From the Pastor’s Heart

by Pastor David Nuottila
As the day of Pentecost approaches, it seems to be a somewhat bitter-sweet occasion for us to celebrate this year. Bitter in that we are not all gathered in one place for worship. All of us at St. Jacob’s (and most other congregations) have been separated for quite some time now. When you think about it, we suspended in person church activities in just the third week of Lent. Holy Week services, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord, and the entire Easter season played out to an empty church building. Only through technology were we able to gather spiritually for worship during this time.

Yet, the day of Pentecost is a sweet moment in time for us as we remember God’s outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon the apostles and ultimately the church. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed to those gathered in the streets of Jerusalem by the very men who just weeks before were afraid to even go out in public. The fear of those who crucified our Lord kept Jesus’s closest companions from giving witness to the greatest miracle of all, the resurrection of our Lord. That is, until the day of Pentecost.
These days, it is the COVID-19 virus that attempts to quiet the Gospel and stifle the church. Surely, many live in fear today; fear from a virus they cannot see. People are afraid to come into close contact with others. They are fearful of gathering in crowds of even the most modest numbers. And quite honestly, even those who say they are not fearful go about their daily lives having changed the ways they interact with others. Yes, we are fearful, but the church is anything but quiet.
Again, since the third week of Lent, so many pastors and teachers of the faith have embraced technology and used these marvels to proclaim the resurrection of our Lord, and the good news of God’s grace through faith in Christ. And in true Pentecost fashion, many pastors have noticed a large number of people “attending” worship as online services are provided. Here at St. Jacob’s we have had a significant ground swell of people viewing our weekly worship.
As we continue to find ways to reach out to people with the saving Gospel of Jesus, we must also realize the day is coming when we will once again open our doors to the congregation and community. In that day, we will no longer look to technology as our primary means of sharing faith with our community and world. Just like the apostles of old, the members of St. Jacob’s must take to the streets and tell others about the love God has for His people and the forgiveness that comes through Christ.
And so, even as we might see this year’s celebration of Pentecost as a bitter-sweet day in time, it is actually a rekindling of our mission and ministry. As God’s people, we must recognize the power of the Holy Spirit poured out upon our congregation and Christ’s call for us to use this power to grow His church on earth. Whether socially distant or gathered in one place, our mission is to proclaim the Gospel, share our faith, and grow as disciples of our Lord. This was, is. and always shall be the mission of the church of Jesus Christ, and the mission and ministry of we His people gathered here.
Grace to you and peace,
Pastor David Nuottila