Our world has so many countries where people live in fear. In the news most recently, people have been fearing terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Most of us have fear enough to lock our doors during the day and especially at night. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples, out of fear, waited behind locked doors. They were waiting for the Holy Spirit whom Jesus had promised to send to them. Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would remind them of all that Jesus had taught them.

On the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and dispelled their fears. Before the Holy Spirit came, the disciples feared that the religious leaders and Pilate's troops might seek them out and crucify them as they had Jesus. The disciples prayed for the Holy Spirit and on the Day of Pentecost they were filled with the Holy Spirit. No longer afraid, they unlocked the doors where they were staying and boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah, whom God raised from the dead.

The Holy Spirit fills us with all hope and peace in believing Christ is risen. We need not be afraid of the sufferings that come our way for we trust the resurrection of Jesus to raise us up from every struggle even death.

In times of trial it is calming for me to pray the simple prayer: "Come Holy Spirit come," over and over again. The Nigerian Christians sing this simple prayer in worship:

"Come, O Holy Spirit come, Holy Spirit come.
Come almighty Spirit come, almighty Spirit come.
Come, come, come, come. O Spirit, come."

I will be teaching this hymn in the season of Pentecost. May the Holy Spirit calm our fears, remind us of all that Jesus has taught us and make us bold to love one another, forgive one another and serve our risen Lord Jesus.

---

The above text is the rector's introduction for our May 2008 newsletter, "The Epistle". The newsletter is mailed to all members of St. Paul's Church and is also available in our Church office. An online version of "The Epistle" is available here:

March 2007 ...	Epistle	Serving Schedule
April 2007 ...	Epistle	Serving Schedule
May 2007 ...	Epistle	Serving Schedule

You will need the Adobe PDF reader to read these files. If you don't already have this installed it can be downloaded here:

---

We have a detailed monthly calendar which shows our worship schedule and special events.