Today’s Reflection
Note: This week’s New Every Morning includes daily practices (instead of reflection questions) to follow the format of our featured title, Pauses for Pentecost, which offers 50 days of reflections based on a scripture theme and followed by a spiritual practice.
I long to be able to communicate the availability of Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy in the tongues of those around me: in the tongues of teenagers and pensioners and all those in-between, in the tongues of the beaten and the broken and the battered, in the tongues of the rich and the famous and the privileged, in the tongues of the overemployed and the unemployed and the underemployed, in the tongues of the lonely and the rejected and the ostracized, and in the tongues of the sick and the bereaved and the dying. The opportunity to share Christ is endless. If this is your longing too, join me today in asking for a greater measure of the gift of the Holy Spirit who alone can bring about the miracle of communication.
—Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Pentecost: 50 Words for Easter People (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today’s Practice
Consecrate your tongue to God today. Ask that your tongue may be baptized with the Holy Spirit so that it may be conformed to Christ and converted to his ministry of loving words.
—Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Pentecost
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Today’s Scripture
All of [the apostles] were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
—Acts 2:4 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
Holy Spirit, turn my life into a deep reservoir from which life-giving streams begin to flow toward others around me. Amen.
—Adapted from Trevor Hudson, Pauses for Pentecost
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Something More
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Day of Pentecost (Sunday, June 5)
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3 Comments
Yes, today’s request asking for a greater measure of the Holy Spirit to bring about communication is mine as well. In agreement Erich and I have stopped advertising and showings for the condo, we will not sell. Our listing contract ends in October. Need some calm to think and prepare for whatever comes next. Prep for Pentecost/Communion service this morning at 10 am with our Zoom pastor who will be in person Sunday. Have missed Friday fellowship for three weeks, back today. Car tires changed and car inspected today. A busy day!
Have a wonderful weekend, got the Spirit? We celebrate its arrival 2000 years ago on Sunday, wear red? Thank You, Lord.
I do indeeed need the Holy Spirit to give me the gift of speaking in the way it would be best received by others. This would be very helpful in my interactions with h and Megan. There have also been times when I felt the desire to speak with someone regarding my faith but have not had the proper words.
I have subjects I wish to discuss with Megan but I am hesitant to do so. Megan tends to react very negatively regarding certain subjects. She especially does not like to be told no.
Prayers for Ally as she sees her doctor in order to support her disability appeal. May the appointment be successful and may the new job help alleviate the financial issues. Prayers for April as she continues to sustain herself as she cares for her loved one. No one can give of themselves without also seeking reneweal. Prayers for Jill as she completes her school year and a transition to a nicer classroom. May the new classroom envigorate her when it is time to start a fresh school year. Prayers for Lou and her daughter to stay safe and well as they visit together. Prayers for Rick and his husband. Prayers for Robert and Erich as they postpone their move and for Robert and his church as they prepare for Pentecost and the future.
Loving words – how desperately the world needs to hear loving words.
Our staff meeting began with our principal addressing us this morning. He was somber and we all assumed he was using this tone as he would be addressing as last time as our building principal. However – he broke news that we had lost a student overnight. When he gave the name of the student – there were gasps and instant crying. I did not know the student. He was a junior, a senior to be. Our principal was not able to give us any details, but since then – news has come out that he was beaten to death in a parking lot following an altercation near a basketball court. It’s sickening, it’s – I hate to say this – but not shocking, considering what I witness in my school. There is no regard for other human beings, for their opinions, beliefs, personal space. It’s awful. One teacher was absolutely gutted – one of his coaches – he just sat in the back of the room and wept for over an hour.
It’s absolutely meaningless, senseless. I worry about our students – as they receive the news. There will be counselors at the school – but will they come. I am wondering if there will be a vigil of some sort.
Dad and I got in a round of golf this afternoon. Perfect weather, an uncrowded course – a wonderful preview of the months to come.
I have a graduation party to attend this evening. Wondering how the students will be there.
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