Each year, Pentecost Sunday comes 50 days after Easter Sunday, (hence its name) and celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension. Dr. Timothy Larsen, professor at Wheaton College, explains, "Pentecost is the day that the church was born. Jesus had ascended, but he sent the Spirit so that believers could have the comfort, guidance, and empowerment of God's presence."
To celebrate Pentecost today, Jeff and I have each chosen a piece of new Pentecost music that we really like. You'll notice our choices convey our very different tastes in music style, but I think this contrast makes life and worship interesting (hear that, Music Pastors?! When all church music sounds the same, that is NOT a good thing!). Just click on each song title to hear it.
Jeff's pick- a medieval inspired composition, Come, Holy Spirit by Christopher Tye
My pick- When Speaking Has Ceased by Craig Courtney, lyrics by Johanna Anderson
When solitude creeps over valley and hill,
The Spirit of God finds a place to alight
And puts our vain fears and our trembling to flight.
O Spirit of God, fill the earth with Your joy,
Give voice to our song that our praise may employ
Your well-spring of peace to fill ev'ry bare space
With sweet notes of gladness and fair tones of grace.
When clamor and noise fill the world with their sounds,
When harmony flees and loud tumult abounds,
The Spirit of God is not driven away;
He quiets our heart and forever will stay.
O Spirit of God, rising lighter than air,
Lift high to the Lord all the weight of our prayers,
No burden we carry is ever unknown;
No friend of the Spirit is ever alone.
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