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Dear San Marco Church Family: Recently, I read an article about a road sign posted on Interstate 80 in Nebraska. The sign says, "Watch for Wind on Overpass." This reminder is good advice for drivers whose vehicles can be affected by strong and unpredictable gusts of wind. The writer of the article ponders whether it is possible to watch for the wind. In fact, seeing the wind is impossible. We easily recognize the movement and the effects of the wind based upon the movement of leaves, dust, and other objects. Yet when and how the wind will come to us remains a mystery that we cannot solve. This reference is a good metaphor for how we recognize the movement of the Holy Spirit. We cannot predict its presence or its movement, yet we will recognize its effects upon people and relationships. It is the power of the Spirit that turns hearts of stone into hearts of compassion. It is the power of the Spirit that gives us energy to persevere at times when we feel exhausted and weary. It is the power of the Spirit that keeps us hopeful in situations that otherwise seem hopeless. This Sunday, May 24, is Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is sometimes referred to as "the birthday of the church." In the book of Acts, we read that the Spirit descended upon Jesus' followers and they were able to speak in different languages as the Spirit enabled them. I like to think of this as the reversal of the story of the tower of Babel, in which God confused the shared language and separated those who were trying to build their own tower to heaven. Instead of confusing the languages, at Pentecost the Spirit allows communication across a variety of languages, promoting unity and connection. All of this was God's work, and a complete surprise to all involved. We may ask what our role is in welcoming this unpredictable Spirit of God into our hearts and minds. The best answer I can give is that our role is to maintain a posture of expectation, rooted in an understanding that God is always at work, bringing beauty out of the ashes of our messy human lives. We must never underestimate the power of God among us! As we begin the Memorial Day weekend, my prayer for you is that you can enjoy time with family and friends as we recognize the "unofficial start of summer." Memorial Day on Monday is a time to honor all those who gave their lives in the service of our country. For Sunday, the scripture passages are Acts 2: 1-8 and Numbers 11: 24-30. I encourage you to read these passages and see how they have similar themes. Please plan to attend worship Sunday as we celebrate God's Spirit in all our lives. I regularly see God's Spirit at work in our life together at San Marco Church. Thank you for your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness through San Marco Church. I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Steve Hart
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