Tag Archives: Farewell Discourse

The Facts of Life

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Pentecost, 19 May 2024. The Very Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

  • Acts 2:1-21.  All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”.
  • Romans 8:22-27.  For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?
  • John 15: 26-27, 16:4b-15. You also are to testify.

O God, the eternal flame, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.

Happy Pentecost! It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as Merry Christmas or Happy Easter, does it? I don’t know why that is, but for Episcopalians anyway, Pentecost just hasn’t caught on like the birth story or the life-after-death story. Maybe it’s because Pentecost is a story about breath and wind, about inspiration that is intoxicating, about passion that burns. It’s hard to come up with a mascot like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny for those things! It’s hard to talk about the power of breath and wind, of inspiration and passion, about fire in the belly, for those of us socialized to sit quietly, sing softly, and not call attention to ourselves or our faith. But I would argue that one way to talk about Pentecost is to talk about the facts of life. Continue reading →

Getting Chased around the Lake

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Pentecost, Year B, May 24, 2015; The Rev. Pamela L. Werntz

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Can these bones live?
Acts 2:1-21 I will pour out [from/of] my Spirit upon all flesh.
John 15:26-16:15 I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling.

O Holy Source of inspiration, grant us the strength, the wisdom and the courage to seek always and everywhere after truth, come when it may, and cost what it will.

Happy Pentecost everyone! I am very glad that you’re here – amazed and delighted, really. I expect people on the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) and the Feast of the Resurrection (Easter), but when the Feast of Pentecost falls on a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, well, I just never know. Pentecost is my favorite church holiday. I love our parades of puppets in procession at Emmanuel, bracketing the Great Fifty days of Easter. I love the Pentecost scripture readings: the rattling dry bones re-animated by the spirit of holiness, the breath of God. I love the sound like the rush of a violent wind of the Acts story – not a gentle breeze, not a still small voice, but a complete cacophony of the Good News of the powerful Love of God being told in at least 17 languages (we managed 10 languages this morning –wasn’t it perplexing and thrilling?) And I love the promise of the “one called alongside to help” – parakletos is the Greek word, champion, [1] here translated advocate. Perhaps, more than anything, I love baptisms and Pentecost is one of four days specially designated for baptisms. Continue reading →