The Spirit of Truth: Pentecost, 5/23/10

Holy Trinity/La Santisima Trinidad
Reflections on Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, Romans 8:14-17
John 14:8-17, (25-27)
5/23/10

We have heard the story of Pentecost, and we have heard the wonderful cacophony of at least several if not many languages telling this beautiful story at the same time. We have heard the symbols of wind and fire used to paint the picture of the shell-shocked disciples, still reeling from the loss of their master, suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit. One of the miracles of the Pentecost story is that suddenly, without any effort, they could all speak and all understand many different languages.

As is noted, there were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesapotameans, people from Judea, Cappadocians (turkey to us) Egyptians, Libya, Romans, Arabs and more. The healing and opposition of the tragedy of the tower of Babel, where they could not understand each other took place on this Holy day. The Power of the Spirit gave them so much enthusiasm and such loud and joyous ability to communicate, that it was assumed that they were drunk. Peter, apparently keeping a straight face, defends his brethren. We are not drunk, he insists, but filled with a different kind of Spirit. He quotes the old scripture from the book of Joel:

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh
Your sons and your daughter s will prophesy.
Your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.


After Jesus was crucified, there is no doubt that the disciples were very afraid. We read that there were only 120 left of the multitudes that used to throng to hear Jesus preach. And on that first day of Pentecost, it had been 50 days since the disciples had lost their beloved master. In the beginning of Acts, the author reminds us that Jesus told the disciples that while John may have baptized with water, they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it was this promised baptism of the Holy Spirit that they kept them going. On that day of Pentecost, at that baptism of the Holy Spirit, something new was created. The Body of Christ was created.

As in all creation stories the natural elements play a huge part- the rushing wind conjuring up the beginning in Genesis when a mighty wind swept over the face of the water. And a flame appears on each of the disciples, reminding us of the first light at the beginning of time. Creation is not a comfortable thing. A great wind and fire, especially a fire that alights on a human being does not conjure up comfort. In fact the advent of a new creation is far from a comfortable thing- just ask any birthing mother. But it seems a necessary art of any creation, including the creation we witness in Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit often inspires groups of people, sometimes when only two or more are gathered together in the name of Christ.

1901 the Holy Spirit swept into Point Richmond, and the first two Episcopal services were planned and celebrated by a small group of determined Episcopalians.

J.A. Emery the arch deacon of the diocese of California was first one to conduct an Episcopal service, and the Rev. D.A Kelly was the first vicar of what became Holy Trinity Mission. In Dec 8, 1901 at Trinity Mission, Bishop Nichols petitioned God to continue to fill seven confirmands with the holy Spirit more and more in their lives as he laid his hands on their firey heads and confirmed them..

The church must have burst it’s seams, because in 1922 property at 10th and Barrett in Richmond was purchased to accommodate the growing numbers of Episcopalians there. This became St. Edmonds Mission.

On May 24, 1922 the first service was held, and the bishop petitioned God to daily increase the Holy Spirit more and more in the lives of seven confirmands.

I was extremely interested to note that from 1901-1922- a series of 7 priests served both missions at the same time. This could be considered antique area ministry, and a precedent for what I am doing now.

In 1935 a Sunday school was opened at the corner of San Pablo and Barrett. There was not enough room at either Trinity Mission in Pt. Richmond or at St. Edmond’s for the 100 children who were housed at the new Sunday school.

Trinity mission at Pt. Richmond closed in 1930, and land was eventually purchased at 37th and Roosevelt. St. Edmonds was soon closed as well, and by May 1948 services started at our present location.

And then about about 20 years ago the Holy Spirit visited three sisters, one of whom, Gloria Del Castillo, is now an Episcopal priest. The Del Castillo sisters, Episcopalians from Peru, visited the diocese of California saying they wanted to start a Latino ministry. A Latino priest, Ricardo Francisco was assigned the task, and with the assistance of Dorothy Curry, who was the priest at Holy Trinity at that time, a Latino presence came to Holy Trinity. And we are now so blessed to have Padre Javier and a great cloud of witnesses in our church, living and worshipping as part of our congregation.

Like any creation story, there have been discomforts, there have been rushing winds, hot fires and initial difficulty in interpreting different tongues. But all along, there has been the Holy Spirit. All along there has been the pioneering splendor and pain of a Pentecost experience. We are blessed and challenged in this church to have the opportunity to learn to understand each other’s cultures, to be all together in one place, to listen to the winds of heaven. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised us we would surely be.