Newsletter June 2025 - First Presbyterian Ridgewood, NJ
- Bruce Ballantine
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Dear Friends,
On Sunday, June 8, at First Presbyterian Church, we will observe the Day of Pentecost. It was not long after the ascension of Jesus and during the Pentecost festival that God commanded the attention of the gathered disciples in a big way with a mighty wind and divided tongues as of fire, and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.
So often when we talk about the Holy Spirit we use descriptive terms such as Helper, Advocate and Comforter. The Spirit plays each of these roles in the life of the Christian. But there’s another dimension to the Holy Spirit. It’s the Pentecost side of the Spirit’s personality. Dramatic. Bold. Powerful. Like a mighty wind or a raging fire.
That’s the side of the Holy Spirit which the gathered disciples experienced on Pentecost. All of a sudden, they were given words to speak in languages they didn’t understand. And all of a sudden, Peter, who not long before had been so fearful of being associated with Jesus that he denied his Lord. That same Peter is so transformed and empowered by the Spirit that he goes out in the streets and preaches a bold, dramatic sermon in the very city where Jesus had been crucified.
It’s an in-your-face sermon, which has a profound effect on many of those who heard it. So they ask Peter and the others, “What should we do?” Peter’s reply: “Repent and be baptized .…” And in response, 3,000 people line up to be baptized.
Pentecost. Some say it’s the birthday of the church. You could also say it’s the day the church exploded, growing exponentially in a single day. And within days afterward, many of those 3,000 new converts would travel back to their home countries to tell others about Jesus and the Way.
Thus, on Sunday, June 8, Pentecost 2025, Christians all over the world will celebrate the birthday of the church. And at First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood, we will celebrate by receiving members of the 2025 Confirmation Class: Cole Bellorgey, David Edelbach, Maddie Eliya, Luca Torielli and Hudson Wall. A wonderful day in the life of our congregation!
It also happens to be a Youth Sunday service – a don’t-miss-it event on our worship calendar!
So, on Sunday, June 8, be sure to wear something red (the liturgical color of Pentecost) and join the celebration.
See you in worship!
Bruce
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