Pentecost is the season of the church. It is the non-festival half of the church year. The season of Pentecost spans from Trinity Sunday to the Last Sundays of the Church year. The color for the season of Pentecost is Green. Green is the color for life and growth. The Sundays after Pentecost last from May until the end of October. I would like to think Pentecost is the longest season of the church because we focus on what it means to be disciples and what it means to be His Church.
I saw this comic strip as I thought about the Season of the church. Less than twenty percent of those born between 1980 and 2000 attend church. Church attendance is declining among mainline protestant denominations. A vast number of people believe they do not need to attend church for their relationship to Christ. Many will not openly say it, but they demonstrate by their action that they believe "church is a waste."
I actually understand that line of thinking. If church is just a building, a denomination, or a social gathering then church is a waste. Yet during the season of Pentecost, the season of the church, we learn from Scripture about what Jesus expects of us His church. He tells us who we are. He tells us what we can accomplish in his Name. We see what he has done for us. He celebrates when we respond to his great love and serve Him as His church.
Church is not about you. It is also not about me. The church should always be about the crucified and risen Christ. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we should not stop meeting together especially as we see the day, judgment day, approaching. One reason we meet together is to encourage one another. We gather together to encourage one another as we battle in our sin broken world. You come to church to encourage each other to remain faithful to Christ.
Church should equip us for service in our community. We study the Word of God together. We participate in the sacrament. This strengthens our faith. I have a friend who says when we gather together we are checking our collective armor in our battle against the evil one. When I taught firefighters we always checked our partners gear before we entered a building. Are you praying, supporting, and encouraging you brothers and sisters Christ in their battle with the evil one?
Church should be the jumping off place. The church is a place where we retool and resupply. This assumes that we are actively sharing our faith in Christ. This is what disciples do. They actively live their faith and share the truth that Jesus is Lord. They do this in their acts of service in their family, the community and the world.
As I contemplate the season of the church I wonder if we understand the value of church. The church is a gathering of believers. As believers we come together around the Word and Sacrament. We are strengthened and empowered by the Spirit for service. Some of you will serve in the church. All of you are called to represent Christ to your family and the world. I believe church has value. How about you?
