A SERMON AT PENTECOST
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WHOSE BIRTHDAY YOU MIGHT ASK
IT’S ALL OF OURS
BECAUSE PENTECOST IS THE DAY
THE CHURCH BEGAN
ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOT
IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY
THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE
JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS
BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW
THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED
THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN
BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS
AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE
FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM
I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM
BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT
MY FATHER PROMISED
ABOUT WHICH
YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK
JOHN BAPTIZED
YOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE
BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES
GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS YET TO COME
WE ARE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHRISTIANS
AND YET WE ARE OFTEN NO MORE AWARE OF GOD’S PLAN
THAN THE APOSTLES WERE AT THIS TIME
LET US BEGIN OUR SEARCH
FOR GOD’S PLAN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THING
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
WHO MADE TIME BEGIN
LET US LOOK AT GOD THE FATHER
WHEN I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE
I STUDIED
PASSED A TEST
AND WAS GIVEN MY DRIVERS LICENSE
WHEN I WANTED TO BECOME AN ENGINEER
I STUDIED,
PASSED TESTS
AND WAS GIVEN MY DEGREE
WHEN I BECAME A PARENT
THE NURSE HANDED ME A BABY
AND SAID
HERE’S YOUR CHILD
NO OWNERS MANUAL
NO WEB SITE
NOTHING
ONLY HERE’S YOUR CHILD
IN JEWISH TRADITION
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
IS OFTEN READ
WITH THE THOUGHT
THAT GOD IS A NEW PARENT
LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE A CHILD
LET’S LOOK AT THE STORY OF GENESIS
IN THAT LIGHT
GOD MAKES ADAM
BUT ADAM IS MADE WITH A DESIGN FLAW
WHERE ALL THE OTHER ACTS OF GOD’S CREATION
LOVE GOD INSTINCTIVELY
ADAM
GOD THINKS
I SHALL MAKE DIFFERENT
THIS CREATURE
THE PEAK OF MY CREATION
IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CHOOSE
WHETHER TO LOVE ME
OR NOT
BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE
FROM HIM
THE LOVE OF A FREE PERSON
NOT THE SERVILE FEAR OF A SLAVE
OR THE UNTHINKING LOVE OF AN ANIMAL
GOD PUTS ADAM
IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
CALLED PARADISE
AND SAYS TO HIM
EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT
EXCEPT FOR THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
IF YOU EAT THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
SURELY YOU WILL DIE
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
ADAM ATE OF THAT TREE
INSTEAD OF AN INSTANT DEATH
HE LIVED 970 YEARS
SO MUCH FOR PARENTAL THREATENING
THEN GOD’S CHILDREN
CONTINUED TO DISOBEY GOD
SO HE SENT A FLOOD
TO PUNISH THEM ALL
EXCEPT FOR NOAH
WHEN THE FLOOD WAS OVER
GOD THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE
HE HADN’T MADE THE RIGHT DECISION
SO HE PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY
A WARRIOR’S BOW AIMED AT HEAVEN
TO REMIND HIM NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN
BUT MAN KEPT DISOBEYING
HE TRIED TO BUILD A TOWER TO THE SKY
THINKING
IF I REACHED THE SKY
I WILL BE LIKE GOD
AND NEVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM AGAIN
I WILL BE FREE OF GOD
SO GOD CONFUSED THEM
SO THAT EACH PERSON
SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER
THEY BABBLED
THEY COULD NOT FINISH THE TOWER
BUT INSTEAD THEY SCATTERED
OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH
CARRYING THEIR NEW LANGUAGES WITH THEM
THEN GOD THOUGHT
MY SCOPE IS TOO LARGE
LET ME START OVER AGAIN
WITH ONE PERSON
SO HE PICKS ABRAHAM
AND SAYS OBEY ME
AND YOUR CHILDREN
WILL BE AS NUMEROUS
AS THE SANDS ON THE BEACH
AND AS A SIGN OF MY POWER
I SAY TO YOU 97 YEAR OLD MAN
THAT YOUR WIFE SARAH
BARREN IN HER OLD AGE
WILL HAVE A CHILD
HEARING THIS
ABRAHAM FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING
AND SARAH
HIDING BEHIND A DOOR TO LISTEN
LAUGHED TOO
AND GOD
PLAYING WITH HIS CREATION
SAID TO HER
YOU LAUGHED
IN FEAR
BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN STANDING
BEHIND THE DOOR
SARAH SAID
NO I DIDN’T
AND THEN FOLLOWS
THAT VERY HUMAN STORY
OF GOD AND SARAH TALKING LIKE THIS
YOU LAUGHED
NO I DIDN’T
YES YOU DID
UH-HUH
UH-UH
UH-HUH
UH-UH
AS FAR AS I KNOW
THEY COULD STILL BE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION
BUT A CHILD WAS BORN TO SARAH AND ABRAHAM
AND THEY CALLED HIM LAUGHTER
A NICE NAME
IN HEBREW HE WAS CALLED ISAAC
THEN GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM
I REQUIRE A SACRIFICE
I REQUIRE THE LIFE OF ISAAC
AND ABRAHAM LOADED ISAAC
WITH THE WOOD FOR THE SACRIFICE
TOOK HIM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ABRAHAM BOUND ISAAC
AND WAS READY TO SLAY HIM
THE KNIFE WAS IN THE AIR
THE SUNLIGHT GLISTENED ON IT
BUT GOD STAYED ABRAHAM’S ARM
FOR GOD HAD THOUGHT
IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MAN
TO SLAY EACH OTHER
NO I WILL SEND MY SON
AS THAT SACRIFICE
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE SON
WHOM WE CALL JESUS
HE LEAPED DOWN FROM HEAVEN
TO BE OUR SAVIOR
TAKING ON HUMAN FORM
AND AS A HUMAN
HE WAS BORN
LIVED
SUFFERED
DIED
AND WAS BURIED
AS PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS
HE ROSE TRIUMPHANT FROM THE GRAVE
AND LIVED WITH HIS APOSTLES
FORTY MORE DAYS
HE IS OUR REDEEMER
AND AS HE LEFT US
TO RETURN TO HEAVEN
HE SAID I WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO COMPLETE MY WORK
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO IS TASKED
WITH BRINGING TO HARVEST
ALL GOD’S PROMISES
WHO IS THE FULFILLER
THE ENABLER
THE INSPIRER
WHO IS CHARGED
WITH RECREATING GOD’S CREATION
TO BRING IT ONCE MORE TO GOD’S DREAM
HOW SHALL WE KNOW
WHEN THE SPIRIT IS AMONG US
WHEN WE SEE IN OUR SOCIETY
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHICH ARE LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL
WHEN WE SEE THAT IN OUR SOCIETY
WHETHER THAT SOCIETY BE TWO PEOPLE
TWENTY PEOPLE
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
TWO MILLION PEOPLE
CITIES
COUNTRIES
NATION
WORLD
TO THE EXTANT
THAT WE SEE THESE GIFTS IN OUR SOCIETY
THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE MISSING
THEN WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO BRING IT ABOUT
FOR WE ARE THE CHURCH
AND THAT CHURCH IS COMMISSIONED
THAT CHURCH IS COMMANDED
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH ONE STEP
I WOULD LIKE TODAY
WITH YOUR HELP
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
TO MAKE ONE SMALL STEP
REMEMBER THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHERE TONGUES WERE CONFUSED BECAUSE OF SIN
AND REMEMBER THE TONGUES OF FIRE
OF PENTECOST MORNING
WHICH SIGNIFY A NEW LANGUAGE
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
WELL IN OUR LIVES
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE
WITH WHOM WE FIND IT HARD
TO COMMUNICATE
SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY
SOMEONE OUTSIDE OUR FAMILY
PERHAPS EVEN GOD
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN MIND
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR DEEPEST HEART
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SAY THESE WORDS
WITH ME
AS I SAY THEM TO THAT PERSON
I MYSELF FIND IT HARD TO LOVE
LET US BEGIN
WHOEVER YOU ARE
THAT I FIND IT HARD TO TALK TO
FOR WHATEVER REASON
I PROMISE THAT I SHALL TRY
TO ONLY SPEAK LOVE TO YOU
TO CURB HATRED AND ANGER
I PROMISE FURTHER
THAT WHEN I FAIL
I WILL TRY AND TRY AGAIN
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED IS NOT EASY
CHRISTIANITY
PROPERLY LIVED
IS NOT EASY
BUT THEN I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM IN LIFE
CURED BY MORE HATE
WE ARE THE CHURCH
WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO SPEAK LOVE
LET US MAKE IT OUR NATIVE TONGUE
FRANK A VOLLMER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WHOSE BIRTHDAY YOU MIGHT ASK
IT’S ALL OF OURS
BECAUSE PENTECOST IS THE DAY
THE CHURCH BEGAN
ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOT
IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY
THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE
JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS
BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW
THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED
THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN
BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS
AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE
FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM
I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM
BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT
MY FATHER PROMISED
ABOUT WHICH
YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK
JOHN BAPTIZED
YOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE
BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT
AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES
GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS YET TO COME
WE ARE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHRISTIANS
AND YET WE ARE OFTEN NO MORE AWARE OF GOD’S PLAN
THAN THE APOSTLES WERE AT THIS TIME
LET US BEGIN OUR SEARCH
FOR GOD’S PLAN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER
AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
LET US BEGIN
AS WE BEGIN ALL THING
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
WHO MADE TIME BEGIN
LET US LOOK AT GOD THE FATHER
WHEN I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE
I STUDIED
PASSED A TEST
AND WAS GIVEN MY DRIVERS LICENSE
WHEN I WANTED TO BECOME AN ENGINEER
I STUDIED,
PASSED TESTS
AND WAS GIVEN MY DEGREE
WHEN I BECAME A PARENT
THE NURSE HANDED ME A BABY
AND SAID
HERE’S YOUR CHILD
NO OWNERS MANUAL
NO WEB SITE
NOTHING
ONLY HERE’S YOUR CHILD
IN JEWISH TRADITION
THE BOOK OF GENESIS
IS OFTEN READ
WITH THE THOUGHT
THAT GOD IS A NEW PARENT
LEARNING HOW TO HANDLE A CHILD
LET’S LOOK AT THE STORY OF GENESIS
IN THAT LIGHT
GOD MAKES ADAM
BUT ADAM IS MADE WITH A DESIGN FLAW
WHERE ALL THE OTHER ACTS OF GOD’S CREATION
LOVE GOD INSTINCTIVELY
ADAM
GOD THINKS
I SHALL MAKE DIFFERENT
THIS CREATURE
THE PEAK OF MY CREATION
IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO CHOOSE
WHETHER TO LOVE ME
OR NOT
BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE
FROM HIM
THE LOVE OF A FREE PERSON
NOT THE SERVILE FEAR OF A SLAVE
OR THE UNTHINKING LOVE OF AN ANIMAL
GOD PUTS ADAM
IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
CALLED PARADISE
AND SAYS TO HIM
EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT
EXCEPT FOR THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
IF YOU EAT THE FRUIT OF THAT TREE
SURELY YOU WILL DIE
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
ADAM ATE OF THAT TREE
INSTEAD OF AN INSTANT DEATH
HE LIVED 970 YEARS
SO MUCH FOR PARENTAL THREATENING
THEN GOD’S CHILDREN
CONTINUED TO DISOBEY GOD
SO HE SENT A FLOOD
TO PUNISH THEM ALL
EXCEPT FOR NOAH
WHEN THE FLOOD WAS OVER
GOD THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE
HE HADN’T MADE THE RIGHT DECISION
SO HE PUT A RAINBOW IN THE SKY
A WARRIOR’S BOW AIMED AT HEAVEN
TO REMIND HIM NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN
BUT MAN KEPT DISOBEYING
HE TRIED TO BUILD A TOWER TO THE SKY
THINKING
IF I REACHED THE SKY
I WILL BE LIKE GOD
AND NEVER HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM AGAIN
I WILL BE FREE OF GOD
SO GOD CONFUSED THEM
SO THAT EACH PERSON
SPOKE A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER
THEY BABBLED
THEY COULD NOT FINISH THE TOWER
BUT INSTEAD THEY SCATTERED
OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH
CARRYING THEIR NEW LANGUAGES WITH THEM
THEN GOD THOUGHT
MY SCOPE IS TOO LARGE
LET ME START OVER AGAIN
WITH ONE PERSON
SO HE PICKS ABRAHAM
AND SAYS OBEY ME
AND YOUR CHILDREN
WILL BE AS NUMEROUS
AS THE SANDS ON THE BEACH
AND AS A SIGN OF MY POWER
I SAY TO YOU 97 YEAR OLD MAN
THAT YOUR WIFE SARAH
BARREN IN HER OLD AGE
WILL HAVE A CHILD
HEARING THIS
ABRAHAM FELL ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING
AND SARAH
HIDING BEHIND A DOOR TO LISTEN
LAUGHED TOO
AND GOD
PLAYING WITH HIS CREATION
SAID TO HER
YOU LAUGHED
IN FEAR
BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN STANDING
BEHIND THE DOOR
SARAH SAID
NO I DIDN’T
AND THEN FOLLOWS
THAT VERY HUMAN STORY
OF GOD AND SARAH TALKING LIKE THIS
YOU LAUGHED
NO I DIDN’T
YES YOU DID
UH-HUH
UH-UH
UH-HUH
UH-UH
AS FAR AS I KNOW
THEY COULD STILL BE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION
BUT A CHILD WAS BORN TO SARAH AND ABRAHAM
AND THEY CALLED HIM LAUGHTER
A NICE NAME
IN HEBREW HE WAS CALLED ISAAC
THEN GOD SAID TO ABRAHAM
I REQUIRE A SACRIFICE
I REQUIRE THE LIFE OF ISAAC
AND ABRAHAM LOADED ISAAC
WITH THE WOOD FOR THE SACRIFICE
TOOK HIM UP A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ABRAHAM BOUND ISAAC
AND WAS READY TO SLAY HIM
THE KNIFE WAS IN THE AIR
THE SUNLIGHT GLISTENED ON IT
BUT GOD STAYED ABRAHAM’S ARM
FOR GOD HAD THOUGHT
IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR MAN
TO SLAY EACH OTHER
NO I WILL SEND MY SON
AS THAT SACRIFICE
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE SON
WHOM WE CALL JESUS
HE LEAPED DOWN FROM HEAVEN
TO BE OUR SAVIOR
TAKING ON HUMAN FORM
AND AS A HUMAN
HE WAS BORN
LIVED
SUFFERED
DIED
AND WAS BURIED
AS PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS
HE ROSE TRIUMPHANT FROM THE GRAVE
AND LIVED WITH HIS APOSTLES
FORTY MORE DAYS
HE IS OUR REDEEMER
AND AS HE LEFT US
TO RETURN TO HEAVEN
HE SAID I WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO COMPLETE MY WORK
LET US CONTINUE THEN
WITH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO IS TASKED
WITH BRINGING TO HARVEST
ALL GOD’S PROMISES
WHO IS THE FULFILLER
THE ENABLER
THE INSPIRER
WHO IS CHARGED
WITH RECREATING GOD’S CREATION
TO BRING IT ONCE MORE TO GOD’S DREAM
HOW SHALL WE KNOW
WHEN THE SPIRIT IS AMONG US
WHEN WE SEE IN OUR SOCIETY
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHICH ARE LOVE, JOY, PEACE,
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL
WHEN WE SEE THAT IN OUR SOCIETY
WHETHER THAT SOCIETY BE TWO PEOPLE
TWENTY PEOPLE
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE
TWO MILLION PEOPLE
CITIES
COUNTRIES
NATION
WORLD
TO THE EXTANT
THAT WE SEE THESE GIFTS IN OUR SOCIETY
THEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS AT WORK
TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE MISSING
THEN WE HAVE WORK TO DO TO BRING IT ABOUT
FOR WE ARE THE CHURCH
AND THAT CHURCH IS COMMISSIONED
THAT CHURCH IS COMMANDED
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES
BEGINS WITH ONE STEP
I WOULD LIKE TODAY
WITH YOUR HELP
TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER
TO MAKE ONE SMALL STEP
REMEMBER THE TOWER OF BABEL
WHERE TONGUES WERE CONFUSED BECAUSE OF SIN
AND REMEMBER THE TONGUES OF FIRE
OF PENTECOST MORNING
WHICH SIGNIFY A NEW LANGUAGE
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
WELL IN OUR LIVES
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE
WITH WHOM WE FIND IT HARD
TO COMMUNICATE
SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY
SOMEONE OUTSIDE OUR FAMILY
PERHAPS EVEN GOD
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN MIND
IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR DEEPEST HEART
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SAY THESE WORDS
WITH ME
AS I SAY THEM TO THAT PERSON
I MYSELF FIND IT HARD TO LOVE
LET US BEGIN
WHOEVER YOU ARE
THAT I FIND IT HARD TO TALK TO
FOR WHATEVER REASON
I PROMISE THAT I SHALL TRY
TO ONLY SPEAK LOVE TO YOU
TO CURB HATRED AND ANGER
I PROMISE FURTHER
THAT WHEN I FAIL
I WILL TRY AND TRY AGAIN
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED IS NOT EASY
CHRISTIANITY
PROPERLY LIVED
IS NOT EASY
BUT THEN I KNOW OF NO PROBLEM IN LIFE
CURED BY MORE HATE
WE ARE THE CHURCH
WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO SPEAK LOVE
LET US MAKE IT OUR NATIVE TONGUE
FRANK A VOLLMER
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