Pentecost Sunday is Sunday, May 19, 2024

Christ the King Church is pleased to offer two Pentecost Sunday Services on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 9AM (Traditional) and 10:30AM (Contemporary).

Pentecost Sunday, also known as Whitsunday, is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. The word “Pentecost” is derived from the Greek term “Pentēkostē,” meaning “fiftieth,” as this holy day falls on the fiftieth day after Easter Sunday.

It’s origins are in the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, or Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, celebrated the first-fruits of the wheat harvest. In the New Testament, Pentecost is seen as the descent of the Holy Spirit creating the first-fruits of salvation in Jesus Christ, where 3,000 were saved, the birth of the New Testament Church, and its mission to take the Gospel to all nations and races.

The events of the first Pentecost are recorded in Acts 2. It took place in Jerusalem, shortly after Jesus’ ascension. As the Apostles and disciples gathered together in a room, a rushing wind filled the space, and tongues of fire appeared above their heads. They were then filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different languages, allowing them to communicate with people from various nations who were present in Jerusalem. This miraculous event is regarded as the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit as a guide and comforter.

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. It serves as a reminder of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, both for daily living and for empowerment in ministry. The color red, symbolizing the fire of the Holy Spirit, adorns the church and is worn by clergy and worshipers alike.

The Collect on the Day of Pentecost from the Book of Common Prayer: Almighty God, on this day, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, you revealed the way of eternal life to every race and nation: Pour out this gift anew, that by the preaching of the Gospel, your salvation may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.