As someone who has long served as an interim pastor, and as someone who often visits congregations when not engaged in interim ministry, I have seen many creative and meaningful approaches to worship on Pentecost. This year’s Pentecost, however, carried special significance for me because it was my first as Interim Senior Minister at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
Timing
Pentecost arrived on my 77th day at First Christian.
At this point, I had been there long enough to begin understanding the congregation’s culture, hearing many of its stories, and building relationships with its members. We had already journeyed together through much of Lent and celebrated Easter, experiences that helped establish trust and deepen our shared ministry. The week before Pentecost, the Board had also engaged in an honest and thoughtful assessment of the congregation’s current situation.
All of that made Pentecost feel especially timely.
Blowing
My Pentecost message focused on the familiar story from Acts 2. I encouraged the congregation not simply to celebrate Pentecost for an hour on Sunday morning, but to become Pentecost people.
I expressed my hope that the Spirit will continue leading First Christian into a future grounded in unity, open to renewal and innovation, and marked by courage and hope.
The Spirit is the Life-Giving Wind that continues to move the church toward the future God intends.
Pentecost at FCC
For those wondering how First Christian observed Pentecost, the celebration included:
- A special Pentecost display in the narthex
- Acolytes, elders, deacons, minister, and children’s choir wearing red robes
- Adult choir wearing red stoles, with many members of the congregation also dressed in red
- Singing a new hymn as the invitation hymn
- Celebrating new high schoold graduates
- Celebrating both the birthday of the universal Church and the birthdays of all present who were born in the month of May
- Gathering for a potluck meal
It was a joyful and Spirit-filled day that reminded me Pentecost is not simply something the church remembers. It is something the church continues to live.
