There is little doubt, that the feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the first Easter marked one of the turning points in Human History. In an upper room in Jerusalem, men and women gathered who had followed Jesus in his teaching, seen him die on cross, encountered him resurrected and seen him ascend into heaven, and they were changed for ever. It is impossible to know exactly how they felt. There would have been in them a mixture of uncertainty, fear and even bewilderment as to what all these things that they had experienced and where they were to go.

The doors were locked because, in spite of all their experiences, they felt vulnerable and not at all sure in themselves or their future. What a contrast, as they burst forth into the streets with all the joy and exuberance of those who have had too much to drink. And what confidence in Peter as he boldly challenged the onlookers as to what had happened and what it was that should be done about it.

And what was it that made the difference? It was that Pentecostal encounter with God.

It seems to me, that in spite of all the emphasis in this programme or that course, in this method or that, that the biblical record tells me that the solution to our problem in our church, our parish and our dioceses, is to have that Pentecostal experience repeated. And as parish priest, I am called to prepare the church for it.

Now before you get uneasy or restless, I do not mean that I want to introduce speaking in tongues, or slaying in the spirit or any of the other excesses of the so-called Pentecostal churches. Sadly, we have confused this grandstanding with the true work of the spirit. What is it that the Gospel tells us that it is? "He will guide you in all truth"

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the church is about getting connected with God. About seeing the world from his perspective. For many of us, it is about God working within you and I, to make us like him, suitable vessels for his ministry in the world.

This is a tremendous leap in theological understanding. Being church is not about doing the God things, but rather about being available to God. Ministry is not what we do, but what we allow God to do through us. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of Sin and Righteousness and Justice and our purpose is to be the agency by which this is done.

So are you ready for God to work through you?

It is no accident that the events of Pentecost took place some ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven. We know that the calling was to wait for the gift from above, but this was not about merely waiting, but about being prepared for the coming of the Spirit. They devoted themselves to prayer and no doubt in this atmosphere, experienced reconciliation with each other and a bonding of purpose. No doubt they had no idea what they should do. Jesus had commissioned them as witnesses, but it was the Holy Spirit who drove them to witness.

Looking at the church today, we seem to be in a similar place. It is not so much that we lack the desire to bear witness to our Lord, but rather that we feel inadequate to the task. In days past, the world we experienced was more sympathetic to the gospel message and it was common currency within our culture. Now, it is alien to all but a small group and like the disciples in the upper room - the task seems to be daunting.

But this is the point. God works in mysterious ways, and if there is one singular message from the cross, it is that weakness, and not strength is what prevailed. Sometimes, it seems that God makes us vulnerable in order that we cannot seem to have done anything in our own strength but rather, in the strength of Christ who strengthens us through the Holy Spirit.

So there is a paradox!!!

At this time, when we are so vulnerable as God's people, we are most likely to see him act. This is the message of Pentecost to the church. Not that we are all powerful, but that God is and as we submit and co-operate, we make it possible for him to act.

So let us together pray for another Pentecost; For the opportunity for God to act in our neighbourhood; Not in the strength of this congregation, but in and through our vulnerability.

It is a mighty leap of faith to entrust the process to God, but this is the lesson of this feast. We begin then with acknowledging our own dependence on God for the future, repenting of our sense of independence.

Do you wish to see God active in our Parish? Then let us acknowledge our need of him. Let us take a moment now before we move on, to think of those parts of our own lives that we deny God access, because we remain independent and in the silence ask him to act. Let us pray for a Pentecostal encounter with God.