Pentecost
This weekend we mark a unique moment in the history of Holy Family Catholic Community with a unique celebration of Pentecost. Our Adventures in Grace pilgrimage is drawing to a close, but this Pentecost we are beginning the next phase of the adventure, an adventure in renewal, and we are doing it in a celebratory style with a very high energy Mass and celebration following in the courtyard.
Thanks to our collaboration with Terry Nelson-Johnson and members of his Soul Play team we have been energized with new sacramental language and fresh concepts with which to renew our community.
Sometimes I find it hard to describe the adventure we have been on for the past 10 months, but fundamentally we have developed language that expresses some of the following:
• Life itself is THE Sacrament
• The Sacraments are verbs, not nouns; verbs to be lived, not necessarily nouns to be consumed
• The seven Sacraments can be given new life with other complementary verbs such as
Drenched
Affirmed
Mercied
Committed
and, MOST IMPORANTLY … FED
• The sacred erupts from life on a regular basis so we identify such experiences as sacraments with a small “s”.
Terry Nelson-Johnson has encouraged us to more specifically come in touch with the small “s” sacrament using mediation and grace as key words with prompts such as:
I experienced the sacrament of____________________________
mediated by__________________.
and
Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are CURRENTLY receiving from your bounty, through Christ our Lord.
and
Hail_______________________, full of Grace
Let us continue to use this language to carry out of the Pentecost experience beginning this Sunday. Pentecost is more of a beginning than a conclusion. It is more about looking ahead than looking back. It is universally referred to as the birthday or the start of the Church, and we here at Holy Family will use this feast to celebrate a pilgrimage as well as embarking on continued spiritual renewal.
The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles enabling them to carry out the great commission that Jesus had given to them ten days before Pentecost. We hear his words and his sending of them from the Gospel of Matthew:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you and behold,
I will be with you until the end of time.”
Matthew 28:16-20
I believe that our Adventures in Grace has inspired and commissioned us in much the same way by the same Holy Spirit. Let us continue to use the language of the pilgrimage as we go forward – making disciples, teaching, baptizing and reminding each other of the eternal presence of Christ – coming more in touch with the significance of ALL nations. More details will follow regarding specifics of the ongoing adventure and how we can express that we are Drenched, Affirmed, Mercied, Committed and Fed.
Periodic Wednesday evening presentations, gatherings similar to Rest Stops, and virtual as well as website resources will continue to be offered along with a strong Social Justice component.
Shenanigans
We are offering a series of casual events here on our campus as opportunities to simply gather and get to know each other better. We are giving these the fun title of “Shenanigans” to emphasize how enjoyable it can be just to get together. The first Shenanigan will be on Friday, June 10 at 7:00pm. A kid friendly movie will be offered in the Narthex and adult food and beverage with entertainment will be offered in the courtyard.
Other Shenanigan dates are on Fridays, June 17, July 15, July 29 and August 12. Look for more details here in the bulletin and on our website at holyfamilyparish.org.