3 minute read
Richard W. Steffen: “Let’s Celebrate
by Richard W. Steffen, Minister of Music
Advertisement
Celebrate through the Spirit
A discipline that I began last January is to read the entire Bible this year with a friend. We are using the New Living Testament version, and once or twice a month we talk about what we’ve read. Our reading on March 9 from Psalms caught my attention: “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11 NLT) Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Scriptures? I remember the passage of Creation: “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2 NLT) As they gathered together, the disciples needed assurance that they wouldn’t be alone after Jesus was crucified. Jesus told them, “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:25-26 NLT) And then that exhilarating experience: “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.” (Acts 2:1-3 NLT). Pentecost: our celebration of the Holy Spirit being poured out on people from all over the world.
We are planning to celebrate soon in a special way on a special day: in-person worship in our sanctuary on Pentecost! For 14 months we have joined together for worship with the First Baptist Church of Redlands. And through technology and the marvelous skill of our Tech Team, our worship has been empowered to happen at any time after the service has been released and over and over again! (Any guess how many times I have worshipped while watching the video of our kids sharing “Kids of the Kingdom” on Palm Sunday this year?)
Worshipping again in-person in our sanctuary is an answer to many prayers. And we will experience it on “the birthday of the church.” It will be a celebration. During that time, if we give and receive elbow bumps instead of hugs, that’s okay. If we sit farther apart than before, that’s okay. If we sing in our hearts instead of with our voices, that’s okay. Say a prayer, give a wave, and sing on the way home, all the time giving God the glory.
Celebrate through Song
We have an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work of our church organist Linda Gentile through song. Easter 2020 was going to be Linda’s final Sunday with us. We were excited to hear her play again “Hallelujah” from Messiah by G. F. Handel on the mighty Austin organ in our sanctuary that day. And we were planning a farewell reception in Linda’s honor on Palm Sunday 2020 after worship.
Linda inspired us musically and touched us with her friendship for 10 years. Her dedication to her art, her warmth at rehearsals, and her smile are treasures that we will always remember.
On Sunday, May 30, 2021, at 4:00 pm, there will be a recital given in the sanctuary by Linda and a few of her friends as a tribute to her.
You are invited to attend this event. And you are encouraged to share your words of appreciation of her through cards to her that can be placed in a basket on a table in the Church Narthex that afternoon.
