Wind and Fire

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 8:45 pm by Amy Butler

Wind and Fire 2015-10-14T20:45:21-04:00 Amy Butler

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, my very favorite Sunday of the church year. The images of wind and fire and new possibilities and fear-filled hope always draw me in and invite me to try again to follow Jesus.

This year at Calvary we celebrated in so many usual and unusual ways. Everyone wore red—and I do mean almost every single person in worship on Sunday. We also had some amazing music and arts to help us worship.

To add to all the regular excitement, a special part of the service this year was the licensing of one of our own, Susan Sevier, to the Gospel ministry. After we blessed Susan the strains of Great Is Thy Faithfulness rose and filled the sanctuary, and I had one of those very rare pastor moments . . . meaningful worship filled with gratitude and the strong assurance of God’s presence:

I looked out over all that red . . . and thought of the enthusiastic way in which Calvary members embrace the journey of faith, even when they must look at us, their pastors, and question our sanity.

I observed faces turned upward in worship and rapt attention . . . and the lives and stories of dear individuals who have, over and over, the courage to respond to the work of God’s Spirit in their lives flashed before my eyes.

I glanced over at eight-year-old Jubliee Robinson, arms crossed on the edge of the pew, body leaning forward, eyes fixed on the liturgical dancer reaching toward the sky . . . and my heart swelled with the sense of all the possibility our future holds—may we tend these precious ones well.

All of these feelings were summed up in the beautiful prayer of blessing that Calvary member Allyson Robinson offered in blessing for Susan, shared here with Allyson’s permission:

Lord, as your followers on the day we commemorate, we wait together for…for we know not what. We wait with our hearts primed for that which our minds cannot imagine, our courage, fixed upon your faithfulness, to go wherever you send, to do whatever we must do to fulfill the great mandate of the high calling you entrusted to us once, and will place in our care yet again.

Our sister Susan comes before us and you, evidence that you still call, proof that the faithful still hear, symbol of the courage we feel, or aspire to, or wish we did. And she seeks, as your followers did that Pentecost morning, some affirmation — some small sign that it wasn’t just a dream, that the leading she’s felt is real and divine, that the call draws her forward though she knows not precisely where. She comes, unsure yet sure in the surety of faith, seeking assurance from you, from us.

We who gather around her, having listened carefully to her story and having tested her desire as we’re able empowered by your Spirit, hope to be for her that sign, that affirmation. We, all of us who gather expectantly here, hope to offer that assurance that just as you will never abandon those whom you have called, we, too, will support her in her calling to ministry service, upholding her in the strength you give to us.

Yet we all know we cannot do these things without you.

And so, as we lay our hands upon Susan in the ancient and holy tradition of our faith, as we each commit our love and support to those you call to serve your church, as we wait patiently for you to come and surprise us with your coming, your presence, your affirmation, your clarity, your power, your reality — come, Holy Spirit. Come undeniably within us, and among us, and around us, and through us. Come so that Susan (and all of us) may step away from this moment and into the world that is our calling knowing that we go with you, for you, carrying you and, yes, still seeking you. So fill your servant this day, Lord —

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit —

Amen.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 21, 2010

Step

Next Post

June 10, 2010 Meeting God at Panera: Day 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Answering the Call Being the Church Curating Wisdom Laughing Out Loud Living in Relationship Practicing Discipleship Reclaiming Baptist Speaking from the Pulpit Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005

Search for:

Wind and Fire

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

How many days did God take to create the world?