A Pentecost Prayer

Getting a group of dignified Lutherans to stomp their feet and make wind noises in church is not an easy task. The trick is to work it into a children's sermon about Pentecost, or at least that worked for me last year, when I used a shortened version of the Bible storyteller lesson from VBS. My top favorite thing from that lesson, though, was about the speaking in tongues. This is perhaps odd, because glossolalia is one of these Bible things where I tend to smile, nod, and look elsewhere, like when Aunt Edna tells you that her first job was being Elvis's secretary. But the fun part of the lesson was that we learned a word in many different languages. To be honest with you, I don't remember now what that word was- peace? spirit? thank you? hello? But the kids loved getting to say it in Spanish, Swahili, Cherokee, Chinese...how often do you get the chance to do that?

Today is Pentecost. That is still my favorite part of the story. The Spirit came, and the people were able to understand each other.

Can I say that again? The Spirit came, and the people were able to understand each other.

If ever there was a time for understanding, this is it.

To recap, in the world right now:

-A police officer has killed a black man in Minneapolis.
-Some people are so outraged by this that they have burned businesses and a police station.
-Many people are so outraged that this country is still battling racism that they have peaceful protests.
-Some people have to worry about their loved ones in law enforcement trying to keep the peace.
-Many people are so outraged by this whole thing that they sit in their houses and seethe, then try to distract themselves because they feel entirely helpless.
-Vast swaths of people around the world have been in quarantine for months now because of Covid-19.
-Some people are so frustrated about this they have held armed protests.
-Some people are so frustrated by this that they spend their time sewing masks and checking on their neighbors.
-Some people have lost their livelihoods, and some businesses will not reopen.
-Some people have lost dear loved ones, and worry deeply about friends and relatives in high-risk categories.
-Some people feel more isolated than ever.
-Some people have found much-needed rest and family time in spite of all this.
-Some people work in crammed-like-sardines working conditions where viruses run rampant- yet a tiny few people remember them as we chow down on our hamburgers.
-Teachers, students, and parents anxiously await news of what school will look like in the fall.
-Also a couple people recently went to space (probably to get away from the rest of us) and I'm not sure anybody noticed.

There's a lot going on right now. I think it's safe to say many people just do not understand each other right now.

You know what's an uncomfortable truth? Replace "people" with "God's children." Because we all are, are we not? Are they? (Whoever THEY are? The THEY that isn't us?)

God's children have been treated unjustly.
God's children have been rioting.
God's children have been dying.
God's children have been helping.
God's children have been acting out of fear.
God's children have been complacent.

We sang "Spirit of Gentleness" in facebook church this morning. James Manley's words of the Spirit call us to "Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings." We had best be praying for the Spirit to help us do just that.

The Spirit came, and the people were able to understand each other.

Dove of the Holy Spirit, Bernini, public domain 

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Freebie! Church Member Connect Four

So, my church has been doing a book study on the book Growing Young, and we've been discussing some small steps we can take to bring our church family closer together, especially across generations. One of the things we came up with (no surprise to this teacher/camp counselor) were some icebreakers! Yes, go right ahead and roll your eyes, but this is a useful thing. I sometimes give my own family a hard time when we go to ice cream (anti-)socials- you go, you start your own table so you can sit with the people you came with, you eat your ice cream, and you go home. It's often the same at church fellowship time.

Something is missing here.

In an effort to get people up talking to those folks who sit clear across the room, here is a connect four game. We're going to use it this Sunday at the church potluck, so some of the questions are a little holiday-themed. I'm happy to send you a version you can edit if you leave a comment here or message Mobile United Methodist Missionaries on Facebook. If you try it out, I'd love to hear how it goes!

Happy New Year!