Pentecost

Tomorrow is Pentecost, traditionally known as the birthday of the Church! On this day, the Holy Spirit fell on the first disciples, empowering them to continue the work Jesus had been doing on earth. It comes 10 days after Ascension Day - the day they saw the risen Lord Jesus ascend into heaven.

The time between Ascension and Pentecost is often a time when the Church stops to pray. This is because Acts 1 tells us that this is what the disciples did. In those ten days, they did two things: firstly, and most importantly, they prayed. Secondly, they acted - replacing Judas (now dead) with Matthias as one of the disciples - knowing they needed to move forward.

Many of us find ourselves in these seasons of uncertainty. I usually write this a couple of days before it gets sent out by Liz, and today I find myself checking the news more than usual to see what has changed, and wondering what might change in the next two days. Last weekend, it seemed certain we would be on our way to yet another a new Prime Minister - and perhaps that conversation will resurface again before this goes out - but uncertainty, whether in world events, national politics, or the privacy of our own lives, can seem like a permanent state.

In these times, we do well to follow the example of the early disciples: to pray constantly, giving to God the things we cannot change. And secondly, to keep moving forward - approaching each day and each task as it comes, trusting God with the bigger picture.