Brothers and sisters, greetings to you in the name of our Savior Jesus. It is Memorial weekend. Amidst the holiday schedule I hope you will include worship. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the divine Triune Godhead. As a Person of the Godhead, He has the same divine attributes of the Father and Son, that is, without beginning, eternal, all knowing, loving, merciful, etc. This Sunday, fifty days after the anniversary of Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after the anniversary of His ascension into heaven, we celebrate Pentecost. Pentecost in the Old Testament was a harvest festival. On the first Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension, the festival takes on a new meaning. The Holy is poured out in very noticeable way. He worked upon the disciples, enabling them to bring the good news of Jesus to people in many languages. Faith was worked in individual hearts, and a harvest of souls was brought into the church. The Holy Spirit continues to work through God’ words to point people to Jesus, and to enlighten them, working and sustaining faith in individuals, and leading us to respond with godly, sanctified lives with good works. Come, worship, and join in celebrating the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
I want to take a moment to encourage you to attend one of the upcoming constitution review meetings. A new constitution has been drafted that intends to resolve some conflicting information in the current constitution, and better express the way this congregation is structured. Copies of the draft proposal are available for your review. Eventually a day will be announced for the congregation to vote on whether to accept the new constitution (with whatever changes are approved) or not. Meetings to discuss the draft have been set for after services on next Sunday, May 31 and Sunday, June 14, and Saturday, June 27. Additional meetings may be scheduled if none of these dates work for you. We want to make efficient use of the meeting time, so you are encouraged to submit in advance via email to Pastor or an elder (Tom, Tom, Scott) any corrections, questions, or concerns you may have about the draft. You don’t have to attend the meetings to make suggestions. However, according to the constitution, all members of the congregation will be asked to sign it as evidence that they have read it. If you have questions about this, please contact Scott Hartman, Tom Warren, Tom Regetz, or Pastor.
On Sunday, May 24th, we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting Three beginning on page 184 in the LSB hymnbook. Hymns chosen for the day are #497 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord; #500 Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid; #616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me; and #693 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace.
Scriptures lessons for the day are Psalm 25:1-10; Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21; and John 7:37-39.
The lesson from Numbers 11 tells one example of the Holy Spirit’s work in Old Testament times. Moses and elders of Israel were led to prophesy, proclaiming the words and praises of God to the people. The Spirit was so active, it animated others into also prophesying. Led by the Spirit, each of have opportunity to speak God’s Word to others.
The lesson from Acts 2 recounts the spectacular outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles during the Pentecost festival. The Spirit empowered them to speak in the languages of others visiting Jerusalem that day. Many people heard the gospel and were brought to faith in Jesus.
In the gospel lesson, Jesus is in the Jerusalem temple, celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast is marked by living in temporary tents or brush arbors, recalling their ancestors’ wanderings in the Sinai wilderness. with the wanderings in the desert as a historical backdrop, water was also a theme connected to the festival. In response to Jesus’ teaching, the crowds were asking about His identity, where had He come from, the source of His authoritative teaching, and how was He able to do miracles. On the last day of the feast, Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink. He promised them streams of “living water” referring to the Holy Spirit. All who believed in Jesus would receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit continues to come to us in God’s Word the Bible, attached to the waters of baptism, and with the body and blood of Jesus hidden in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper. The Spirit revives us, refreshes us, gives new life to our spirits.
Collect: O gracious Father God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit: Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ Jesus, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You, in communion with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the information posted above. God bless you. Pastor Boster
