Pentecost

In high school, I went on a mission trip with an organization to the Florida panhandle.  We helped fix up a home in a very poor fishing village just outside of Pensacola.  One night, the mission organization invited all of the groups to attend a very large Pentecostal church.  Our youth pastor thought it might be a good idea for all of us young Methodists to see what such a different church might be like. 
 
What I experienced in that service was a mixture of fear, excitement, and curiosity.  I had never seen anyone speak in tongues before that evening.  I had never seen anyone faint during worship.  I had never experienced an altar call.  And yet, here we were in the middle of it all. 
 
I wonder what it would have been like, that day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended to earth and entered our world?  Would I have been afraid of all the commotion?  Would I have embraced the Spirit? 
 
Our group left the service before it ended, as our leader could tell we were uncomfortable.  We had never experienced anything like it.  Since then I have been in more than a few Pentecostal services and found them to be a refreshing change of pace to my more traditional upbringing.  God moves amongst us in many different ways.  We have to trust the Spirit to work in our hearts in ways that connect us to God. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• In what ways do you connect with the Holy Spirit? 
• How do you sense the Holy Spirit working in your life?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• How do you think you would have reacted in this story?

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, work in our hearts.  Draw us closer to God.  Help us to love the way you have called us to love.  Amen.