Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore
On Sunday, May 24, the congregations of Redeemer Lutheran Church and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church will celebrate the Pentecost Sunday. This day is recognized as the birthday of the church. Rev. Murray Finck will preside over the Holy Communion Service at 13564 St. Andrews Drive at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to join.
People can stay after service for fellowship in the Fellowship Hall with coffee, tea, cookies and snacks. The congregations collect donations of canned food for those in need.
There will be a special congregational meeting after service on Sunday, May 24, to update the congregation on the audio and visual project. The Bible study will meet on Wednesday, May 27, from noon-1:15 p.m. The group is currently going through the Acts of the Apostles. People are encouraged to bring their Bibles, a friend or neighbor, and lunch. This is a great opportunity for believers to expand their knowledge of the early church and make a new friend.
The Gospel lesson for this week is from John 20:19-23, and John 7:37-39. Pentecost Sunday is the birthday of the church: the day the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. There are various views of how the spirit was given to them. In the Gospel of John, the spirit is given before the Ascension. Jesus appears to them in a locked room where they were hiding in fear that they would be next to be arrested. The first thing Jesus says is, “Peace be with you.”
Jesus then commissions them, breathes on them to give them the Holy Spirit and tells them to go. In the alternate Gospel for Pentecost Sunday, also from John, Jesus only gives a foreshadowing of the spirit. Jesus refers to the spirit as a river of living water that will flow from the hearts of believers. In Acts, there is wind and fire. The disciples are accused of being drunk. In 1 Corinthians, the gifts of the Spirit are named.
Although the spirit can be violent wind and fire, usually the spirit is peace and breath. The spirit brings guidance, strength and inspiration. It is what let the disciples come out from behind the locked door, let their fears go, and witness to who Jesus is. The Spirit is what renews the face of the earth, and allows believers to speak of their own faith.
