Greetings of Pentecost, my dear friends.
It is one of the gifts that we have as a church, when we read in our collect that the Spirit is really calling us as a teacher — a teacher of our hearts to open us up to be strengthened so we may do the work of really building beloved community.
In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, we hear these words,
Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are a variety of services but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. The one is given through the Spirit the utterance wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of powerful beings, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually, just as the Spirit chooses.
This is the church in action. So, beloved, as we come out of this fog of a pandemic, I invite you to consider your gifts. I invite you in the name of the church to go deep into yourself as you have, especially these last two years. Explore how you want to use the gifts God has given you in order to make this world, our church, and all of life a whole lot better.
We need your gifts. The church needs it. Your local church needs it. The dioceses need it.
Whatever your gift, I hope you will talk to somebody, your priest, your counselor, your friend — someone that you respect to figure out a way for you to actively engage in making this world a better place. That is Pentecost in action, when the spirit of God comes upon everyone so that each of us can bring our gifts to make this world a much better place.
To God be the glory. Happy Pentecost.
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh
Bishop Provisional
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan