Celebration!

I had already planned what my today's blip would be, but when I got to church this morning, was glad I hadn't rushed to do it first thing, as I saw this beautiful pulpit fall as I walked in, made by two ladies in our church. Because today is Pentecost Sunday, this fitted in well with the May HeartFreek Photo Challenge Celebration and I make no apology for the fact that my blip today is Christian based because I am proud to be a Christian!

We were all invited to wear red, something which a lot of Western churches do, but I had to wear pink, as I have nothing at all which is red, except an old tee shirt that I wear in the garden and which is now covered with creosote; although I know God would have accepted me in my dirty rags, decided that the pink gilet would look much better.

Some other information about Pentecost Sunday:
It is the 50th day after Easter, but is a movable feast.
It marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles like tongues of fire - they heard a sound like a rushing, mighty wind, and the symbols include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.
It is 10 days after the Ascension of Jesus.
It is also known as the "Birthday" of the church.

Our preacher this morning wished us, the Church, a Happy Birthday and spoke about the Holy Spirit and also the pattern for prayer that Jesus gave us in Luke 11, which most of us know as The Lord's Prayer.

Some of the phrases he mentioned were "How Much More?" (with a question mark at the end) or "How Much More!" (with an exclamation mark) and I have been wondering which phrase I use and will be pondering this during the week.

Pentecost is a wonderful celebration in the church and no doubt those of you who went to church today caught something of that.

We closed with a stirring old hymn, originally written in 1894 by William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, but now updated - Send the Fire.

All in all, a great celebration, a great sermon, a great challenge and a great way to start the week.

The verse the preacher left with us was this:

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3 : 20-21
New International Version