I like when I learn additional information about something I’ve known about for a long time. This week during our WOW Bible study, Judy Finch passed around her copy of Zondervan Handbook to the Bible, so I looked up Pentecost, knowing it was my turn this week to write an article for Leaflets. I learned Pentecost happened during the old Jewish festival of Firstfruits, which took place at the beginning of the wheat harvest. The festival traditionally occurred 50 days after Passover, which we know was at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Now we know the reason for the gathering at which the winds and tongues of flame came down and Jews and converts from all over the area each heard their own languages spoken by the Galileans. Some observers even wondered if they all had drunk too much wine. Check out the story in Acts 2:1-13.

That day, everyone who felt the wind, saw the flames, and heard the various languages spoken experienced an inner change as they were touched by the Holy Spirit. To this day we celebrate those early Christians, as well as everyone since then who has felt the Holy Spirit in their lives. Here at WFPC, we’ll be celebrating Pentecost, the Christian church’s birthday, with balloons, bubbles, streamers, and cupcakes, as well as with a change in our sanctuary’s banners.

If you were here last Sunday, you may have noticed our new banner for our children’s corner. This Sunday we will add a banner featuring the church’s tree logo and mission statement: “Rooted in Christ, Growing Together in Faith, Reaching Out to Others.” We’ve also incorporated our vision statement created last fall into a series of six colorful banners with the messages “Follow Christ, Welcome All, Seek to Listen, Seek to Understand, Seek to Learn, and Serve Others.” 

Just as the church as a whole has evolved through the past two thousand years, Wake Forest Presbyterian continues to evolve and change to meet today’s opportunities and challenges. 

Please join me in thanking Courtney Cissel for her help with banner design, and Miriam Blinne, Sue Crawford, Kathy Drake, Karen Mohlmann, Dori Moore, Cathy Moss, Karen Pettyjohn, and Lynette Wilson for their impressive sewing and quilting skills. Resurrecting the SEW (Sewing Enhances Worship) group has been fun and productive for us all. 

In Christ,

Joni Amerson, Elder for Worship and Music

May 28 -- Pentecost Sunday

Wear red and plan to join us in worship at 10 a.m. That is the Day of Pentecost where we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that descended in a mighty rush of wind and flame to inspire the church’s proclamation of Christ’s rising and to empower its mission and ministry to the world. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit draws us together as one people, helps us to comprehend what God is doing in the world, and empowers us to proclaim, in word and in deed, God’s plan of reconciling all people in the name of Christ. There will be streamers, balloons, bubbles and cake. Come help us celebrate the birthday of the church! 

Our Scripture is Acts 2:1-42, and John will share his sermon, "The Spirit Is Sent."

You can print an at-home bulletin here: May 28 Bulletin

Our 10:00 a.m. worship service is livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Having recently adjourned our Sunday School elective course on Inhabiting Eden, several WFPC members have been inspired to share weekly creation care insights and tips in our weekly Leaflets. Topics will be scriptural, ecological, and practical in nature, as we hope to

inspire all at WFPC to take a moment to reflect upon the gift of God's wonderful creation and our role as its caretakers.

Have you ever taken notice of all of the wonderful trees growing on the WFPC campus? Not only are they beautiful, but trees of all sizes and species are beneficial in many ways. Trees provide welcoming shade in parking lots, especially on hot days. They shade cars and

pedestrian walkways, reduce glare, screen views, and muffle noise. Trees can reduce the excess heat generated by large expanses of paving and can reduce stormwater runoff and pollution. We are thankful for the large church campus that allows us the space to benefit from the gift of trees. Let's not forget that it is a tree (representing the one under which our founding member met) that is featured in our church logo!

This summer, we are focusing on Scripture passages that highlight oceans, lakes, mountains and rivers. These vacation destinations represent renewal, restoration, and rest - those cherished Sabbath values we all crave but find so difficult to cultivate.

Our first theme, Oceans and Lakes, will be featured in June. Marguerite has selected Scripture passages as follows:

June 4 -- Genesis 1:1-5 & 20-23, sermon: Let the Waters Bring Forth

June 11 -- Luke 8:22-25, sermon: Calm in the Storm

June 18 -- Mark 1:16-20, sermon: Going Fishing

July's theme will feature mountains, and August will feature rivers. The sanctuary will reflect the themes in creative ways so you might feel like you are at the beach or in the mountains without the traffic!

As we enter the season of worship attendance being up and down — meaning, some will be up in the mountains and others down at the coast — we invite all WFPC members and friends to send photos of the mountains, oceans, lakes, or rivers that connect them most with God’s creation. These photos will be shown prior to worship services during the three summer months in which we will celebrate Scriptures that took Jesus (and others) up to the mountains and down to the coast as well. So please email your favorite ocean or lake photos to Jermaine Taylor (jermainetaylor@wakeforestpres.org). Mountain photos should be sent by June 24, and river photos by July 25. You can include some photos of your family, but also share your favorite nature shots! Questions? margueritesirrine@wakeforestpres.org.

Wear red and plan to join us in worship on Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m. That is the Day of Pentecost where we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that descended in a mighty rush of wind and flame to inspire the church’s proclamation of Christ’s rising and to empower its mission and ministry to the world. God’s gift of the Holy Spirit draws us together as one people, helps us to comprehend what God is doing in the world, and empowers us to proclaim, in word and in deed, God’s plan of reconciling all people in the name of Christ. There will be streamers, balloons, bubbles and cake. Come help us celebrate the birthday of the church! 

A gift to the Pentecost Offering is one of the markers of being a connectional denomination. Gifts help the church encourage, develop, and support its young people, and also address the needs of at-risk children. 40% of the Pentecost offering will be given to the Youth Ministries of WFPC. The remaining 60% is used to support children-at-risk, youth, and young adults through ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Please give generously!

https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/make-a-gift/gift-info/pentecost/

Fellowship and Events would like to solicit your assistance during the summer months to allow our team members some much needed time off to rest and enjoy our families. WE would LOVE to have our church families take on the responsibility of one Sunday (June 4—September 3), providing snacks and lemonade and friendship to the rest of the church attendees. Please contact Bonnie Habicht (bnbhabicht@gmail.com) or Carol Noble (csn82018@gmail.com) with questions or use our SignUpGenius to sign up for a Sunday.

We still need someone to cover Sunday, June 4!

It is that time of year again! The Rose Garden needs regular maintenance to encourage the growth of healthy roses that will produce many flowers for years to come. Pruning old blooms is one of the key factors in promoting new buds, strengthening the plants, and preventing disease. Please join us and volunteer through this SignUpGenius link:

 WFPC Rose Garden Volunteers: WFPC Rose Garden Maintenance (signupgenius.com)