PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12
THE TRISAGION A JOINT NEWSLETTER OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES OF HUNTINGTON, WV Happy Birthday, Dear Church The Feast of Pentecost is taken from the Greek word πεντηκόστη which means “the 50th,” referring to the fiftieth day after Passover and Easter. In the Jewish calendar, this would coincide with the harvest festival Shavuot the “Feast of Weeks.” In the Christian calendar, Passover played a part in a number of visits Jesus made to Jerusalem. At his Last Supper, Jesus legendarily instructed his 12 disciples to go out into the world to minister and heal the sick on their own.
Hymn to the Holy Spirit Spirit, moving over chaos, Bringing light where there was none. Be to us a light, reveling Where the work is to be done. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the Spirit giving light. Breath, instilling animation, Giving life, informing soul, Breathe into this congregation Life that makes the Body whole. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the Spirit giving life.
As the New Testament tells us, Jesus remained with his Disciples for 40 days following his Resurrection and before his Ascension into heaven (which was celebrated on May 26th this year). The next major event we’re told of happened 10 days following the Ascension of Jesus — fifty days after Jesus’ death. As the story goes, the Holy Spirit descended onto the apostles, making them speak in foreign tongues. This event marked the coming of the Holy Spirit, as “tongues like as of fire” upon the Disciples of Jesus along with the sound of rushing wind, as told in Acts Chapter 2. This marked the beginning of the work of the Church following the Resurrection of Jesus, and is why this Feast has become commonly known as “The Birthday of the Church.” So what is the deal with “speaking in tongues?” In the story of Pentecost from the Book of Acts, “foreign tongues” referred to foreign languages (suggesting the apostles could now go into other parts of the world to preach their message.) Some religions today, however, believe that “speaking in tongues” sounds like a type of gibberish (although some say it’s God’s language) created when the Holy Spirit enters a person. Many followers of Pentecostalism — a protestant denomination that emphasizes a direct, personal experience with God — still speak in tongues when they are baptized or “born again” into the faith. They believe that, at the moment of this second baptism, the Holy Spirit fills them, which causes Continued on page 2
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