May 31: Day of Pentecost
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” –John 14:1-4
This is a famous passage and one of great comfort. What we often miss because of the chapter division in John is that the context is the upper room. Jesus asks Peter there in the room, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” What a heart-troubling thing to hear! And the next line out of Jesus’ mouth, probably without much pause is, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” It seems that the prerequisite of not having a troubled heart is having one. Then Jesus comes along and tells you who he is and what he is doing for you, and that is the cause of a peaceful heart. You’re not the cause of your peaceful heart. You can’t pacify your heart. Jesus is the cause of your peaceful heart because of who he is and what he has done. That’s the gospel!
Come hear it preached and enacted in the Supper this Sunday as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
Spirit of the Living God
Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!
This Sunday is our community lunch for Pentecost. Use the contact page for more information.
Sunday school for children (on Acts and the Early Church) and adults (on Reformed eschatology) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!