“Pentecost is our story…” — Sermon and Gospel for Pentecost Sunday, 2022

Summer is the season of family gatherings, reunions, and picnics. A time when families comes from far and wide to gather together, get reacquainted with one another and in some cases to meet new family members. These gatherings draw in family members near and dear to each other and relatives that we might not even know existed, but that’s ok, they are family.

One of the best things that happens are the stories that are told. Funny stories about pranks or stunts that people in the family pulled on each other or out in the world. Serious stories about family members who served and sacrificed. Amazing stories of survival when it seemed like all hope was lost. Stories that grow over time as each generation adds new elements to the stories.

These stories don’t belong to any one individual. Who is telling the story may change over time, but the reality is that the stories belong to the family and will be passed down through the generations.

Today we celebrate a special family holiday. A birthday. It’s the birthday of the church. And guess what, we are the family gathered to celebrate. After all, we are the church, the body of Christ. And the body of Christ is made up of family members that are near and dear to us as well as family members that we may not know all that well, just like any family.

Because we are the church, the Body of Christ, then the Scripture lessons we hear are our stories. They aren’t stories of…