The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is offering a worship service for the Day of Pentecost at 10 am on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
Bishop Scott Mayer is preaching. The Rev. Karen Calafat, St. Luke’s in the Meadow, Fort Worth, is the officient. The Rev. Kevin Johnson, St. Alban’s, Theatre Arlington, is the gospeller. Readers are Eleanor Forfang Brockman of St. Luke’s, and Dave Burrows of St. Alban’s. The organist is Tony Kroll of St Luke’s and the singer is Stan Paschal of St. Stephen’s, Hurst. Readers for the reading from Acts are Dave Burrows (English), Martin Durbac, St. Alban’s (French), Eleanor Forfang Brockman of St. Luke’s (Norwegian), and Sherri Glaser of St. Luke’s (German).
The text of the bishop’s sermon can be downloaded Sunday morning.
St. Luke’s is decorated for Pentecost with doves made by people across the diocese. The dove is one of the symbols for the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year in the Episcopal Church (BCP, p. 15). The liturgical color for the feast is red.
The term means “the fiftieth day.” In Christian scripture, it refers to the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), shortly after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.
We understand the meaning of Pentecost in terms of the gift of the Spirit. The Pentecost event was the fulfillment of a promise which Jesus gave concerning the return of the Holy Spirit. The speaking in tongues, which was a major effect of having received the Spirit, is interpreted by some to symbolize the church’s worldwide preaching.
In the Christian tradition, Pentecost emphasizes that the church is understood as the body of Christ which is drawn together and given life by the Holy Spirit. Some understand Pentecost to be the origin and sending out of the church into the world.