A Letter From Our Pastor: Pentecost — The Call To Faithful Stewardship

Dear Parishioners,

As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on May 23, a significant event in the life of the Church, I think of the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples. And I think of how that formed them into disciples who were not only ready and willing to share the gift of faith in Christ Jesus but felt impelled/compelled to do so.

In our parish we have come to know that the work of the Spirit in our lives, both personally and communally calls, even impels, us to become active disciples of Jesus, sharing our gifts so that others may come to know Christ and may live with dignity. We are called to live lives of stewardship, not owning our gifts, but knowing they have been given to us to be used for the good of others and the glory of God.

Sometimes the Spirit of God acting within us, calls us to use words to preach and teach, and other times it is by our actions that we make God and God’s work manifest. We saw an example of the latter in our own parish at the Washing of the Feet this past Holy Thursday. Someone who had not been asked to have his/her feet washed got into line. The person next to him/her, who had been asked, noticed that there was only one towel left and simply sat down. Those who saw the incident saw faith in action.

Living as a disciple, impelled by the Spirit to share our gifts of time, talent and treasure isn’t always easy or comfortable. Sometimes it demands that we step outside of the way we have always done things to do something new, to make a commitment of ministry for the good of the Church, for the building of the Kingdom of God. It takes a continuing conversion of heart. As we read the accounts of conversion in the Acts of the Apostles, we realize that their experience and our experience are not all that different. We need to move from unbelief to belief, from fear or suspicion to courage and confidence. We are called to come to trust in the Holy Spirit as a guiding light in our lives.

The first Pentecost was the beginning of life as a Church. With each celebration of Pentecost, the Spirit is renewed in our Church and in our lives, but only if we nurture that life by living as the people God created us to be, both individually and communally.

God has blessed our parish family with many disciples, many who live a stewardship way of life, sharing their gifts with others. For that we are grateful. We are grateful that God has called us to this way of life, for it is the gift of God to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Martin Egging, Pastor

Fr. Martin Egging, Pastor