PENTECOST BMAY 24, 2015

Acts 2: 1-21Romans 8: 22-27

John 15: 26-27, 16: 4b-15

1st U.S. Episcopal Missionary Bishop[24 December 1789 – 24 May1870]

David Jackson Kemper

Collect for Pentecost BAlmighty God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to exercise proper judgment in all things & always rejoice in its holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives & reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever & ever. Amen.

Prayer for Pentecost B [Bishop Jackson Kemper]Lord God, in whose providence Jackson Kemper was chosen first missionary bishop in this land, & by his arduous labor & travel established congregations in scattered settlements of the American West: Grant our Church may always be faithful to its mission, & have the vision, courage & perseverance to make known to all peoples the Good News of Jesus Christ; who with you & the Holy Spirit lives & reigns, one God, for ever & ever.

 

Born David Jackson Kemper in Pleasant Valley, NY on 24 December 1789, he graduated from Columbia College at 15 & was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1814. In 1835, the Episcopal Church decided to consecrate missionary bishops to preach the Gospel west of settled areas of the expanding U.S. & Kemper was its 1st designee. He promptly headed west. Disappointed that clergy east of the Mississippi were slow to rally to his invitation to join him on the frontier, he recruited priests from among men who were already in the West. He established a college in St. Louis, MO to train others who were so disposed, founded Nashotah House & Racine College in Wisconsin, & ordained Fr. James de Koven in 1855. An ardent advocate of extensive outreach to the Oneida & other native American tribes, he endorsed translations of the Bible & Book of Common Prayer into Indian languages. From 1847 - 1870, Fr. Kemper served as bishop of Wisconsin, but the effect of his labors influenced a far wider area across the American frontier.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA ** Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

PEN

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: HO

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Time Stamp: 31 B.C.Jesus promises to send the Spirit (the Advocate) , assuring the Apostles it will testify of Him & guide the fledgling community of believers “into all of the truth.”

Pentecost Enhanced•Pentecost originally a Jewish festival •--Marks 50 days > Passover/Exodus •--Moses receives 10 Commandments •Acts adds to story of liberation from slavery & God’s continuing presence: •--New dimension ~ the Resurrection •--Impacts those open to God’s Spirit•Wind links to …•--God’s spirit over abyss < Creation •--Ebbing the Flood in Noah’s time •--Parting Red Sea to let Israel cross from slavery to freedom•--Signaling Elijah--God’s power may be best heard through a still, small voice• Fire of Pentecost links …•--Flame sealing covenant with Abram •--Burning bush calling Moses•--Pillar of fire guiding Israelites through the wilderness •--Judging fires of Elijah & prophets•Imagine the effect the Spirit’s initial infusion must have had on Jesus’ newly designated Apostles •Reflect : How might it be working in our own lives today?

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, & it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, & a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered & was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed & astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

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8: 2

2-2

7]

Time Stamp: 58 A.D.

This reading is part of a text that addresses the Holy Spirit’s activities. It fits into a chapter that heralds the good news that those of us who are in Christ are free from condemnation.

A Touch of the Spirit •Vv 22-23: metaphor--woman in labor•--Something wonderful is imminent•--Process may be painful•--Result is joyful ~ new life•First fruits of the Spirit•Vv 24-25 ~ Only time in Paul’s letters where salvation is a PAST event•--But it is not fully realized•--We must wait patiently for arrival•Vv 26-27 continues Spirit theme•--Presupposes audience of believers are worn down by trials, are spiritually impoverished, unable to pray properly•Spirit doesn’t empower us to pray•--God intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words•--Emphasis ~ God knows/God helps

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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15: 2

6-2

7, 1

6: 4

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Context

Jesus promises to send the Spirit (the Advocate) , assuring the Apostles it will testify of Him & guide the fledgling community of believers “into all of the truth.”

When the Spirit Comes •Jesus did not promise Spirit as a gift ONLY for 1st/2nd century believers•Spirit bridges 2 realms: community & world•Vv 16:8-11 ~ it helps world know meaning & reality of sin, righteousness & judgment•--V 14 ~ “take what is mine & declare it to you.” •Spirit also interpret new contexts our community will come to face. •Where & how do we see same activity in Centreville & today’s world?•Spirit will make Jesus’ teachings relevant to each new generation & each new age.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2015