{"id":27596,"date":"2023-05-23T04:08:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T04:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?p=27596"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:20:08","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:20:08","slug":"pentecost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/pentecost\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentecost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.<\/h2>\n

Acts 2:17<\/em><\/h2>\n

Welcome to the first MMU in the post-Ally era. If you get this, that means that I (with Ally\u2019s help) have managed to put together the newsletter and send it out. I confess that when Ally told me she was moving back to Georgia, one of my first task-related concerns was this key communications vehicle. As a staff we considered cutting back on the frequency, but Ally reported that on average 58% of the recipients actually click through to open it, which is a very high rate, so we will try to stay current every week. I believe that we are about to welcome a new staff member who will help make this happen, so I continue to thank God for providing for our ministries.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, we do what we can. And it is helpful to me that I have been able to dwell on Jesus\u2019 ascension, when he promises great power to the disciples as he leaves their physical presence. I say physical because, of course, Jesus also promised to be with the disciples\u2014and so we live in the presence of Christ: in spirit, in the gathered body, at the communion table, as we encounter the least of Christ\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

Indeed, we are blessed in San Gabriel Presbytery with experiencing Christ\u2019s presence in our life together. I have commented on the gifts of new members, and I\u2019ve shared with other presbyteries how we also learn of the incredible giftedness of our current active members, especially as we find out how our ruling elders and members do God\u2019s work in their \u201cday jobs.\u201d I continue to marvel at the wisdom and dedication of our retirees, who are a constant source of encouragement for me and many others.<\/p>\n

Of course, we cannot become complacent, and we must not settle for huddling in our own upper rooms, afraid to encounter the wider world. The Holy Spirit came into that house where Jesus\u2019 friends stayed, and gave them power\u2014all of them\u2014far beyond what was expected of their social status. The Holy Spirit came in and made a spectacle of them, so much that they attracted the attention of the Pentecost celebrants outside. And as usually happens when we become spectacular, some may mock us and doubt us, and some will be intrigued and attracted\u2014and we don\u2019t get to decide who.<\/p>\n

As we give thanks for the gifts of our current body, we are encouraged with new friends and those who might be peeking in at us. At last week\u2019s meeting of the Justice Peacemaking and Mission Committee, we were discussing how our churches serve others who are in need of shelter and other services, and new member Kevin Haah gently suggested that we need not assume that only people outside <\/em>our churches could use some help. And our Representation reports give encouraging numbers on racial diversity in our leadership, but we greatly lack the presence of younger generations, as well as those who are differently abled. It\u2019s entirely possible that our young people are seeing visions and prophesying, just as we know that our older family members are dreaming dreams. The question is, how do we attract their attention, and listen with courage to their prophetic voices, confident that God is speaking through them?<\/p>\n

There are a few opportunities coming up this summer that will allow us to expand our welcome, and listen to new voices and new dreams:<\/p>\n