Eastertide is the fifty days in between Easter Sunday and Pentecost. In Eastertide, the resurrection of Jesus typically continues to be the central focus of worship. On Pentecost, the focus of worship shifts to the work of the Holy Spirit through Christ’s church. On Pentecost, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the followers of Jesus. It is often referred to as the “birthday of the church”, and Pentecost is a season when we remember the ways the Holy Spirit empowers the church to continue the work of Jesus in the world.
This Eastertide and Pentecost we will diverge from following the Narrative Lectionary schedule of weekly scripture readings. Instead, for the Sundays in Eastertide our worship series will be “Memories of Jesus.” In our Easter readings from the Gospel of Luke, the act of remembering is central to recognizing Jesus. For the next four Sundays (April 30-May 21st) we will look back at stories of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke – The Lord’s Prayer, The Parable of the Sower, Jesus Teaching about Worry, and The Sermon on the Mount. We will remember, and, we will hope to have an Easter encounter with the risen Christ.
For the last Sunday before Pentecost (May 28th), we will leave the Gospel of Luke and pick the story of the disciples back up as they are gathered in Jerusalem waiting for the Holy Spirit.
On Pentecost (June 4th) we will begin a new worship series called “Church: A Christ Movement.” With the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples once again become a people on the move. They travel, telling all they have seen and experienced, and, they continue doing the work of Jesus. The community of disciples grows as the circle quickly expands and geographic territory is covered. The identity of this community/church is described in Acts 2:42-47:
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
These are exciting days in the Biblical story and in the life of our local church. We hope you will join us as we worship together this Eastertide and Pentecost!