Dear friends,

Grace and Peace to you in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We have celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord, we have journeyed through the Easter season, we have celebrated the Ascension of our Lord, and now we prepare to celebrate the holiday of Pentecost. But, before we celebrate Pentecost and begin the long Season of
Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time; let us remember, just because the Season of Easter is over, the Easter celebration never ends. Every Sunday is a mini Easter. We are resurrection people. He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!

Back to Pentecost, Pentecost is a vital day on our church calendar because it is the day that we commemorate the fact that God was/is pleased to dwell within us, not just among us. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit. A gift that Jesus promised them would come. And, this Holy Spirit is what enabled them, and us, to come to and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In today’s world of 24 hour news outlets and social media, when something gets popular, it starts going “viral”. In this sense, viral isn't a negative thing, it means that people are repeatedlysharing it with people, and they’re sharing it with people, and they’re sharing it with people, etc. Well, I like to say that Pentecost marks the day that our Triune God went viral, because once those disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit and started sharing the Gospel, there was no
stopping it.

So, I encourage you in this upcoming season of Pentecost, recognize the ways in which the Holy Spirit is active in your life. And, share it with others. Keep the Gospel going viral.

I leave you with Luther’s thoughts on the importance of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives as outlined in the Small Catechism, I encourage you to commit this theological cornerstone to memory…”I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and
sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.”


Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Robert