Pentecost in the Park & the Importance of Ecumenical Events
Later this month, Lakefield churches will come together to celebrate the official end of Eastertide, Pentecost. This ‘Pentecost in the Park’ service takes place on Sunday 19th May at 10am in Isabel Morris Park* and is just one of the many events organized by Lakefield’s Ministerial Council - you may remember Good Friday’s Walk of the Cross or the community carol service held at the United Church last Christmas.
As you’d expect, these services are always well-attended. They draw a big crowd from each of the Christian congregations in Lakefield who often bring friends, family members, and other guests. We’ve seen this ourselves on a smaller scale at St John’s with our annual Lenten Lunches. Each lunch features a different speaker and we routinely invite Lakefield United, Lakefield Baptist, St Andrew’s Presbyterian, and St Paul the Apostle to participate and share what they’re up to.
As someone who grew up in Northern Ireland, I’m always especially moved to see these kinds of ecumenical events taking place (and I try to attend as many as possible!). I would appeal to every Christian in Lakefield not to take this collaboration and community for granted because it’s a rarity in many parts of the world, my hometown included.
We had five churches in our small town and, in my 10+ years of attending the Church of Ireland, I don’t remember a single function that brought them all together. It was just not done. Organizing a coffee morning with the Baptists or having a bake sale with the Presbyterians was unthinkable. And, for obvious reasons, the Catholics weren’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat either.
That’s why I cherish the Lakefield Christian community, and have so much admiration for the Ministerial Council who work very hard to organize events like Pentecost in the Park. Activities like these aren’t just a good way to boost attendance or an excuse to mingle with old friends. They’re a key part of what it means to connect with the community beyond our own church doors.
That’s not to say doctrinal differences aren’t important, of course they are. We choose our churches for a reason. But how we worship isn’t as important as who we worship and the New Testament is very clear - everyone who believes in Christ is part of one family. Having a cross-denominational service at Pentecost is perfectly timed to reinforce that message. Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles to equip them for their mission, is the launchpad moment of the Christian church. This feast is the kick starter to the work of Acts that will see the apostles travel far and wide to plant churches wherever they’re needed. Reading through Acts, it’s clear that every church was unique, they all had different questions and concerns. Even among the apostles, the way wasn’t always clear (see Acts 15: 36-40 when Paul and Barnabas part ways) but they remained united in their goal to tell the world what they’d seen and heard.
Every Christian shares in that goal. We represent our church, but we also represent our faith. And if we can’t show Jesus’ love to each other, how can we show it to the world?
See you at Pentecost in the Park!
*Please note that St John’s Holy Communion service will take place at 9am on Sunday 19th May to accommodate those who want to attend Eucharist that morning.
