Last Sunday, you heard me talk about how the Christian Church, throughout its history, has been divided, and what a radical idea it was when, almost 50 years ago, the Congregational Christian and Evangelical and Reformed denominations voted to come together to form a new denomination.  Also radical was the name this new denomination chose – the United Church of Christ – as well as its motto, the prayer Jesus said for his disciples on the night of his betrayal, “that they may all be one” [John 17:21].

 

This prayer of Jesus, “that they may all be one,” is also the founding prayer of the Disciples of Christ denomination.  And three years ago, another radical idea came to fruition here in the Boston area.  The UCC and the Disciples of Christ decided to live out their mottos and stand for unity and cooperation among Christians by partnering together and starting a new, confederated congregation to share faith, ministry, service, and worship and to pursue wholeness by being church together. 

 

One Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago, a group of youth and adults from here attended worship at this new church start, Hope Church in Jamaica Plain.  And when we left a couple of hours later, we all had enthusiastic reactions to what we had just experienced: “Wow, that was great… moving… awesome!”

 

But when we tried to put our fingers on what had made the worship so special, we couldn’t quite find the words.  Maybe it was the music, which came from a three-piece combo and an a cappella choir.  Maybe it was the way the service was structured – informal but still “high church” when it came to prayers, liturgy and the celebration of holy communion.  Maybe it was the people – all ages, races, and combinations of singles, couples, and families.  Or maybe it was the atmosphere – warm, inviting, and welcoming.  We all agreed that a special spirit had moved through the congregation throughout the worship – like a flame, it had ignited hearts with passion, love, and acceptance; like the wind, it was itself invisible, but we could see its effect – invigorating, moving and transforming the people who were there. 

 

We enter a far different scene at the beginning of this morning’s scripture lesson from Acts.  A lonely group has gathered in Jerusalem for the annual harvest festival, but they don’t feel much like celebrating.  Instead, they huddle together in a room, lonely, lost and bewildered.  It has been seven weeks since their friend and leader was crucified.  They had followed him for three years as he preached his vision of God’s Kingdom; they had watched as he healed people and performed miracles and spoke over and over again about love.  And he had called them to share in and continue his ministry.

 

But now this grief-stricken group of followers mourns the loss of not just of their friend, but also of their dreams, their future. Even though the Resurrected Christ has appeared to them, bringing them comfort and hope, they are still discouraged and defeated.  They have lost their enthusiasm; enthusiasm   

from the Greek, en theos,   "in God".   What this group of followers had been able to do with enthusiasm when Jesus was with them, they have been unable to do without him.  They have no message to preach, no power to heal, no will to go on without their leader.

 

But on the last night of his life, Jesus had made a promise to his disciples.  “I will ask the Father, and he will give another Counselor, to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” [John 14:16-17a]; “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things and remind you everything I have said to you” [John 14:26].

 

And as the disciples hunch together, spiritless, in that Jerusalem room, something happens.  Something begins to move, to stir, like an unseen breeze that touches their cheeks and brushes back their hair.  The breeze becomes a gust, and we can imagine the disciples looking around at each other as they feel the hair prickling on the back of their necks.  What appear to be tongues of fire rest on each of them, and that gust of wind grows into a powerful gale, filling the room and their hearts, and blowing away their despair, their uncertainty, their fears.  They are transformed into new people, filled with power and confidence. 

 

And so, energized, empowered, enthused – “en theosed” -- they move beyond those walls, rushing out into the streets of Jerusalem, telling everyone what they have just experienced, hoping that others will feel it, too.  Out on those streets, they find people from many different countries, speaking many different languages, who are in Jerusalem for the festival.  But amazingly, everyone is able to hear and understand what the disciples are preaching, each in their own language. 

 

And it’s all because of the gift that Jesus has promised the disciples they would receive – their Advocate, their Comforter, God within their hearts.  It is the Holy Spirit which helps them make the transition from being followers, his disciples, learning from Jesus, to being his apostles, going out to preach, teach, heal and minister in His name.

 

On that day of Pentecost, three thousand receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which breathes new life into a fragile community and gives birth to the Christian Church.  What a birthday to celebrate!

 

And we can celebrate, too, as we look back on this past year and look forward to a new year together as the First Congregational Church of Stoughton, United Church of Christ.  We, too have been moved by the Holy Spirit; God's ongoing active, creative and prophetic presence has breathed new life into this church.  We have received 15 new members into this community of faith, and new people enter our doors each week.  Young couples have been married and babies baptized.  We have a vibrant youth ministry and Sunday School, and in three weeks, we will commission the eight young people and two adults who are going on a mission trip to New York City.  We have celebrated the ministry of Ernie Geigis, honoring him with the title of pastor emeritus.  We have increased our pledging.  We have a new mission statement and new vision; new hope, new energy.  God’s Holy Spirit has indeed been poured out on this church; energizing us and enabling us to dream dreams and see new visions for this body of Christ.

 

What makes this church so special?  Can you put your finger on it?  Is it the music?  The service, the prayers, the celebrating of holy communion?  It is our people?  Our warm, inviting, and welcoming atmosphere?  Every Sunday, I feel a special spirit moving through this congregation – like a flame, it ignites our hearts with passion, love, and acceptance; like the wind, it is invisible, but we can see its effect – strengthening, invigorating, and transforming us. 

 

And so, moved by the Holy Spirit, let us journey ever forward to the new life God is calling us toward.  Let us not be afraid to dream dreams and see new visions.  For the Holy Spirit will be with us and in us, empowering, energizing, enlivening, “en-theosing” us to new ways to love and live out our faith.  Let us give thanks and celebrate this very Happy Birthday!  Amen.