PENTECOST

Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ten days after Jesus ascended into heave, the twelve apostles, Jesus' mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Passover.  While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads.  This was the outpouring of the Holy spirit on human flesh promised by God through the Prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29).  The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ.  They went out into the street of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival.  Not only did the disciples preach with boldness and vigor, but by a miracle of the Holy Spirit they spoke in the native languages of the people present, many who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire.  You can read the account of Pentecost in Acts 2: 1-41.

  REV.  ANNE MERONEY JOINS WORSHIP ON THE WATER

Anne Meroney is an Episcopal priest who lives in Macon. Ordained to the diaconate in 2002 and to priesthood in 2003, Anne has served in churches in Atlanta and Macon. Since 2005 she has been a supply priest and guest preacher in many churches in the Diocese of Atlanta. Parishioners at Christ Church in Cordele met Anne last year when she was our guest preacher and celebrant for Sunday services, and we invited her to come back for the 2008 season of Worship on Water. Anne has an easy-going, conversational way of preaching and she makes the Gospel stories meaningful in real time. During the week, Anne ministers as a hospice chaplain in central Georgia, and is employed by United Hospice.