🌱Corpus Christi Celebrates Pentecost at Local Park🌱
by Morgan Reed
This was Corpus Christi’s (Springfield, VA) second year going to Pohick Bay Regional Park to worship together and celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. We were surrounded with the sounds of rain, wind, and waves lapping on the shore underneath us, the sights of blooming flowers, green trees, colorful icons and lighted candles, as well as the smell of incense followed by the smell of charcoal grills. Worshiping outdoors is such a joy!
It is logistically more difficult, but it's always worth it! Our church was birthed during the pandemic and worshiping outside is how we began. Passers-by would often stop and listen to the sermon or watch as communion was taking place. Worshiping outside is a unique way to bring the love of Christ to people. We have carried on this developing tradition of outdoor worship on Pentecost.
Two aspects of this year's Pentecost service stood out to me: First, our church is comprised of several cultural heritages. We read the Scripture that morning in some of the heritages represented in our church (Tagalog, Amharic, and Spanish). It was a beautiful reminder that all of these stories are being woven together into a tapestry of salvation at Corpus Christi Anglican Church. Second, I will not forget the joy of the child we baptized that morning. He did not sleep the night before because he was so excited and he was so nervous I would forget his baptism candle (For the record, I did not forget). It was so sweet. One of his relatives flew up from Guatemala for the baptism. Surrounded by friends, family, and his church family, this child experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in his baptism. I am reminded of St. John Chrysostom's comment on Acts 2 where he says, "For wherever the Holy Spirit is present, He makes men of gold out of men of clay." This is what all of us are given in our baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Following the service, our barbecue team put on a fantastic cookout for the church. It felt like we were carrying on in the tradition of continuing in the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. What a great day to be reminded that the Holy Spirit is in us, purifying us, making us new, empowering us, and building a community (the Corpus Christi) to the praise of His glory!
The Rev. Morgan Reed is the Vicar of Corpus Christi Anglican Church, Springfield, VA.
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