Holy Spirit isn’t quiet
The Holy Spirit is not quiet! In the reading from Acts we hear about the the Spirit’s sound as that of a rush of a violent wind. The Holy Spirit arrives on Pentecost making a grand entrance. This past week we celebrated Go By Bike Week in front of the church. Go By Bike Week is celebrated across BC and throughout Victoria. It’s so well known among some cyclists, that one person cycling told us they couldn’t stop because at our station because they had forgotten their Go By Bike Passport to get it stamped. I didn’t point out that we’re not an official stop on the tour and just waived and said, “Catch you next time!” Some parts of Greater Victoria are easier to get around via bike. Saanich is catching up with excellent separated bike lanes on Shelbourne Street, on the parts already completed, and we have a connector up to the church on Cedar Hill Cross Road. Ben and I stood out front of the church Monday through Friday from around 8:15 AM to 9 AM, the peak time people travel to school and work. We meet a lot of people cycling, walking, scootering on their daily commutes. Not everyone stops especially if there is a green light they don’t want to miss. But we had over 100 people stop by and take treats and stickers over the course of five days. Through a BC Synod grant we purchased Go By Bike Week signs for the church lawn, we had some leftover snacks, and we have a few bike amenities at the church like a floor pump, bike lock, and chain lube. Let us know at the church office if you need to use any of these items at church.
A fun addition this year was using the portable speaker to play tunes out front. It’s one of the few ways to get people’s attention on such a busy and loud street corner. I relish the opportunity to cut through the noise of diesel trucks, screeching car tires of people running red lights, and the perpetual rush of people late for where they need to go. It’s an opportunity to connect with people either walking or rolling by and those stopped at red lights. For some there is surprise when people look for the source of the music and find it’s a church. One grandfather was cycling with his granddaughter to school. We had on an electronica dance tune and he started bopping to the beat at the light. His granddaughter looked over and smiled. One kid who road past us across the road each morning, would wave every morning. Unfortunately it was not easy for them to stop and pick up treats. Whereas some kids received treats and stickers all five mornings. One kid asked for double treats because he alleged that his dad had been eating the treats before he got home for school. One mother mentioned her child would miss seeing us each morning. I said we’d likely be back another time during Pride Month and Indigenous History Month before school is out. Maybe not all five days, but one morning would be doable. Let Ben and I know if you want to join us. The more the merrier. The only prerequisite is being comfortable with discomfort. It’s a lot of standing around with nothing to do, making awkward eye contact with drivers and teens walking by, some of whom have no interest in saying hello. Remember the Holy Spirit is granting us the courage and wisdom to build community even when it feels awkward and strange.
“They’re just drunk”
Onlookers also dismissed the original Pentecost event. We hear about people speaking many different languages, suddenly able to understand one another without barriers. God is at work in this event and many people witnessing the event assumed they were all drunk. I said good morning to one man in his 60’s, usually a reliable cohort for a friendly “Good morning!” Upon greeting him, he didn’t make eye contact, didn’t slow his gait, he just kept on moving, to get out of the way of these crazy church people. And yet so many more people saw the wisdom of being out there, sharing joy, and building community through presence in public spaces.
On the other end of the spectrum, as we wrapped up Go By Bike Week, one morning, we had a different response. Someone I call a Johnny Appleseed impersonator was reading the church sign message about Pride Month and lurking around. I’ve learned it’s a sure sign they’re about to express their displeasure with our queer-affirming approach as a congregation in one way or other. Sure enough he was leaving us some anti-queer propaganda in our mail box. So I went outside to chat. He had a large “Jesus Saves” sign on his backpack and everything. He started off telling me that pride is a sin. I agreed if we’re talking about the Biblical sense of pride as boasting in oneself. He seemed confused. “No, the Pride on your church sign, he reiterated, that’s sinful.” I disagreed, contesting his condemning of children of God different from him, as its own sin. He seemed confused and didn’t like the direction the conversation was heading, so eventually we agreed to agree to disagree. I offered to shake his hand and send him with God’s blessing. He refused to shake hands with me, unable to collect himself. “The peace of Christ be with you,” I said. May the Spirit of God melt the hardness of his heart and others like him this Pride Month. This too is it’s own Pentecost movement, letting people with hateful views know, they aren’t safe to propagate their hate unchallenged. This man was angered that a Christian church of all places would be this inclusive and flout it even. I know we still have a ways to go toward full inclusion, but small things we can do is push back when we encounter these kinds of bigotry. And its not always this public and overt.
Peter: It’s impossible to be drunk at 9 AM
Peter offers the most comical response to allegations the disciples are drunk. He says, “It’s only 9 AM, okay, so the bar is not even open. No one is drunk this early.” Clearly Peter had never been to an after hours party, where the partners are straggling home drunk at 9 AM.
Because some of the things Peter goes on to say don’t necessarily sound lucid at first glance. Peter starts talking about the Spirit granting people prophetic visions, portents in the heavens of blood, fire, and smoky mist. The sun turned to darkness and moon to blood. These aren’t exactly what we would call normal ways for inviting people to church. “Yes, come join us for Sunday worship. Some of us will see portents and the moon will turn to blood.”
And yet being an affirming Christian today is kind of strange. While many of know there have been queer-affirming churches for some time, this still strikes a lot of people as a surprise. That’s one reason we continue to proclaim a message of inclusion. Too many churches continue hiding being “religious freedom” in order to perpetuate hate. This Day of Pentecost we are filled by the Spirit, with God proclaiming a different kind of unity that bridges division.
What are ways the Spirit is building you up to create community? I know many of you check in with one another and visit people in need. Others are looking after family, neighbours, and friends. Others of you are lifting up refugees, and helping families integrate into neighbourhoods, schools, and workplaces. Know that the Spirit empowers each one of us according to our different gifts and abilities to serve the wider community and church. Thank you for the ways you are already serving. And thank you for your openness to listen to the Spirit’s call to serve in new ways.
Wrapping Up, know that you are enough. Trust the Spirit is filling you with courage, love, and kindness to be in community with others. May the Spirit continue to use us proclaiming a gospel of love and inclusion. Amen.
