Come Holy Ghost
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.

The title of this article is taken from a well-known hymn entitled, "Come Holy Ghost," written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. (1982 Hymnal, p. 503). Like so many of my clergy colleagues, I vividly remember this hymn being sung moments before the "laying on of hands" by the Bishop and clergy, making me a priest in the "One, holy Catholic Church." I further recall the Bishop singing the Cantor's part as well. Kneeling before the Bishop, surrounded by a sea of ordained clergy wearing red stoles, with the support of laity in the congregation, was a moment that I would have gladly frozen in time.

My own mortality and the fragility of life itself became more of a reality for me as I
faced those few, short minutes before being made a priest in the Church. What is being asked of God, through the invocation of the Holy Spirit, is nothing less than for God to descend upon the Ordinand and for God to place His mantle upon that individual. What a sign of faith that God has placed in humanity. The sharing of God's Spirit with Creation is a sign of God's unique and indelible mark of his unwavering love for us all.

Much like one standing for ordination, God calls the whole of the Christian community for ministry and service within the Body of Christ. One could only imagine what that first Pentecost day was like for the Disciples. The Book of Acts tells us that the Disciples are told to remain in Jerusalem until receiving the promise of the Spirit. Locked in a room, patiently waiting for the promised arrival of the Spirit, the Disciples most likely found themselves taking stock of their personal lives. In trepidation, they become a source of strength and comfort to one another. Shortly after the "rushing of wind" into that place where they were staying, the Disciples began to speak in many tongues, in preparation for the spreading of the Gospel to other parts of the world. In short, the Disciples became inspired.

With the presence of the Spirit, the Disciples' lives are radically changed and now have the conviction and courage to stand firm in the Faith and preach the Gospel. The Church celebrates the season of Pentecost as a reminder and reaffirmation of God's call to each of us to serve faithfully in the world. As a testimony to our own ongoing faithful relationship with God, Calvary Church has a tradition of wearing the color "red" on Pentecost Sunday. The color red is a reminder that the Holy Spirit has come among us, empowering laity and clergy to serve God's people wherever they may be. Please, do not forget to wear the color red this Sunday, as we corporately invoke and invite the Holy Spirit to come and inspire us.

Peace,
The Rev. Allen F. Robinson, Associate Rector