Where have I seen the Holy Spirit at Work? I don’t usually experience the Holy Spirit with the same fierce, shocking power as the disciples did on Pentecost. For me, I tend to experience the Holy Spirit in a surprising insight, a moment of truth, or the ability to stretch beyond my perceived capacity and be able to love well. I experience the Holy Spirit when I recognize that I am able to forgive a painful grudge away, pray according to another’s need, or feel a courageous calm in the midst of a difficult situation.
This past year, I have felt the Holy Spirit kiss my cheek, when my five-year-old son kissed my tears away, reminding me (as we taught him), that love never dies. I have felt the Holy Spirit strengthen me when personal exhaustion and the needs of others ran deep. I have felt the Holy Spirit accompany me so that I could accompany those I love through the fear and grief and hope that is a part of death.
I notice the Holy Spirit (I think the Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with us—but that sometimes we tune the Spirit out!) when I am surprised by grace in any form changing a moment: from confusion to clarity; from discord to peace; from despair to hope.
In the next chapter of our shared ministry together, I give thanks that ELPC is a community through which I continually encounter the Holy Spirit: Through your prayers, questions, and enacted desire to do justice; through your MANY gifts and willingness to share those gifts; through your humor, wisdom and broad welcome… I praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit through you and upon you, and look forward to seeing how we experience the Holy Spirit in this next season together
—Pastor Heather