St Simon’s Episcopal Church

 

We hope you enjoy this opportunity to read Fr Daniel’s Sunday sermons. This page is updated weekly; you can find earlier sermons in the archive. Sermons may have been slightly edited for length.


 
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Rector’s Pages

St Simon’s Episcopal Church, 1522 Highway 138 NE, Conyers, GA 30013     tel: 770 483 3242/2036    info@stsimonsconyers.net

Web Administrator lmaher@stsimonsconyers.net                Webmail

SEASONAL SYMBOLS


  1. •  The symbols of Pentecost are tongues of fire, representing the power of the Holy Spirit, and the dove, representing the Holy Spirit itself.


  1. • The colour for Pentecost is red, symbolising the flame of the Holy Spirit.

PENTECOST & AFTER

Seven weeks after Christ’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on his followers bringing gifts and good news which may be understood by all. The event is traditionally depicted by wind and tongues of fire. On this day we remember our duty to spread the word of Christ.

After Pentecost, we return to the green of Ordinary, or Counted Time. Sundays are counted from the feast (as the First Sunday after Pentecost and so forth) until Advent, which begins this year on 28 November and marks the start of a new Church Year.

The changing colours of the church decorations served to announce the season to the congregation in times when most people did not read or write. In those times, we planted and harvested our crops, received our wages and paid our bills according to the church calendar.

SEASONAL THOUGHTS


  1. • The tongues of fire remind us of the seven gifts of the spirit:


  1. • Wisdom

  2. • Understanding

  3. • Counsel

  4. • Inward Strength

  5. •   Knowledge

  6. •  True Godliness

  7. •   Holy Fear (Reverence & True Religion)


  1. • Pentecost represents God’s gracious, enabling presence actively at work among his people, calling and enabling us to live out the witness of being his people.


  1. • Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate hope, a hope evoked by the knowledge that God, through his Holy Spirit, is at work among us.


  1. • It is a celebration of newness of recreation, of renewal or purpose, mission and calling as God’s people.


  1. • It is also a recognition that is his work is done through us as he pours out his presence upon us.


  1. • The name Pentecost comes from the Greek for “fiftieth day”. Pentecost Sunday is the 50th day after Easter Sunday. Whitsun is a contraction of White Sunday and comes from the tradition of baptisms on Pentecost, when candidates would wear white.


SEPTEMBER LECTIONARY


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