Today we celebrate the gift of the Spirit by proclaiming the gospel in many languages. I thank everyone who has shown courage by trying to remember their high school French and Spanish. It is unusual for many of us to have to think about how to say something. Most of us speak English in an English dominant culture. We have a thought and we can expect that what we say will be understood. The great miracle of Pentecost is how the Spirit gave many languages to the disciples. They were so full of joy that they went out into the city and shared the news about Jesus – and people of every nation understood what they had to say.

         Maybe the gift isn’t language but understanding. It’s nice to be able to speak another language. It’s a great gift to learn another culture and another way of thinking about the world. The greater gift is to be able to express yourself and be understood. Then there is communication. Then there is the possibility of relationship.

         The Spirit gives every gift in order to help us do the work of God. We are given the work of helping people to be reconciled to God and to one another. God desires that we all grow in gifts that give life and meaning. So our stuttering attempts to speak another language may not reconcile anyone to God just yet, but we are on the right track. God calls us to reach beyond – to take risks and to exercise new gifts to bring others to God. It takes courage to step outside of our familiar ways of doing things. We have to stretch to welcome the stranger. It’s uncomfortable, but it is how we grow in our faith.

         We have many obvious challenges at St. John’s. Today we will vote to borrow some money from the Diocese to replace our boiler. We have to do some work on the organ. We’re all worried about money and members. We wonder how we’re going to keep everything going. Now I would be very pleased if all of you pledged more money or more time. It would be great to fill the pews and pay all the bills. I would sleep much better if I knew I could count on a secure paycheck for years to come.

         The church does not exist for my job security. The church doesn’t exist for our comfort. We are all gathered here to hear and proclaim the good news about God’s love (even those parts that challenge us.) We’re gathered as a community to encourage our common growth in faith and good works. Then we are called together to go from here and speak about and show the love that has transformed our lives. We bear the gift of God’s word to the world.

         All this requires new vision and the use of new gifts. The things we used to do won’t work anymore – because the world isn’t the same anymore. We can’t keep using the same old words with the same old message. The truth of God’s love is ancient and everlasting, but the ears that need to hear it live in the present – with all of today’s challenges. We need to be filled again with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word of God in ways that people can understand. We need to seek that Pentecost moment when the people marveled, “in our own language we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power!”

         The vision is not far from us. God has given this body many gifts. We heard gifts of language. We also have gifts of praying and singing, serving and helping. There are leaders who guide the vestry and work on the budget. There are others who keep the property in order and still others who are working to define a new vision for our community. Many of you work to keep the church clean and others make sure we have refreshments and still others are working to welcome the visitors among us.

         Today we are welcoming a new member into our church through baptism. She has parents and family members who work to care for her and raise her. Someday other members of the parish will teach her about God. She may become an acolyte or sing in the choir. She will discover her gifts and use them to show God’s love to the world. As we think about our dreams for our youngest member, we are encouraged to think about how we serve God in this place.

         What are the gifts you carry today? How has the Spirit filled you? What message or service do you offer that makes people marvel that they have seen God through what you do? Perhaps these questions seem too exceptional. We think we have no gifts – or if we do they are humble. We think we can’t do anything that anyone would notice.

         We are engaged in God’s work wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We are disciples of Jesus when we raise our children and when we drive to work. We are disciples of Jesus as we interact with co-workers or students or strangers. Since we know that all people are children of God, we will treat them with the respect we would treat any other sister or brother. Since we have eternal life, or faith will be shown in the choices we make about our money and our time.

         We live inspired by the Holy Spirit. We live God-directed lives. If you are uncertain as to your own spiritual gifts – if you do not think that you have a calling – then it is time to seek it. We start by praying for God’s wisdom and direction. We are worried about this church. We start by praying for God’s vision. There are no easy solutions. We are called to a lifetime of service – an eternal lifetime. We will make mistakes and learn from them. We will look foolish as we follow. And we will one day find ourselves in a place where our relationships are restored. We will know and share forgiveness. We will know others fully just as God knows us fully. We will not be ashamed and we will rejoice.

         Between then and now we have boilers to worry us, and the raising of our children. And we have been given everything we need to live as God has called us. We have the gifts that all have been given. We have the power of God to live new lives and welcome others along the way. And we will get there together.