Pentecost is May 15

Pentecost is the Greek name for Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, a prominent feast in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law to Moses at Sinai.  In Christianity, Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday, hence the name.  The feast is also called "Whitsunday."

In the New Testament, Pentecost was the occasion of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus, as described in Acts 2 (one of the readings for Sunday), and therefore in the Christian liturgical year, it became a feast commemorating this occasion.  For this reason, it is described by some Christians as the "Birthday of the Church."

If we were not having a baptism this Sunday, our altar hangings would be red, symbolizing joy and the fire of the Holy Spirit.  The celebration may depict symbols of the Holy Spirit, such as doves and flames, and symbols of the church such as Noah's Ark and the pomegranate.  A custom that we follow each Pentecost is reading portions of the Acts lesson in multiple foreign languages, recounting the speaking in tongues recorded in Acts.  Marking the festival's importance, in several denominations, including our own, all of the Sundays until Advent are designated the 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, etc. Sunday after Pentecost.

Everyone is encouraged to wear red to church this Sunday!