No Ordinary Time

May 16, 2005

The Pentecost celebration was everything we hoped it would be. It was wonderful to see the sanctuary full. Thanks goes to all four congregations for the beautiful and spirit filled music, to Pastor Donald Owens for his inspiring sermon, and to Anita for preparing a feast for all to enjoy following our worship.

Now comes one of two times on the Christian calendar referred to as Ordinary time, the period between Pentecost and Christ the King Sunday, near Thanksgiving. (The other Ordinary time is after Epiphany.) Some refer to this long season, especially the last 13 weeks, as Kingdomtide.

From the pews, Ordinary time appears to be a half year devoid of the festivals and holy days we celebrate at Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

It is all too easy to shift our spiritual gears into neutral, and rationalize that we need a rest from the intense pace of the past six months. After all, it’s O-R-D-I-N-A-R-Y time, right? The name comes from the word “ordinal” (or numbered) Sundays, and should not imply routine or mundane worship and ministry.

I propose we transform this year’s Ordinary time into “extraordinary time”, empowered by the same Holy Spirit who fell upon the disciples at Pentecost. With the refreshing and renewing of the Spirit, let’s make the days ahead a time filled with acts of Kingdom ministry and kindness.

This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday, the only such day in which we celebrate a theological idea (the Trinity) rather than an event. Holy, Holy, Holy!

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