St. Margaret’s is a Holy Spirit-driven church.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, and we’ve filled the hall with lots of red. On this day long ago, the Holy Spirit descended ‘like fire’ from heaven and touched the multitudes of Jesus’ followers, uniting them and giving them the power to communicate with people from all nations. As such, Pentecost has traditionally been celebrated as the formation and birthday of the church. This Pentecost is a feast that has its roots in the events of the Passover, which commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. They remember the blood of the lamb on their doorposts at the time of the Exodus and how God’s protection ensured that every firstborn child was saved, and the feast of Pentecost began 50 days after Passover.

Now, 50 days after the Passover festival, which is 50 days after the week of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Jewish followers of Jesus have gathered together. It just so happened to be Pentecost, and some of them had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven. That’s where today’s story picks up.

At that time, there were devout pilgrims from all over the world staying in Jerusalem, as well as many Jews, and all the believers were gathered together in one place. Then, without warning, out of nowhere, this crazy violent wind sound filled the entire building. Like a roaring rush of air blasting through.

For those experiencing this first outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it was bewildering and bizarre. Some people even mocked them, accusing the disciples of just being drunk! But those who experienced it never forgot that encounter, overwhelmed with passion and power, and gradually, they started spreading the good news into the world, first to their friends and neighbours, then to their enemies, and finally to strangers. And the wind of the Holy Spirit kept moving through those people to others, who passed it on, and others passed it on, gusting all the way down through history until the 21st century, here at St. Margaret’s Mooroolbark, where we are sharing God’s gospel and kingdom right at this very moment.

The Acts of the Apostles is a story about the vibrant and flourishing early network, and we are reaping its fruits even after two thousand years. Pentecost is not just a story of special people in a different place and time. We are part of that event now. The power from heaven, the power that the disciples experienced when they gathered to worship and pray together, the Spirit of God filling them, uniting them, and forming them into a church community that practices and witnesses to the kingdom of God—St. Margaret’s should look to the church in Acts for a vision of its future.

Shall we take a moment to look around the church? The ceiling, the cross, the chairs you are sitting on—all these visible things tell a story of time. This particular space where we gather to worship was established in November 1986, and the old chapel above was built in September 1954. Like the church in the Acts, we’ve seen much growth and a noticeable phenomenon. In recent years, new people have joined, increasing our attendance. Isn’t it wonderful to see diverse ethnicities and age groups come together to worship God with one voice in praise? Someone described these things as “overwhelming” happenings and wonders. Friends, this is evidence of God’s Spirit at work and the outpouring of His grace upon us.

What the future holds for St Margaret’s Church

One minister alone cannot build the entire church, but together, we can make it happen. Be the kind of church you want to belong to. Then, simply do the things you think you should do. The Holy Spirit will lead us in ways far bigger and more overwhelming than we can imagine.

Be a church that breaks bread together like the Acts church: Let’s revive an occasional church restaurant dinner night, invite people over for simple meals at your home, or suggest meeting up for fish and chips at Hookey Park on a Saturday afternoon. Oh, and we could even pack sandwiches together and eat them on the playground in the church backyard.

Become a church that gathers in homes: Don’t wait for someone else to open their home first. Why not form small “Connection” groups to share life and pray together? Or contact me to set a time to host a worship gathering at your place. Be a church committed to prayer: Don’t assume someone else will pray. Invite others to join you in prayer. Come to Sunday services prepared to say what’s on your heart. Email your own prayer requests for prayer, and pray daily for someone in your congregation, holding them up to God in prayer. Be a church that works together: Daddy’s Army will welcome you! The media team and worship team invited you to fill in the roster for worship.

We need to be a church that welcomes strangers: Who is new to our church? Who is new to the neighbourhood? Invite them for coffee or a chat at their fence and create spaces to befriend them and connect with others. Be a church that wrestles with Scripture: use your imagination and thoughts to ask questions about the text and reflections, and come to worship ready to share your own questions and insights. Invite others to read Scripture with you or start a regular Bible study group.

We want to be a church where people share their faith stories and testimonies with each other about what’s been going on in their lives during the week or month and then pay attention to what’s on their hearts. Share your testimonies and faith stories with each other about what’s been going on in your life during the week. This will be a catalyst for each other’s faith. We should be the church that engages in justice work: It’s something that burns inside of us that we want to be a part of. What’s happening locally, nationally, or globally that you want to be a part of? Build a small group of like-minded people and try to find things you can do to be a part of it.

If you want to be a church that engages many people, share what we’re doing through social media. Invite friends and people you know to be there and share the services on our church website with sermons, hymns, and prayers on social media.  The ethos of Pentecost empowered the disciples to reach out to all nations, so let’s share the good news and let’s spread the word far and wide.

I’m not dreaming too big. Peter quoted the prophet, Joel, saying, God will pour out His Spirit on us, and you will dream dreams, see visions, and speak with prophetic voices. Ezekiel 37 also promises to breathe His Spirit, His breath into our lifeless souls like dry bones to revive us anew. Don’t we have God’s promise of hope?