Pentecost: Fire, Community, and the Spirit That Moves Between Us
Sunday, June 8, 2025, is Pentecost Sunday. Are we celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit or the birth of the Church? I can already name the Elders who would smile and say simply, “yes.” They’re right, of course—but a little reflection might deepen our understanding.
The name Pentecost means “fiftieth day”—a Greek transliteration of the Jewish festival Shavuot, which falls 50 days after Passover. Jesus was crucified at Passover, and according to Acts 1, he spent 40 days teaching his disciples before ascending into heaven. Then, during the festival of Pentecost—when faithful Jews from across the Mediterranean had gathered in Jerusalem—Peter stood up to preach.
And through the gift of the Holy Spirit, something astonishing happened:
Each person heard Peter’s words in their own language (Acts 2:8–11).
That day, 3,000 people were baptized. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42). In the wake of the Spirit’s movement, a new kind of community emerged—rooted in shared belief, mutual care, and holy imagination.
In other words: the Church was born.
Not Just in Us — But Between Us
For many Disciples, the Holy Spirit is often linked with emotional experiences of God’s presence. And yes—the Spirit can stir something profoundly personal. But the New Testament suggests something even more expansive: the Spirit doesn’t only move within us. It moves between us. It forms us—together—as Church.
Let me point briefly to three New Testament voices: Paul, Acts, and John.
Paul’s Vision of the Spirit
In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul describes the “fruit of the Spirit”—the evidence that the Spirit is alive and active:
Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These aren't just inner virtues; they’re relational ones. They’re what make community possible. If you were building a new congregation and could pray for the traits your leaders would carry, wouldn’t you ask for these?
Paul also lists the gifts of the Spirit—gifts the Church needs to fullfill its calling:
Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and interpretation.
“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,” Paul writes, “and the Spirit distributes them to each one, just as He determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Acts: The Spirit as the Main Character
Although we know it as The Acts of the Apostles, some suggest a better title would be The Acts of the Holy Spirit. From the start, Jesus promises his followers that they’ll be baptized not just with water, but with Spirit (Acts 1:5). That promise shows up again and again—at baptisms (Acts 2, 4, 8, 10, 19), in bold speech and testimony (Acts 6, 7), and in surprising redirections (Acts 8:29; 10:19–20).
The Spirit helps choose leaders—apostles (Acts 1:2), administrators (Acts 6:3), evangelists (Acts 13:2), elders (Acts 20:28)—and speaks in the Church’s discernment:
“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15:28).
John: The Spirit Who Comes Alongside
In John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks tenderly about the Spirit during his farewell discourse (John 14–16). He calls the Spirit Paraclete—the one who comes alongside to help. This Spirit teaches, reminds, and points back to Christ. It is through the Spirit that believers understand truth, stay connected to Jesus, and embody the unity Jesus prays for in John 17.
To experience Christ’s presence now, John says, the Church must rely on the Spirit.
Living in the Spirit: Two Invitations
So—what does all this mean for us in 2025? I’ll offer two simple practices:
1. Recognize the Spirit’s Work Among You
The Spirit’s movement can include emotion—but it’s not limited to it. Paul, Acts, and John all show us that the Holy Spirit’s presence is often revealed in community itself. Every congregation has people who embody wisdom, joy, hospitality, integrity—people who make faith tangible.
Too often, we admire them without naming what’s really going on: these aren’t just good people. They are evidence of the Spirit moving through the Church.
As my old congregational leadership professor, Dr. Bryan Feille, used to say,
“The Church is a turtle on top of a fence post; we didn’t get here by ourselves.”
When we begin to recognize the Holy Spirit at work, we create more space for the Spirit to move.
2. Pray for the Spirit to Move in You
One of my favorite Pentecost prayers comes from the Chalice Worship resources. It was written by Rev. Dr. O. I. “Cricket” Harrison, a gifted liturgist and faithful servant of the Church:
Kindling Spirit, build well the fire in our hearts this day
Fan us to flame that all will see
the Christ-presence of love blazing in our midst.
Burn the witness on our tongues: Christ’s Spirit moves among us.
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, has set his Church on fire
with strength and boldness and power.
Kindling Spirit, build well the fire in our hearts this day.
I love this prayer. The imagery is powerful—the flame, the tongue, the fire of the Spirit that is bold but not destructive. Cricket doesn’t waste words. Every line has weight. That’s a gift. A spiritual gift.
A Pentecost Checklist, of Sorts
So as we approach Pentecost Sunday:
Look for evidence of the Spirit in your faith community.
Pray for the Spirit to kindle the flame within you—and within your church.
Wear red to mark the day.
Give to the Disciples Mission Fund Pentecost Offering to support New Church Ministries.
Sign up for Vacation Bible School, Summer Family Fun Movie Night, and help send kids to camp!
May all these beautiful, ordinary, churchy details be carried out with the strength, boldness, and grace that only the Spirit can give.