Pentecost, Kneeling Vespers, Pawpaw Trees, and the 100th anniversary of Charismania

This Sunday we celebrated Pentecost in the orthodox church. Green was the color and religious tradition from Russia calls for beautiful greenery in the church to celebrate, I believe, new life in the Holy Spirit. Our dear Father (not to be confused with Our Dear Leader who resides in North Korea) chose pawpaw trees for the decorative greenery which were very tall and brushed the ceiling of our sanctuary. I thought it was very pleasant addition to our worship. I mention pawpaw trees for obvious reasons because this is a southern christian blog and I am sure more than a few readers have been forced to choke down one of those nasty (in my opinion) pawpaw fruit pies. The adage " anything is good if you add enough sugar to it " doesn't seem to cover pawpaw fruit.! Anyway, I am realy writing this entry to celebrate the end of Paschaltide the "easter" or Paschal season which I beleive is 50 days after the celebration Pascha or the "Feast of Feasts" which of course culminates in the Feast of Pentecost. As you all know the gospel account of Christ walking the earth after his resurrection and fellowshipping with his disciples; after which he ascends to heaven and to his throne. Some great wacky heretics have actually figured out what time Jesus departed the earth according to this website:

http://beamsdoorway.bizland.com/urantia/essays2/Jesus_ascension_pent.htm

7:45am hmmm, it seems to some that Jesus was an early bird!

Also according to these cats The Holy Spirit descended at 1:00pm sharp!

I never knew the Holy Trinity was on school hours!

I don't think or have heard such commentary in the OC but I think such a commentary is right up there with whether the eyes of the Theotokos were green or blue or how many angels could fit on the head of a pin!

As interesting theological questions go I think the guy who came up with the "Jesus takes the early bus" idea must have been a bureaucrat and was probably taking the early bus (or the short bus) when he wrote it!

OK, back on track. THe Feast of Pentecost is followed by the Kneeling Vespers of Pentecost which is served on the evening of Pentecost of course.

http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers

I enjoyed the service and I was surprised to hear one of my favorite prayers in the orthodox church: "Into the sea of thy mercy I cast the desperation of my soul" This is one of the first powerful things I remember when I was attending my parish as an inquirer. What powerful words! What sweet medicine for those suffering in the IM OK YOURE OK culture! I'm not OK, there is something seriousy WRONG with me and there is no cure for my own will and its desires. I am desperate! God's mercy does not always make us OK , it consumes our desperation and it becomes lost in a sea with no bottom! I had forgotten that this prayer was in the Kneeling Vespers. The vespers end with kneeling of course and all of us asking for mercy as God sends his Spirit upon us as a church. what a contrast to those in our culture who say they can impart the Holy spirit to you after fulfilling a 123 formula. Some men acquire the Holy Spirit ans some men kneel and pray for God's mercy as God sends the Holy Spirit as a mercy and medicine and a guide to the faithful.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, this year of 2006 is the 100th anniversary of the Pentecostal/ Charismatic movement that began on Azuza Street in 1906:

http://www.azusastreet100.net/history.htm

My favorite quote from this website is: " Los Angeles was not the only place and time of spiritual renewal, however"

I am thanksful that the pentecostals are "givin props" to the small role the Holy Spirit had prior to 1906! I am glad that Pentecostalism is not the only avenue that God has given to the Holy Spirit! Although it is entertaining to watch somebody with a masters degree bark like a dog or run on the backs of the church pews it is sad that so much spiritual energy is devoted to "manifestations" of the Holy Spirit! I believe, as many others do, that the Holy Spirit was and is always working and never needed a revival or movement or "new revelation of his glory"
As some celebrate the anniversary of a small sect that turned into hundreds of millions of followers worldwide, we orthodox say Lord, Have Mercy! and try and repent so that we can be filled even more with the Holy Spirit.

Some people would say that the modern pentecostal movement and its "manifestations" such a s holy laughter and barking like a dog (in the Spirit, of course) is actually the work of demons. I was in a church in Nashville once where the holy laughter was taking place and surprisingly it only happened while the priest was preaching, which took away from the message and teaching which was actually edifying people instead of entertaining the one person with the holy laughter.

I say "some people say" because I am not well informed enoughto be clear.

Here are some links, though:

http://www.bible.ca/tongues-neo-montanism.htm

Sidebar:

Here is a great quote from the same website:

Sometimes Truth makes Love hurt

"You are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth" Jn 8:40

another link:

http://www.discernment.org/synopsis.htm


Anyway, I'm sure I'll get some hate mail for this one! Y'all stay away from the pawpaw pie and try not to bark like a dog when you're filled with the Holy Spirit! Lord have mercy! See, Southerners have always been orthodox; we say Lord have mercy all the time!