Pentecost

John 7:37-39 / Acts 2:1-21

“The Least We Can Believe:  Jesus Christ is Lord”

I left this year’s meeting of the Missouri Annual Conference last Monday just a little after noon.  It was a good and Spirit filled four days as we gathered around the theme, “Extravagant Generosity”, not only hearing reports of its sightings but also participating in this; one of the essential practices of fruitful congregations.  (Total Offerings received during the 4 day meeting = $145,603. Last year’s total offering was $37,212)

While driving north on 65 to Pomme de Terre, I became aware of all the hay fields that line the highway.  I’m guessing with all the rain it has been a very good year to make hay.  There were fields filled with hundreds of big round bales.  The aroma of fresh cut and raked hay filled the air.  It caused me to flash back to the old, old days when I spent several summers “bucking” smaller, squarer 50-60 pound cousins of today’s five foot round, 2000 pound bales of food.

I can’t help but wonder at the difference in the equipment used now-a-days.  When I was part of a four-man (15 year olds) hay crew, we were given the oldest truck or tractor available.  The one with bald tires that had to be parked facing down a hill if you wanted to start it again when you stopped.  The wagons were creaky and rusty with loose floor boards on the bed.  We used one that we couldn’t all ride on the same side or the bed would fall off the frame.  Most the tractors were named Massey, or Co-op (that one had to be hand cranked to start).  But undoubtedly the most interesting was a John Deere B.  Because their two-cylinder engines created a distinctive “pop”…no “POP!!” when they started or were under load they were simply called “Johnny Poppers”.

Many design features made Johnny Poppers unique; a big fly wheel on the side, separate brake pedals for each back wheel that were located over the axle on each side of the seat (want to stop the left wheel, reach back with your left foot to the pedal on the left and depress – same on the right using right foot – want to stop both wheels, use one foot on each side of the seat and depress the pedal)  Perhaps the most difficult to learn to use smoothly was the clutch, which was operated by a four foot lever located to the right of the steering wheel.  Push it forward to engage the clutch and pull it back to disengage.

I realize that most of you don’t know much about clutches.  Automatic transmissions are currently in style and have been proven to provide better gas mileage and require less maintenance.  So let me offer a simple explanation.  The reason for the clutch is to provide a way to connect a working, running engine to the wheels of a vehicle so it will move.  The clutch pedal (or lever) pushes a clutch plate toward an engine’s flywheel (which is being turned by the engine) causing the flywheel to contact the clutch plate which is connected to the wheels making them also turn.

There is a delicate time when the clutch plate makes contact with the fly wheel that is fraught with possibilities.  If it happens to slowly the clutch will “burn”.  If it happens to quickly the tractor will jump forward.  Remember the operator is reaching forward to engage the clutch with a lever.  If the tractor jumps forward and the driver keeps hold of the clutch his backward motion will disengage the clutch and then you’ve got to do it all over again (after you pick up your buddies and all the hay that fell of the wagon).  Transferring motion from an object that is moving to one that is not is a dangerous and often frightening and always exhilarating experience.  Just ask the Disciples of Jesus who were sitting in the room waiting during that first Christian Pentecost.

As Luke wrote the story of the early church in the book we’ve named “the Acts of the Apostles” (Acts for short).  He described the gathered Disciples of Jesus all together in one place in Jerusalem. 

“…and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” (Acts 2:1-4 NRSV)

Pentecost was already a feast day for the people of God.  The harvest festival of Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai fifty days after the Exodus.  Jerusalem was filled with the faithful who had come to make their offerings at the temple and thank God for the rules (Ten Commandments) that were given to bring life and purpose to a wandering people as they journeyed to The Promised Land.  They heard the sound of the strong-gale force wind sounding like a wild-fire, one that described God’s mighty works in their various mother tongues. (from Acts 2:5-11 The Message)  All were amazed and perplexed asking what it all means.  Others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Pentecost is an amazing reflection on what happens when the clutch is engaged.  It describes the scene when God’s creative engine is engaged by those who were created in God’s image – fire and smoke and the mighty winds that first blew over the chaos described in Genesis 1.  It was awesome!

I’ve come to understand our yearly meeting of the Annual Conference as a time when those gathered are made more intentionally aware of what the Holy Spirit is doing.  We used to argue and fight a lot more about leadership and budget.  I know of few retired pastors who would turn over in their grave at the idea of passing an Annual Conference Budget with no discussion or amendments.  It used to take most of a day to approve what ended up looking mostly like what was originally submitted by those we choose to lead such things.  This year’s budget discussion lasted all of maybe three minutes.  (I’m sure it helps that there’s a whole afternoon workshop set aside for such discussions away from the Bar of the Conference.)

Conference today is filled with worship, amazing sermons, reports and workshops designed to help us experience the work of the Spirit as it has manifested itself in the lives of other Christians.  It is almost impossible to not begin thinking and praying about ways the people with whom we serve God locally can connect to God’s work in the same way.  So when I see some of 1st UMC’s youth helping to lead worship I start to ask God how we could use those gifts here in the same way.  When I hear about the work others are doing on College Campuses I start to ask how we could invite students at SEMO-Kennett and Twin Rivers-Kennett to join us for the glory of God’s House and the redemption of the world.  And when I hear that the Conference plans to appoint a pastor for a new ministry with the Spanish speaking population in and around Kennett I wonder what new wine they’ve been drinking and what we can do to help ferment the presence revealed in bread and juice to all God’s people.

I’ve come to see the Annual Conference as a kind of clutch, designed to help us engage with God’s work that is already in motion.  Truth be told, it is not “new” ministry that we’re being asked to offer the world.  It is the same work God began and has continued throughout history.  The Bible tells its story.  Kennett’s Saints have witnessed its progress and helped us see who God is and what God wants and how we can live putting Christ first, the same Holy Spirit whose presence was revealed in Kennett, Missouri back in the 1840’s when the people living here called their home “Butler”.

We’re going to spend a few weeks talking about the essentials of Christian faith.  I’ve come to believe that the most essential tenet is faith that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Christians have to believe above all else that if they get their relationship with God through Jesus Christ right….everything else will work out.  That right relationship is at the center of what we call “salvation.”  That makes Jesus Christ, Lord of everything; and everything includes everything.  There is no thing or one who is not under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

We often don’t agree on the “how” of Christian life.  I’m still sometimes lost at Annual Conference because of the songs we sing.  The old, old hymns still speak to my soul.  I don’t yet understand how to measure the Christian concepts like “faithful” and “fruitful” and “effective”.  I wonder, now that I am getting old, what role the older can fill.  (as I wondered what role the young could fill when I was young)  I wonder why so many people, clergy and laity, like to talk about “my” church when it is obvious that the church doesn’t belong to them or to me or to anyone but Christ. 

But in the midst of it all I believe that if we all live as if Jesus Christ is Lord we can connect to what God has, is, and will be doing through the Holy Spirit that is God’s presence with us in this moment; and this one, and this one. 

That’s what the Confirmation Class claimed today.  They were asked, “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?”  Do you?

If so…answer by saying, “I do.”  I can feel the friction God’s Spirit fires our spirits.  Hang on.  It is going to be an excellent adventure.

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