Dear Ones,
This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of Pentecost—our annual remembrance of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. At its core, the story of Pentecost is about how God’s Spirit filled ordinary people with extraordinary power—and how those people were willing to be empowered and changed, without knowing the outcome.
One of the Spirit’s greatest gifts is the power to reimagine. That’s where the work of Pentecost begins—just as it did with the apostles—by reimagining what power looks like, and reimagining what real change can be.
It goes without saying that our world today needs change. And the Spirit is always inviting us—empowering us—to shift from being passive observers to active disciples. From sitting on the sidelines to stepping into the work of transformation and being the change we long to see. On our own, we cannot do it. Following only our own agendas, we will likely find frustration and failure. But simple human actions, prompted by the Spirit, can—and do—change lives.
Through the Spirit, God shows the disciples that power is not about dominating or controlling. Spirit power prompts a person to live differently, think differently, and act differently. And you already know what this looks like:
- It’s the kind of power you see in a calm, direct, loving response that diffuses blustering and violent words.
- It’s the humbling, enabling power of people believing in you when you struggle to believe in yourself.
- It’s the soul-stirring, liberating power of an undocumented teen telling her truth in the face of danger and disappearance.
- It’s the energizing, collective power of BUILD bringing together the citizens of Baltimore on a Sunday afternoon, leading and advocating for changes in our city.
This kind of power doesn’t control—it awakens. It stirs our imaginations to live the words of Jesus Christ, to move his message into action. And that’s where new life begins. When we’re open to the Spirit, we become part of something far greater than ourselves. We’re given the courage and vision to reimagine our lives—not just for our own sake, but for the good of the world.
In the book of Acts, the gift of the Spirit came to people who were gathered together—open-hearted, expectant, ready. And from that first spark, the world began to change. Three thousand people were drawn by the Spirit that day. Not because the disciples had it all figured out, but because they were together, open to God, and willing to reimagine what was possible.
So let me ask you:
- When was the last time you felt the Spirit’s power nudging you to change?
- Where might you reimagine your life—your relationships, your purpose, your mission?
- How might you reimagine your own power—and offer it to the good of your community?
God of power, may the boldness of your Spirit transform us, may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us, may the gifts of your Spirit empower and equip us. Amen.
See you this weekend!
Peace and blessings,
Anna+