The acts our great Redeemer wrought.

The second half is devoted to the acts which we ourselves are enabled to perform because of all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ.  As with St. Paul’s Epistles, doctrine precedes duty.

Trinity Sunday conveniently links the two halves together.  It draws in and unifies all the separate items of God’s wonderful self-revelation in Christ which have been the successive themes of the previous Sundays; and it points to the true basis upon which our Christian lives can be established.

The feast of Trinity has been observed at least since the tenth century.  The Church of England follows the Sarum Missal in naming all the remaining Sundays of the Church’s Year ‘Sundays after Trinity.”  The Roman Church, while observing Trinity Sunday, has continued the older practice of referring to the Sundays following as Sundays after Pentecost – a reminder that we live in the dispensation of the Spirit.

All the Collects of this season are from the ancient Sacramentaries.  They stress the failty and weakness of our human nature, the need for grace and protection if we are to be ruly the servants of God, the privilege of prayer as that which links us to all the resources of God’s love and power, and God himself as utterly worthy of our entire trust and allegiance.”  (L. E. H. Stephens-Hodge, 199.)

The Epistle: Acts 2:1-11                    
The Gospel:  John 14:15-31

An Historical Note.

This Collect is from the Gregorian Sacramentary, with only slight revision.  The English Reformers added in all things, evermore and holy to the Petition, expanding but not changing the meaning of the request.

Commentary on the Collect.

Pentecost or Whit Sunday is a major festival of the Church of God, following after the Feasts of the Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the celebration of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the exalted Christ, to the Church of God on earth. It is "White-Sunday" because of the historic connection in the West of holy Baptism on this day and being vested in white robes.

 Not only should we pray this Collect before reading the Epistle and Gospel in Divine Service but also privately after reading them.

 God, who as at this time . . . The Collect, addressed to the Father of the only-begotten Son, begins with the people of God recalling the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples to bring heavenly light, inspiration, guidance and power to them, so that they could go into the whole world to preach the Gospel (Acts 2). 

didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people . . .  The Spirit comes to the heart, the biblical word for the very center of human thinking and feeling and willing.  Here “the heart” is to be seen as the center of the human being, that which makes him to be a person created in the image of God, even though sinful. The entering of the Spirit of the Lord into the human heart is his entering into the emotions/affections, the mind and the will. In his natural state, because he is a sinner, man’s mind is clouded so that he cannot see spiritual truth aright, his emotions are disordered so that he cannot love God aright and his will is in bondage to sinful intentions. The Holy Ghost finds a way to regenerate, renew, re-order, enlighten and sanctify the heart so that the emotions are rightly ordered, the mind is able to think God’s thoughts and the will is empowered to do the divine will. Of course this does not happen all at once, but the Spirit of God is patient! And he works in different people in different ways according to their make-up and his wisdom.

by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit . . . Just as he promised (see John 14), the Lord Jesus has ascended and the Father has sent in his Name and for his sake the Gift of his Spirit to be the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Comforter and Counselor of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things. The earnest Petition is that, indwelt by the same Holy Ghost (the Spirit of Christ), we today as the people of God will have spiritual insight, discernment and judgment in all things – in worship, in prayer, in reading the Scriptures, in evangelism, in pastoral and social work and so on. For only as our hearts are aligned with the will of God and the mission of Christ in the world are we able to rejoice always (Philippians 4:4) as the Spirit witnesses with our inner spirits that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16). We are to walk “in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:31).

 The Petition made by the Church today is that this one and the same Holy Ghost would do for us what he did for the Church on that Day of Pentecost. We pray for a right judgment – for a sound mind, ordered affections and an obedient will – not occasionally but always and in all things. Sanctification is for all space and time!

and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort. We also pray that, because the Comforter dwells within our hearts (see John 14-16), we shall rejoice always in God and in his salvation, as we know the strengthening and comforting of the indwelling Spirit of God. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

 Few of us doubt but that our churches know too much formality, human activity and pride and thus too little of the presence, power, teaching and light, that the Holy Ghost is seeking to make our possession by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is available to us not only at Whitsuntide but also throughout the whole Year.

 through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.  The Collect ends with a doxology which both celebrates the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, as Saviour and that of the Holy Ghost as the One who is the Unity of Love in the Blessed, Holy and Undivided Trinity. So we are prepared to contemplate and adore the same TRINITY as we move to Trinity Sunday in a week’s time.

Click here to read a short reflection on the meaning of Pentecost.

Please click here to read a reflection on the significance of Christ's Ascension.

Click here to read more about these Rogation Days.

Click here to read a few thoughts about this Collect's history and meaning.

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dear Friends,

I am convinced that the first step for us, as we seek to build up our ministry to children and young adults (which is a priority for us at St. Marks) - is that we must first be clear about what we believe "Children's and Youth Ministry" is.  

• What is the point? 
• What are we hoping to accomplish? 
• What is the role of the family and of the church?  

Why do such a high percentage of young adults who grow up in Christian homes and are involved in their local church, leave the church when they graduate high school, not returning until their mid to late 30's (if at all)?

On May 12th, we will welcome 2 speakers/teachers to help us begin to think through these questions and more (The Reverend Brian Foos, Headmaster of St. Andrew's Academy, Lake Almanor, Ca) and The Reverend John Boonzaaijer (Rector of the Chapel of the Cross, Dallas, and Headmaster of The St. Timothy School).

Please join us for this important seminar.  

You need not have children at home to attend - the body of Christ is an inter-generational family and all of you are invited to play a role in the instruction, care and formation of the children and young adults of our parish. If you are interested in "the next generation" of Christian disciples - please consider joining us.

Our day will begin at 9 am with Holy Communion and end at 3 pm with Evening Prayer.

Lunch will be provided and onsite childcare is available - if you let us know ahead of time.

RSVP by May 5th to Fr. Patterson (jsspatterson@gmail.com or 215-884-7660).