Yesterday at Church we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost Day. Pentecost is an amazing high point in the Church Year and it was a beautiful and moving service - we sang the Introit (which we have never done before), the choir sang at both services, we had a thank-you presentation to this year's Sunday School Teachers and Staff, and we heard the Good News of what it means to be a child of God in the Post-Pentecost Age. Of course, we also had the privilege of receiving the Sacrament of the Altar together in unity of faith. Forgiveness given, Forgiveness received - and lives restored - all by the grace of God and to the glory of God.
Not only that, but as part of our spotlight on the work of the Holy Spirit -as He continues to serve us faithfully and powerfully through the Word and Sacraments- we took the opportunity (in place of the Nicene Creed) to confess together Martin Luther's Explanation to the Third Article of the Creed from the Small Catechism. It's a powerful testimony not only to the deadness of our hearts, but to how the Holy Spirit lifts us out of death and into life through His own work:
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the bodya, and the life everlasting.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.
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