This Sunday, Christians all over the world will observe the Feast of Pentecost, which people often call the Church's birthday. Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the day that the Holy Spirit alighted on Jesus's followers, equipping them for ministry. The story illustrates what we call the four Notes or Marks of the Church : that the Church is (1) ONE, (2) HOLY, (3) CATHOLIC, and (4) APOSTOLIC. We affirm these qualities every Sunday when we recite the Nicene Creed; but many of us say the words without really reflecting on what they mean.

The statement that the Church is ONE, emphasizes its fundamental unity, such as when St. Paul refers to us as "the Body of Christ." It is often hard to appreciate or even believe that the Church is one, when there are so many divisions among Christians into different denominations, theological views, and worship styles. Nonetheless, we affirm that, however much we human beings may have fragmented the Church over the centuries, God is working through us to restore it to wholeness, which is why ecumenical work, for instance, is so important. Remembering that the Church's essence is to be ONE should impel us to seek out unity where we can.

The Church is also HOLY, in that it calls us into a particular kind of living. This lifestyle is modeled on the example of Jesus, who showed us how to spread peace, justice, and harmony by fashioning mutual, moral relationships with God and among all human beings. The Church's teachings, its sacramental life, and its mission in the world are tools for us to live as Jesus did, so that we can inhabit that holiness.

The Church is CATHOLIC, according to the original definition of the word, which is "universal." The Church is not limited to one locale, one denominational tradition, or one worship style; but rather embraces all Christians everywhere. The Pentecost story in Acts is a testament to the fact that Jesus's disciples were commanded to spread the Gospel to every family, tribe, language, people, and nation, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the Church is APOSTOLIC , meaning that the Christian faith we practice is a legacy from the first apostles that has been handed down from generation to generation. Known as the "Vincentian Canon," St. Vincent of Lérins in the 5th century affirmed the universality of this apostolic faith by claiming that it is "what has been believed everywhere, always, by all." Now, that may seem like a pretty bold and sweeping statement that may not hold up under scrutiny; and yet it is easy to perceive even in our own Sunday services the enduring legacy of the apostles: the reading of Scripture; the blessing and sharing of bread and wine; prayers for the Church and the world. There are still many common features between our faith and that of the apostles, as the Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer makes clear.

Although the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, it is only so in an imperfect way. The Church is often prone to schism and disunity, corruption and vice, denominational prejudice, and theological error. When we recite the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, there's always a hint that we are making an aspirational statement, that we will work to make the Church a better and fuller embodiment of those four essential qualities that we claim for it. The Acts story is clear that the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to all who were present, without distinction--men and women, slaves and free, old and young, worthy and unworthy. The apostolic ministry has been given to each one of us, and each of us is called to serve. Each one of us is called to embody the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church as we go about the ordinary activities of our daily lives. That should give us something deep to reflect on this Sunday, as we recount the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus's followers in the gust of wind that brings God's holy fire.

Abundant blessings,

Fr. Ethan+

As a fun reminder of the Pentecost story, everyone is encouraged to wear RED this Sunday, which is the liturgical color of the day, imitating the tongues of fire that rested on the heads of Jesus's followers.

We will also be reading the Acts story in a variety of languages to gain a hint of what it must have been like to hear the people speaking in a multitude of languages. If anyone has the ability to read part of the story in a language other than English, please send Fr. Ethan an email to let him know. The more readers the better!

Check out the photos from the Feast of the Ascension on St. Helena's Facebook page. Many thanks to Eileen Robinson for her excellent pics!

We are very excited that the repairs to the church are nearing completion. The new floor has been installed, and this past week, contractors were installing new ceiling tiles in the basement. The next step will be to schedule a cleaning crew to come in to conduct a professional deep cleaning of the building. After that, we will need to deal with the clutter put everything back in its place, so that the church will be ready for worship. We anticipate that we will be able to do this by the end of the month. Stay tuned for updates on our timeline. Until further notice, however, we will continue worshipping at Lyonsville UCC at 9 am.

Once again, many thanks to Keith Plikuhn and Linda Petrasek for overseeing this huge project. And thank you for the many donations that have come in to cover some of the additional costs resulting from the flooding. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

"Soul Kitchen" meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm for a no-holds-barred discussion about faith. Topics bubble up from within the group, so we never know what's on the menu until we sit down. No topic is off limits. It could be current events, theology, Bible study, pop culture, or some provocative question that someone had always been afraid to ask. And sometimes, we just play "Stump the Priest!" During our season away from our building, we have been meeting in people's homes, so let Fr. Ethan know if you are interested in attending.

You can make a difference!

Our Blessing Pantry has been a great success, which we have witnessed in the need to restock it regularly with new food and other supplies. We are seeking a few volunteers to keep an eye on it and refill it with items stored on the shelves in the Anderson Room when it gets low.

And remember ... throw a jar in the car or a can in the van on Sunday and put your donated items in the basket in the back of the church. These food and supplies will be blessed at the altar during the Eucharist and then included in our stock in the Anderson Room.

This simple act of generosity reminds us that it is not enough for us to come to church to be fed. As people of faith, God calls us to pay that nourishment forward by feeding others when we go back out into the world.