It is a new day in Methodism. The rapidly expanding Global Methodist Church (GMC) is blazing a trail for what the future of Orthodox Wesleyan-Methodism could and should be. Along the way, we can correct problems large and small.
One thing I implore all pastors and worship teams to consider is to celebrate an entire season of Pentecost instead of one Sunday. Most churches follow some sort of calendar to celebrate high holy days like Christmas and Easter. Some even celebrate the Christian seasons of Advent before Christmas and Lent leading into Easter. For each of these seasons there are colors traditionally associated with these seasons.
- Purple or Blue for Advent
- White or Gold for Christmastide
- Purple for Lent
- White or Gold for Easter
- Red for Pentecost
- Green for Ordinary Time
There once was a time where the church calendar celebrated an entire season of Pentecost. Now, the majority of churches I know of put out the color red on Pentecost Sunday then the majority of summer time they move to ordinary time which is green and last from Trinity Sunday until the start of Advent.
Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit came to the church in what looked like tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4). This is why the liturgical color is red. Pentecost is an important season for many reasons. Most important, the Day of Pentecost marked the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church. The disciples who were hiding behind locked doors become bold in proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The church exploded with gifts of prophecy, teaching, healing, deep discipleship, encouragement, and hope. These are the types of movements we desire in the GMC.
The 1964 The Methodist Hymnal I think had it right. They had a season of Pentecost where the color was red and it lasted from eleven to sixteen Sundays.
Out of all the challenges facing the GMC the liturgical colors might not even crack the top one thousand. Still, let’s keep the red out and remind ourselves about the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church, and this important aspect of the life God is calling us to.
More From David
How to Talk to God this September
September 6, 2014
I am so excited about our new series How to Talk to God. Each week in September we will look at the Old Testament book Psalms. We will ask how does the ancient poetry apply to our lives today and what does it tell us about God. I hope you will join us at Hagan United Methodist or Daisy United Methodist this month.
5 Reasons I am pumped about returning to Snowbird
September 12, 2011
This fall Statesboro First United Methodist Youth will be going to Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters for our high school fall retreat. It’s going to be amazing! We will be going during fall break on October 15th-17th. The cost is $150 and the due date to sign up is Sunday September 18th. Here are 5 reasons I am fired up about going back to the place we took our winter retreat last year.
#1 – The on-campus recreation activities. They have a 3 man swing, zip line, goliath swing, rock wall, foam pit, paint ball, a mountain to climb, and more. The fun never stops!
#2 – Rafting down the Ocoee River. Back in 1996 when the olympics where in the USA they went here to go rafting. Don’t worry we will be on the easier part of the water. I am huge chicken and I had a blast when I went a couple of years ago.
#3 – FOOD! Snowbird is the best camp food you will ever eat.
#4 – Worship and Teaching. I was blown away by how moving our time was with not only the teachers and worship, but also the small group leaders. They have a staff full of college age people who are ready to listen and pour into students.
#5 – It’s a high school retreat! We all deal with some similar issues, but this will be just for high school students. You will get to hang with people your age.
This is our first high school retreat and I am SO PUMPED! You should go talk with your parents right now about coming.
