~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
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Pentecost Sunday (May 13, 2004) Pentecost Sunday is right around the corner. This year it falls on May 30. This is the day we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit who gives and restores life to the church. Just mentioning the Holy Spirit may be enough to keep some of you home that morning. Pentecost Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays of the church year. One reason is this is the Sunday we receive one of the four annual churchwide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Through our participation in the Pentecost Offering we help bring new life and new hope to children at risk, youth, and young adults. The Pentecost Offering is the newest of the four annual offerings. Through Pentecost Offering gifts, we minister with children at risk. We help guide and nurture the faith of Presbyterian young people. We develop a new generation of leadership in mission service through the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer program. Forty percent of the Offering remains in our own congregation to support children-at-risk programs of our choice. This year our session is designating our forty percent of the offering to go to CASA of Hidalgo County. CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Trained community volunteers speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courts. These citizen advocates seek the best interests of children at risk. The remainder of the Offering receipts will be sent to the General Assembly to support programs that minister with youth and young adults and advocate for children at risk. This year’s theme, “Together with Christ We Will Be Given What God Has Promised,” is from Romans 8:17 (CEV). This verse reminds us that as God’s children we are all heirs of the promises of God with Jesus Christ. God’s children who are at risk, however, often do not experience the fulfillment of these promises because of neglect, poverty, or abuse. Young people, too, often live without the love, peace, and joy that a life can provide. Through gifts to the Pentecost Offering, you can help make God’s promises a reality for all of God’s children. I can think of no better way to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Christian church. Come to worship on May 30 and come prepared to give gifts that will minister to our children and youth. I pray this will be a great day and God will bless our gifts.
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