The Feast of Pentecost has long been regarded as the birthday of the Church. The moment in our history when the disciples, after the resurrection of Christ, became a community with a strong missional momentum.
Whatever else we might think of the day of Pentecost it was clearly a moment of transformation and empowerment. A community which was looking weak and vulnerable emerged confident and courageous. It was a moment in our history when those who formed the early Church were clearly empowered to take some pretty bold risks.
This Pentecost we are invited once again to think about how we might respond to the opportunities placed before us and to respond with hope and generosity.
Let us pray that as we celebrate today we might be renewed in joy, in hope, in confidence and in faith.
Happy Birthday!
Canon Christopher Burke
Vice Dean and Canon Precentor