Brave enough to pray for a windstorm

June 11, 2022

Dear PJ's Community,

Are we brave enough to pray for a wind storm? Do we dare ask God to pour out the Holy Spirit on each of us and on the Church with power and might, as God did for these early believers? -Br David, SSJE

This period of time, 50 + days since Easter to Pentecost has niggled its way into my brain and dare I say, my heart? So, what does this time mean to me, to us at PJ’s that our risen God has left us with his Spirit?

I believe that it is the Spirit of God that draws us to come together here, in this space and in other spaces to be community, to be in relationship with each other. It is God’s Spirit that reminds us that Pentecost was not just a one day event many years ago in Jerusalem.

But that God’s Spirit is very much present within each one of us.

I returned to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage in April of this year. I’m sure I walked on the same streets that Jesus and his followers had walked so many years ago. But when I returned home, to familiar streets and neighborhoods, I realized the streets are very similar to those in Jerusalem, except for their age. Indeed, it is up to each of us, to bring forth God’s Spirit to our streets and into our neighborhoods and into our homes.

What do you think would happen if we were brave enough to pray for such a windstorm? Would we all speak in another language? Would we understand what we heard? Would we be more compassionate and loving with each other? Would we accept the other as they are? What would we learn? These are questions for each of us to answer.

We will celebrate the Trinity this Sunday and the relationship shared among the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The Godhead shows us that we need to be in relationship with one another, because we can’t do this life alone.

I believe God’s Spirit is with us here and now on the corner of Chapel and Olive St. It is up to us to welcome the Spirit of God into our hearts, lives and homes. Are we up to this? I believe we are!

- Marilyn J Bergen, Vestry member