kids and congregation! Let’s sing to the Holy Spirit, and
let’s ask the Spirit to send down some signs on us right here, and
right now.
We’re going to sing the song printed in your bulletin. And at
the end of the first line, you and the choir and the organ are
going to make some mighty-wind sounds while you keep looking up at
the ceiling and see what happens! And then at the end of the
second line of our song I’m going to make sure that something like
tongues of fire comes down from up there. And then at the end of
the third line I’m going to make sure that something will come
down from the ceiling that’ll really make it seem like a birthday
party in here!
OK! George please play once through our tune so we can learn
the melody and get ready to make our wind sounds!
All right. We’re ready! Now remember that at the end of the
first line, we’re all going to make mighty-wind sounds. Let’s go!
Come, O Spirit (Tune: St. Kevin, in the key of G)
1. “Come, O Spirit, with Your sound like a wind quick rushing;”
(everyone makes mighty-wind noises)
2. “Come, O Spirit, with your flame; send down tongues of fire!”
Look up, look up! (everyone looks up at the ceiling)
3. “Come from heav’n and stir our hearts, each disciple touching;”
Look up, look up! (everyone looks up again at the ceiling)
4. Come, O Spirit, fill Your church; all our lives inspire!
(After the last line of St. Kevin, launch immediately into
“Happy Birthday, Dear Church.” And immediately after “Happy
Birthday” launch into O Waly Waly, also in the key of G!)