Minister's Message:

From Chaos to Creativity

Pentecost, an event that takes place fifty days after Easter, marks the beginning of the Christian church. On this day the Holy Spirit which had been promised by Jesus came upon the believers. Luke describes a number of frightening elements: violent winds, tongues of fire, and a diversity of language making communication impossible. It is hard for us to imagine such an event. Perhaps if we think of a tornado, an earthquake or a tsunami, we can begin to envision the kind of crisis and potential chaos the first Pentecost brought. The believers, much like us, in these events were both amazed and frightened. All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said “They are filled with new wine.”
Acts: 2:12-13

Two thousand years later many would say that the church is again in a state of crisis. We know the headlines and statistics - aging, dwindling congregations, old buildings, reduced budgets, a society less and less interested in the things the church can offer. It can be depressing and disheartening, particularly for those who have offered a lifetime of faithful service. Perhaps now is the time to re-visit the original scene for some clues to our present challenges.

Luke tells us that “all were amazed and perplexed.” Hardly a surprising reaction in a time of chaos and upheaval. But will you notice the two reactions to this amazement? Some said “What does this mean?” Others dismissed the events with a standard, “They are filled with new wine.”  Organizations like individuals can be either destroyed or energized by crisis. The outcome depends on how we answer that basic question, “What does this mean?” “ How is God speaking to us in this place at this time?” When we ask that question and are prepared to listen for the answer we will move through the chaos to a creativity we could not have imagined.

Rev. Catherine Tovell