The Spirit Has Returned

    I have been told many times that the “Spirit” has returned to Epiphany.  This is a very positive statement.  But I wonder which Spirit has returned.  The scriptures have at least four different perspectives of the Spirit.  Lets take a look at these perspectives.
    Psalm 51, the states “Create within me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”  Psalm 51 is a penitential psalm.  The psalmist repents his or her sin and asks God to be the center of his or her life.  When God is the center of life, there is a peace that passes all human understanding.  The psalmist no longer struggles over which god to worship, how to determine right from wrong, or which side he or she is on when a fight occurs.
    One interpretation of this psalm is that the writer is seeking personal peace.  The psalmist wants the joy of serving the one true God.  So I ask, Is the one telling me that the Spirit has returned to Epiphany in the expression of personal peace?  If so, that would be a great affirmation of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
    St. John (chapter 14) sees the Holy Spirit as Jesus’ spirit which bonds the disciples together in a united community.  In his pastoral prayer (chapter 17), Jesus prays not for the world but for his disciples.  For John, the work of the Holy Spirit is to continue the community of believers that Jesus began in his earthly ministry.
    Sometimes I think we talk too much about outreach ministry (if that is possible) and not enough about ministry to the disciples at Epiphany.  I had dinner with the Young At Heart Group last Sunday.  The laughter and the fun present at that meal was clear evidence of a community where disciples at Epiphany care for one another.  I think of the receptionists in the gathering space who inquire about the well being of others and the congregation.  The list goes on.  So I ask, Is the one in front of me telling me the Spirit has restored a sense of community at Epiphany?  If so, that would be a tremendous affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit.
    St. Luke writes that the Holy Spirit is vocational.  Whenever the Holy Spirit is mentioned in Acts, the Spirit is connected to an assignment.  The Spirit comes at Pentecost so the disciples can witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Rome).  The Spirit comes so seven leaders can meet the needs of the Hellenist/Jewish widows in Jerusalem.  The Spirit comes to call Paul to Macedonia.  For Luke, the Spirit is always connected to mission.
    In my second week at Epiphany, I asked the staff and you to define a theme line for Epiphany.  (A theme line is how we want Centerville to identify Epiphany.)  From all the answers, I think of Epiphany as a church for those who want to give back because God first gave to them.  So I ask, Is the one in front of me telling me the Spirit has brought back or created a new sense of mission at Epiphany?  If so, that would be a tremendous affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit.
    St. Paul has yet another interpretation of the Holy Spirit which he described by identifying the spiritual gift(s) Christians receive at baptism.  When each disciple shares his or her gift(s) with the other disciples, the church is complete.  Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 list some of the spiritual gifts.
    I have seen the sharing of gifts from those who serve the greater Centerville area in the name of Jesus to those who volunteer their gifts within the walls of Epiphany.  So I ask, Is the one in front of me saying the spirit of volunteering has returned to Epiphany?  If so, that would be a tremendous affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit.
    So let me ask, Has the Spirit returned to Epiphany for you?  If so, in what expression?  Is it in a joy of wanting to come to church?  Is it in a sense of experiencing a caring community?  Is it in the desire to become involved in a particular ministry (mission)? Or, is it in the form of wanting to volunteer your spiritual gift?
Pastor Pete