The first half of the church calendar season in the liturgical year (beginning with Advent) focuses our attention on the life and activity of Christ. Once we move into the Pentecost season, that focus is redirected to the life and activity of the Church - in particular, faith as it relates to the individual Christian and the body of Christ as a whole. Pentecost is sometimes known as the 'Birthday of the Church.' It certainly began with the outpouring of God's gift - the Holy Spirit, with its accompanying gifts and influences (like the fruits of the Spirit).
We celebrated this event with a weekend workshop exploring the ancient Hebrew origins of this festival (as instigated by God - read Leviticus 23). This festival sits fifty days after the first grouping of three festivals (fulfilled in Christ's first coming), and leads into a long period before the last three festivals (yet to be fulfilled). In ancient times this festival was thought to commemorate the giving of the 10 commandments; which is picked up in the New Testament period with the giving of God's Spirit. But it is also a call by God to gather for worship...
Rev.'D
