Anything is possible!  That is what Pentecost tells us.  We have the greatest force in the universe within and among us, a power that can transform our lives in unimaginable ways if we open to it and work with it.  That force gave birth to the first church, changing the weak disciples who had denied and deserted Jesus into miracle-working, empire-defying leaders.  The same Holy Spirit wants to work through our lives and our church today, transforming us so that we can help transform the world around us.

The Pentecost service is full of music and words that remind us that anything is possible.  They convey some of the joy and enthusiastic energy that has filled the church whenever it has opened wide to the Spirit’s power.  We will hear the story of the first Pentecost from Acts 2, and hear Jesus promise the Holy Spirit to all his followers in John 14:8-17.  We will read responsively from the beautiful Psalm of creation, #104.  Our hymns will include two classic favorites, I Sing the Mighty Power of God and Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, as well as the melodic and moving more recent favorite hymn, Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness.

The Choir will sing Spirit of the Living God as the Introit again this week.  It is a beautiful, simple prayer that we could all pray (or sing) not just on Pentecost, but every moment of every day: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.  Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.”  The Anthem will be the beautiful “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.”  Organist John Atwood will play three pieces by F. Couperin.  To give you a sense of why he was called Couperin the Great, here is a half hour recording of a Kyrie and Gloria from one of his masses: