A Word From the Pastor (June 2009)

Dear Friends in Christ,

On May 31, the church celebrated one of the great holy days of our Christian faith, Pentecost. Pentecost falls 50 days after Easter Sunday and marks the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus. At the time of his ascension into heaven, Jesus told his followers to watch and wait for a special gift from God. As they were gathered together on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon them like the rush of a mighty wind, and tongues as of fire rested on each of them. On that day Jesus' followers were empowered to proclaim the gospel to people of many nations and languages. They were given boldness to declare the good news of Jesus Christ in an often hostile world. They were equipped and enabled to move the masses, calling people to repent of their sins and lead new, transformed, Christlike lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our God still blesses Jesus' disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Followers of Jesus today can still draw on the wisdom, the guidance, and the strength of the Spirit to accomplish Christ's work in the world. We are endowed with spiritual gifts to serve God's kingdom (See 1 Cor. 12). We are enabled to bear fruit that befits Christ's realm. The fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit can be a potent force for good in the world.

Sometimes, however, we act with limited vision and our expectations are simply too small. We focus on attracting "church members" instead of tending to our primary task of making disciples of Jesus. We settle for getting people to come to worship on Sunday morning instead of challenging ourselves and others to live for Christ every hour of every day. We fashion programs to entice participation without reflecting on the spiritual purpose and content of what we have to offer. We invite people into relationships with folks within the church without actually inviting them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are content to be in ministry in our own little corner, on Smith and Broad in the Village of Fishkill, in a familiar setting with familiar people, but hesitate to reach out to the world, whether across town or across the globe.

The spirit of God can do amazing things through God's people. The Holy Spirit has empowered Christians since that first Pentecost to proclaim the gospel boldly and go out into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ. May we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit at work in God's church today. May the Spirit help us to "see visions and dream dreams" as prophesied in the book of Joel (2:28-29). May we share Christ's truth and compassion in a way that transforms lives and transforms the world. May the Spirit be at work in you today and every day!

Rev. Peggy Ann Sauerhoff